Which Class AAAAA Players Are Poised for a Breakout Season?

<!-- 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>Every season, new stars emerge and reshape the landscape of South Carolina high school basketball. This year's Class AAAAA group is full of players ready to break out as they step into bigger roles, display their improved skillsets, and put their schools in the mix for a state championship. Here are six players who could do just that this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2879609' first='Luke' last='Underwood'] (Boiling Springs) - Leading off my list of potential breakouts in Class AAAAA this season is [player_tooltip player_id='2879609' first='Luke' last='Underwood']. Underwood looks to be next in line of senior guards to lead the Bulldogs after a junior year where he tallied 6.4 Points Per Game and 2.0 Assists Per Game. Luke had an excellent fall league season and was a standout during the June Scholastic Period, but if he puts all of it together, Underwood might catch the eye of a college coach sooner rather than later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3073568' first='London' last='Crawford'] (Greenwood) - London is one of two sophomores on the Greenwood Roster who will step into a big role this season. Crawford is the more unknown prospect right now, but at 6'4", he will not stay that way. He put up 1.5 Points Per Game and 3.0 Rebounds Per Game in limited usage as a freshman, but because of the wave of talent that left the Eagles last season, there are plenty of minutes to be won.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2985347' first='Makai' last='McKnight'] (Nation Ford) - Another school with an elite crop of youngsters is Nation Ford. McKnight had a very impressive season last year, scoring 15.3 Points Per Game as an 8th Grader on Varsity at Jackson Day (NC). Makai will aim to bring that same scoring prowess to his new team thanks to some elite shot-making ability, but he also has the physical attributes to make him an exciting prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2480706' first='Jayden' last='Waring'] (Cane Bay) - Jayden received his first offer from Rome City Institute ahead of his senior year at Cane Bay. Waring is a two-way difference maker who plays bigger than his listed size with a strong frame and an excellent feel around other bodies. Jayden is a weapon against zone defense because he moves without the ball, will knock down open threes, and sees passing lanes well. Look for Waring to improve from 4.9 Points Per Game last season to close to double-digits this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3073563' first='Kingston' last='Coles'] (St. James) - Coles was picked to the 5A Region 6 Preseason All-Region Team, but there's still room for him to fully break out from a college-recruitment perspective. Kingston is at his best when he is attacking the rim, but he's not a one-dimensional scorer. He will force turnovers and get out in transition, get to the rim off the bounce in the half-court, or spot-up off ball and attack closeouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3003562' first='Javion' last='Morris'] (Fort Dorchester) - Rounding out this group of potential breakout players in 2025-26 is [player_tooltip player_id='3003562' first='Javion' last='Morris']. Despite being just an 8th Grader, there is plenty of buzz around his name coming from the Charleston area. Javion is listed at 6'2", 160 lbs, and plays with tons of aggression in protecting the rim, attacking his own basket, and cleaning the glass. Morris also has some bounce to finish above the rim, but once his jumper develops, he is going to be a big-time prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->