Around the State: Laurens, Newberry and Union Counties

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops keeps making it rounds around the Palmetto State. Next stop is off to the Upstate. Laurens, Newberry and Union Counties all will be merged together here. What schools make up these counties? Read more inside after you <strong><em>SUBSCRIBE and use the passcode "Swanny30" at checkout to save 30% off your first billing cycle. #RecruitThePalmettoState</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Schools in the Counties</em></strong>: Clinton HS, Laurens HS, Laurens Academy, Newberry HS, Newberry Academy, Thornwell Charter and Union County HS </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2474537,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/eZy-Watermark_28-06-2024_12-03-26-2490PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/eZy-Watermark_28-06-2024_12-03-26-2490PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2474537" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clinton HS</strong>: The Red Devils finished (14-8) last season. Seniors<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2537678' first='Tushawn' last='Richardson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2023007' first='Devin' last='Swindler']</strong> are both back in the mix this season. Richardson a point guard and Quarterback on the football team averaged 17.6 ppg and 6.1 rebounds last season. Swindler a small forward averaged 10.5 ppg and 5.6 rebounds a season ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2280317,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Image-11-23-23-at-11.25-AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Image-11-23-23-at-11.25-AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2280317" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Laurens HS</strong>: The Raiders added <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1419742' first='DJ' last='Martin']</strong> this off season from Fountain Inn HS. The left-handed point guard will team up with<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2537670' first='CJ' last='Bates']</strong> 6-foot-10 in the paint and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2024465' first='Zakarion' last='Simpson']</strong> out on the wing. The Raiders might surprise a team or two this season on a given night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Laurens Academy</strong>: The Crusaders finished (10-17) last season under long-time Head Coach Travis Plowden. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2458462,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/eZy-Watermark_09-06-2024_08-34-29-0110PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/eZy-Watermark_09-06-2024_08-34-29-0110PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2458462" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Newberry HS</strong>: The Bulldogs are still playing in the 2nd Round of the Football Playoffs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1848082' first='Kenton' last='Caldwell']</strong> does a little bit of everything for the Bulldogs. Caldwell an attacking downhill guard and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1970097' first='AJ' last='Jeter']</strong> form a nice 1-2 punch at the Class 3A level. Jeter likes to play inside-out with his game. The Bulldogs finished (17-11) last season and lost to Keenan HS in the playoffs 73-49. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Newberry Academy</strong>: The Eagles lost three starters off last year's Eagle team that finished (15-12). <strong>Jackson Montgomery</strong> returns to the lineup after averaging 10.5 ppg last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2554858,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/IMG_9347.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/IMG_9347.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2554858" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thornwell Charter (Clinton)</strong>: Thornwell Charter is a very small school which plays in Class 1A. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2554832' first='Zaylen' last='Washington']</strong> is a left-handed guard in the freshman class to monitor here for sure. Washington opened up the eyes of Prep Hoops when we were saw him play this past Fall at the Prep Hoops Freshman Showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Union County HS</strong>: The Yellow Jackets finished (10-16) last season under Head Coach Mitchell Moss. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2306328' first='Eric' last='Gray']</strong> is back this season after averaging 9.9 ppg last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->