EPIC Hoops Turkey Tip-Off: Every Winning Team’s Game-Changer

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Carolina High School Basketball is officially back! Prep Hoops SC made the trip to Easley, South Carolina, for day one of the E.P.I.C. Hoops Turkey Tip-Off, featuring tons of individual talent and elite teams from the Palmetto State. JL Mann, Southside, Westside, South Pointe, and Goose Creek were the winning teams, and this article features each team's biggest game-changer, along with what they did to help propel their team to victory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1466665"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69247294a0d17"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Headlining my list of game changers from day one of the EPIC Hoops Turkey Tip-Off is the #1-ranked player in South Carolina's 2026 Class, [player_tooltip player_id='1466665' first='Tre' last='Raymon']. It may seem like a "gimme" that a player with Raymon's caliber is a game-changer, but he was truly on another level in the Stallions' win over Eastside. In fact, Tre was so good in the first half that the Eagles opened up the second half in a box-and-one defense to try and slow him down. Although it may have worked for a little bit, the amount of defensive focus on Raymon opened up opportunities for his teammates. Tre put up 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks on 3-7 3FG in the season-opener. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2550966"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69247294a0d71"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jonovan left Westside's win over Powdersville looking like he just got out of a street fight. Webb fought cramps all game long and had his game end early after hitting his chin on a hard fall to the floor, but he still posted an impressive 18 points with 4 3PM. I've known how good Jonovan is at finishing or facilitating on drives, but this shooting ability, particularly with range, could be a game-changer not only for this Ram offense, but for his college recruitment. Also, Webb proved himself more than a scorer by adding 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2896381"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69247294a0db7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It might not have been the best performance by their own lofty standards, but it is still extremely impressive for the Gators to go across the state and win on the road in their season-opener. And in that win, Reggie was a game-changer on both ends of the floor. He was used at the top of Goose Creek's 1-2-2 pressure and forced several turnovers, many of which led to points on the other end. Dozier can also make plays in the half-court, on both ends, because he stays engaged in help defense and makes sharp cuts to the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3102377"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69247294a0df6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If Caiden's debut was any indication of how good a season he is going to have, the Patriots have a really special young player. He burst off the bench with 20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals in the 88-66 win for J.L. Mann, impressing in nearly every department on the floor. However, what was most exciting to watch was his ability to make plays that most normal freshmen don't, simply because he has the physical ability and the desire to do so. It will be quite intriguing to watch how Williams grows, in order to project exactly what he can be in the future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jermonte Cook","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_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":"Southside","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69247294a0e8b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One "off-the-radar" name to know from day one of the EPIC Hoops Turkey Tip-Off is Jermonte Cook. Although they return almost every major producer from a season ago, it feels like a rejuvenated team thanks to new Head Coach Saylor Fox. Fox has his group, including Cook, playing hard, fast, and determined on both ends of the floor. What made Jermonte a "game changer" was his balance of passing and scoring, frequently creating good looks for the Tigers thanks to his perimeter shooting, speed with the ball, and ability to find cracks in the defense. Keep an eye on this Southside group to turn some heads in 2025-26. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->