One Team From Each Class To Watch In June – Upper State

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% THE FIRST PURCHASE FOR ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's June! The Scholastic Period has returned and prospects have taken a break from their AAU travels to rejoin their High School Coaches and Teammates for an exciting month. There are new faces all over the place and must-see players up and down the state. Teams will be in action with Play Days, Team Camps, and the all-important Live Periods at the end of the month. This year, the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association Live Event will be held in North Augusta, South Carolina June 21st-23rd. Check out 1 team from each class I think College Coaches must watch during the Scholastic Period: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class AAAAA - Dorman (Region 2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach - Thomas Ryan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1360540' first='Keenan' last='Arcega-Whiteside'], [player_tooltip player_id='1645095' first='Will' last='Bush'], [player_tooltip player_id='2163870' first='Peden' last='Breazeale']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Departures - Christian Andrews, Christian Gentry</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dorman is in the conversation for a State Championship year after year and has produced many Collegiate Prospects over the years including PJ Hall and Talon Cooper who stared at in-state school this year. Arcega-Whiteside, Bush, and Brezeale all should have major impacts for Coach Ryan and company this season, but the addition of [player_tooltip player_id='1738000' first='Kam' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1737994' first='Jaden' last='Johnson'] - each Top 20 Players in the State in their respective classes - make Dorman a must-watch for College Coaches and Basketball Fans alike this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class AAAA - Lancaster (Region 3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach - Jerron Cauthen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1145334' first='Jordan' last='Watford'], [player_tooltip player_id='2351252' first='Jacarey' last='Ballard'], [player_tooltip player_id='1220041' first='Malik' last='Tinsley'], [player_tooltip player_id='1973338' first='RJ' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='1955613' first='Columbus' last='Parker'] (Injured)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Departures - Julius Garner</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bruins return their Top 7 Scorers from last season and have the Top Rising Senior in the Class [player_tooltip player_id='1145334' first='Jordan' last='Watford'] alongside multiple other recruitable guards. Watford has drawn interest from High-Major programs across the country and was most recently offered by Georgia Southern and former Gray Collegiate Head Coach Dion Bethea. [player_tooltip player_id='2351252' first='Jacarey' last='Ballard'] has been sending shockwaves through the South Carolina Grassroots Community with his play on the court - particularly on the defensive end - and [player_tooltip player_id='1220041' first='Malik' last='Tinsley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1973338' first='RJ' last='Brown'] add a burst of athleticism and energy whenever it's needed. Expect to see a packed sideline in late June when Lancaster heads to North Augusta for the SCBCA Live Period.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class AAA - Powdersville (Region 2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach - Austin Anderson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1149799' first='Hayden' last='Assemian'], [player_tooltip player_id='2299729' first='Von' last='Burton'], [player_tooltip player_id='2305858' first='Quan' last='Burton'], [player_tooltip player_id='1766181' first='Jaleel' last='McGee'], [player_tooltip player_id='1997737' first='Colton' last='Kreger']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Departures - Caden Kreger, Nick Sweet, Jack Hurst</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending AAA State Champions return 4 of 5 starters from last season including [player_tooltip player_id='1149799' first='Hayden' last='Assemian'], the South Carolina Commit who is #2 in PH SC's 2025 Class and averaged 15 Points, 8 Rebounds, and 2 Blocks last season. The Burton Brothers and [player_tooltip player_id='1766181' first='Jaleel' last='McGee'] also took a big step last season and should start to draw looks from College Coaches. McGee in particular is someone I think D2 Schools in the State should monitor due to his ability to score the ball and put the team on the back when it's needed. [player_tooltip player_id='1997737' first='Colton' last='Kreger'] is a rising Sophomore who also could be a nice prospect down the line and could have a larger role this summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class AA - Andrew Jackson (Region 4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach - Danny Wright</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1630004' first='Jykevius' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1630005' first='Bryce' last='Peterson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1487224' first='Zeke' last='Clyburn']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Departures - Ghaleb Wilson, Trey Thompson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andrew Jackson High School is one of the biggest winners from the Collegiate School getting reclassified for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Seasons. The Volunteers lost just 4 games last season including a 12-0 Region Season. [player_tooltip player_id='1487224' first='Zeke' last='Clyburn'] is a name to know from the 2026 Class after averaging a team-high 9.3 Rebounds Per Game and 13.8 Points Per Game which was second on the team. Johnson and Peterson play together for [program_tooltip program_id='2412982' first='Upward' last='Stars Pee Dee'] and have nice chemistry for a Guard and a Big. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class A - Abbeville (Region 1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach - Douglas Belcher</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1888745' first='Damarcus' last='Leach'], [player_tooltip player_id='1848143' first='Jaden' last='Baylor'], [player_tooltip player_id='1892777' first='Justin' last='Rollinson'], Jakwon Elmore, Darius Riley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Departures - Tymon Thomas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Andrew Jackson, Abbeville will benefit in the Regular Season from the SCHSL Reclassifications. They have an extremely talented core returning headlined by 2026 Backcourt [player_tooltip player_id='1892777' first='Justin' last='Rollinson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1848143' first='Jaden' last='Baylor']. Rollinson averaged 16, 5, 4, and 3 Steals Per Game last season while Baylor was at 12, 6, 3, and 2 Steals Per Game. [player_tooltip player_id='1888745' first='Damarcus' last='Leach'] is a South Carolina Football Commit who brings a physical presence with a high work-rate and averaged over 11 Rebounds Per Game last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->