Ten Takeaways From SCBCA Media Day

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024-25 SCBCA Media Day was held on Wednesday, November 20th at Brookland-Cayce High School. It provided a great opportunity to check in with some of the top players and coaches in South Carolina High School Basketball and get recruiting updates, see what they've been improving on, and find out their expectations for the upcoming season. Check out ten quotes that I took away from SCBCA Media Day:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Four Recruiting Updates</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1145334' first='Jordan' last='Watford'] - Lancaster HS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Q: What was the vital factor of your decision to commit to Queens University?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A: “The coaching staff staying on me from day one. They showed love to me from day one. It never went up or went down it stayed steady all the way and I could tell that they really wanted me to be a part of the program.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1332455' first='Kaleb' last='Evans'] - Lexington HS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Q: What about Winthrop University made it feel like home to you?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A: “I got injured over the Summer and my recruitment kinda slowed down but Winthrop was still there, they were still calling, writing notes, and just still making it feel like a family environment. So it was just a no-brainer for me.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1692243' first='Korie' last='Corbett'] - Ridge View HS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Q: How has Coach Lamont Paris's emphasis on recruiting the Palmetto State impacted your view of the University of South Carolina as a potential College for you?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A: “It definitely sets a big example that I am getting recruited by a school that people who I look up to go to. So it lets me know that the work I'm putting in is showing and I also had a great conversation with Coach Paris when I went. He was just talking to me about things other than basketball just to make sure grades, relationships, and everything like that was going well.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1215474' first='Teon' last='Tindal'] - Crestwood HS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Q: Are there any new schools who have reached out to you recently, what are you looking for in a College, and what's the #1 thing you want to show College Coaches this year?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A: “I've got some interest from High Point and Queens University. When I look for a school I look for a place that I can call home and place where I can play my game comfortably and where I can develop. And I want to show College Coaches that I can create my own shot and play defense.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Three Quotes from Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1486211' first='Josh' last='Leonard'] - Wilson HS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Q: What was your experience like at the USAB Minicap this Summer?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A: “It was a great experience. I got to meet new people while getting better. It was great competition to play with my class and play with the older class too. I learned that you have to be available on the court in all positions.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2211022' first='Bryson' last='Robinson'] - Bethune-Bowman HS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Q: What about this team makes you think you can get back to the State Championship and be the last team standing this time around?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A: “Last year was last year, it's unfinished business. I'm going to stay humble and hungry… Defense is everything for us. So if we tighten up on defense we can put points up with anybody and I feel like we can run with anybody. So if we tighten up on defense and let our defense be our offense we are going to get back to state and win it.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2346058' first='Braylen' last='Silver'] - Greer Middle College</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Q: What's been the #1 focus for you this offseason to improve and be ready for your Senior Season?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A: "Definitely getting bigger and stronger while also playing defense and making sure I can still shoot the ball well... At practice we workout before we do real practice every single day. We got outside and we run. We're on a college campus so we run to the top of the campus and then we come back down and we get into the weight room. We are in there for about forty-five minutes to an hour and then we get straight to work in the gym."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Three Questions for Coaches</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Joshua Staley - Ridge View HS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Q: You have two of the premiere Freshmen in the state on your roster. Talk about [player_tooltip player_id='2373165' first='CJ' last='Moore'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1982894' first='RJ' last='Davis'], what their roles will be like this year, and what you see in them that can make them special.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A: "I think CJ (Moore) and RJ (Davis) will be special. We are not going to put a lot of stress on them as far as being ball-dominant. Just play your role, play off the ball, and be ready to score when we get the ball to you. I've been really pleased with them in the offseason. I definitely think they are going to be really good. CJ is probably in the same line as Christian Braun and G.G. (Jackson). I coached Christian as a Freshman and he is doing some of the same things if not more than Christian would do as a Freshman so he has the chance to be special if he stays on course."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Devin Liferidge - Greer HS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Q: What are your expectations for your team this season?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A: "We're not making any mistake about it, we want to get back to Florence. It doesn't mean it's a failure if we don't go back but we set our goals high. Just to get there last year and have that taste in our mouth and we lost to a very formidable team in Riverside three times. So we are anxious to get back to work with our first game on Friday. But everything we are doing is about how we can give ourselves a chance to get back to Florence and see if we can finish the thing."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Blake Hall - Goose Creek HS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Q: If your team is going to be the last team standing in 5A, what is it's identity?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A: "Like Goose ([player_tooltip player_id='1336825' first='Shane' last='Potts']) said, we're going to have to defend. That kind of creates the margin for us on the nights when the offense isn't going. But we've got a group that had a disappointing year last year but returns everybody. I think it left a little bit of a sour taste. If they stay motivated and consistent we'll have a good year."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->