2023-24 Most Improved Juniors
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We have all had time to take a breath after a long and exciting High School Basketball Season in the state of South Carolina, and now it’s time to take a look at some of the notable performers before the…
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Continue ReadingWe have all had time to take a breath after a long and exciting High School Basketball Season in the state of South Carolina, and now it’s time to take a look at some of the notable performers before the Grassroots Season begins. Take a look at some of the Juniors who had standout seasons and improved tremendously:
Abijah Franklin Abijah Franklin 6’4″ | SG Wren | 2025 State SC headlines our list of Most Improved Juniors from the 2023-24 Season. Franklin transferred to Wren after spending a year at Legacy Early College and saw a major jump in production. He averaged over 24 Points Per Game – one of the highest numbers in the state – while also leading the Hurricanes in Field Goal Percentage at 49%. There are not many defenders in the class who can keep Abijah out of the lane. He has a knack for beating his man off the dribble and finishing around the rim or pulling up in the mid-range. He is also a capable perimeter shooter, making 35 threes on the season and shooting it at a 32% clip, but even gets it done in other areas averaging 7.1 Rebounds Per Game and 3.0 Steals Per Game. Abijah was named the SCBCA 3A State Player of the Year, one of the most prestigious accolades for a player in the state of South Carolina.
It was sort of a running thing I had with myself throughout the season, but I truly felt Roman got better every time I saw him. In his Junior Season, he led the Red Raiders in scoring at 15.0 per game, in Field Goal Percentage at 60%, and was second in rebounding at 6.8 Per Game. One of his key attributes is his ability to defend multiple positions, but Roman is also a great interior scorer and rebounder for his size. Cooley was named All-Region this season and will join Franklin on Team Unleashed this spring.
With Tristyn and the Daniel Lions being in my backyard, I got to check in with them pretty often this season. They had another great season, but Carrington in particular was someone who stepped into a large role in his Junior Year. He often impressed with his qualities on both ends of the floor, setting the tone of a physical defense for the Lions and also supplying a steady force on the offensive end. Tristyn’s averages this season prove that he is a jack-of-all-trades on the court: 10.6 Points Per Game, 3.9 Rebounds Per Game, 3.0 Assists Per Game, and 1.9 Steals Per Game.
Yasir Cromer Yasir Cromer 5’10” | PG River Bluff | 2025 State SC is another guard who took a massive step in his Junior Year. In fact, he progressed so much he was named to the 5A All-State Team. Cromer impressed nearly all season long, taking home All-Region honors for leading his Gators to a playoff birth and All-Tournament honors at the prestigious Chic-fil-A Classic, facing off with some of the top High School prospects in the country. Those games are where he showed the most growth this season, leading the tournament in steals and finishing near the top in assists and points. Yasir blossoms with the ball in his hands and with spacing around him, using his
Jaleel had a much improved season by way of transfer. After making the move from Berea High School, he had a major impact on Powdersville’s 3A State Championship Season. Jaleel lead the team in scoring the title game, with 18 points. McGee was second on the team in scoring at 11.3 Points Per Game while shooting over 50% from the floor. He has a balanced offensive game, scoring the ball when needed while also getting his teammates involved in the game, leading the team with 2.8 Assists Per Game. McGee did some work on the other end as well, averaging over 2 and half Steal Per Game.
Braylen Silver Braylen Silver 5’11” | SG Greer Middle College | 2025 SC truly came out of nowhere to become a major contributor on a successful Greer Middle College squad this season. Luckily, I happened to be in attendance for two of his most impressive performances. He was one the Top Juniors at the Prep Hoops SC Showcase, putting up 15 Points & 7 Assists followed by a massive 24-point outing knocking down five threes against Landrum in the Region 1 Tiebreaker. Braylen is a very talented shooter, but due to some injuries had more of the ball in his hands down the stretch. During these games, he showed an ability to score off the dribble while keeping the offense in rhythm. Silver’s efforts earned him All-Region and helped the Blazers win a Region Championship for the first time in School History, while also making it to the Second Round of the 2A Playoffs.