Lowcountry Showcase: Top 6 Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023 [program_tooltip program_id='2078736' first='Lowcountry' last=''] Showcase is in the books. Following last season's 12-team event that featured six girls assemblings and six boys teams, this year's event upped the ante from last season's.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This time, there were 16 teams that made the trek to the North Charleston Athletic Center with eight girls squads and eight boys teams having their turns at the court. Included in those eight boys teams were three that were part of last season's festivities in Oceanside Collegiate, Porter-Gaud and First Baptist.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Hoops made the trek as well to the [program_tooltip program_id='2078736' first='Lowcountry' last=''] for what was a full day's worth of exciting basketball. Without further delay, here are our top six performers from North Charleston.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2293852,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2440983' first='Kendell' last='Mack']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"West Ashley HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2078737' first='Palmetto' last='Elite'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eThe first boys winner of the day at the North Charleston Athletic Center hailed from West Ashley HS. The 5A Wildcats' Mack attack was hard for the 3A Cougars to keep in check. He finished with 21 points to lead all scorers in what was a hard-fought 63-55 victory to prevail over North Charleston. Mack displayed his ability to score at all three levels – including at the free throw line with an understanding that the game is played on contact. Mack also has experience in another sport as he has played junior varsity football during his time at West Ashley.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6576111480a6b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1934791"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2293870,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eDixon followed up Mack's 21-point showing by dropping 21 of his own. Dixon's 21 also came in a winning effort as his 5A Cane Bay team earned a commanding victory over SCISA 4A First Baptist. A huge reason for Dixon's huge game was what he did from behind the arc. The Cobras sank nine triples for the contest. Four of threes were courtesy of Dixon. He also displays his versatility with a knack for logging productive minutes at either the two in the backcourt or in the frontcourt. Dixon also understands the art of playing the game on contact and getting to the free throw line.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6576111480b25"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1103872"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2293881,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eThere was a reason why the SCBCA bestowed Top 5 5A Senior honors on this talented upperclassman of the Green Wave. He displayed that on Saturday evening at the North Charleston Athletic Center. Smith led Summerville with 27 points en route to what became a dominant Green Wave game against Oceanside Collegiate. He is a multi-sport athlete as his sports plate also includes playing as a receiver on Summerville's football team – one of the more recognized ones in the state. One gets plenty of speed, plenty of athleticism and plenty of playmaking from Smith along with getting his fair share of rebounds and knowing when to score and when to pass. Making plays in transition is another of his game's strong points.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6576111480bbe"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1608363"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2293858,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eIt was only fitting that a showcase held in North Charleston would feature a standout performance from North Charleston's team. Cobin-Willis answered the call for the 3A Cougars as he led his team's efforts with 20 points against a tough 5A West Ashley bunch. He displayed a great deal of pinpoint accuracy from behind the 3-point line. He made six of his attempts from behind the arc. His rim attacking capabilities combined with his prowess from deep will throw many opposing defenses for a loop. Cobin-Willis also places plenty of emphasis on ball handling and knows how to locate open teammates.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6576111480c2c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1524079"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2293890,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eImagine the headlines that would be written about this senior standout if he played for the 5A SCHSL team in the upstate. Porter-Gaud's program is fortunate he is sporting their school's colors for one more season. In what turned out to be an entertaining contest between his Cyclones and James Island, he paved his team's path to victory with a 27-point performance. Mauldin is listed at 6-foot-6 on the Cyclones roster and plays primarily at the three or the four. When he played travel ball during the spring and summer months, he wore the uniform of [program_tooltip program_id='2078749' first='TMP' last=''] – which later became [program_tooltip program_id='2246675' first='Charleston' last='Raptors'].u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6576111480c94"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1038227"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2293895,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eSimmons proved to be an instrumental factor in what was a near-miraculous comeback effort by 4A James Island against a 4A SCISA team in Porter-Gaud. He finished his evening with 15 points even though his team did not get the result it desired in a 64-60 decision to the Cyclones. Simmons did have a highlight play at the end of the contest as he drained a buzzer-beating three which trimmed the Trojans' margin of defeat from seven to four – Porter-Gaud had a double-digit lead midway through the fourth quarter. Simmons displayed the veteran instincts, vocal leadership, leadership by example and overall fearless play that has made him one of the state's premier players – and why he will be a force to be reckoned with in the collegiate ranks once he graduates following this season.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6576111480d23"} /-->