Second Round Standouts

<!-- 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>The South Carolina High School League Basketball Playoffs rolled on this weekend, with second-round matchups being played on Friday and Saturday. My travels took me to Varnesville, South Carolina, for a 2A Lower State matchup between Hampton County and York Prep on Friday, followed by a trip to North Augusta, South Carolina, for a 4A Lower State matchup between North Augusta and Crestwood. Check out my six biggest standouts from the two games: </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":["2819109"],"_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-699c89fc7771f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">First up on this list is [player_tooltip player_id='2819109' first='Darius' last='Brooks']. Brooks has been one of the best guards in Class 2A all season long, and he showed just why in the big win over York Prep. He is excellent around the rim on both ends of the floor, with a strong, well-built frame and a desire to make plays with or without the ball. Darius is an instinctive cutter, relentless finisher, and defends well without fouling, all of which provide a high floor for how well the Hurricanes can play as a team. Because of how smart and persistent he is, Brooks can make his presence felt offensively with or without the ball, and he has a good feel for when it's time for big buckets. Thanks to Darius, I left Varnesville feeling great about Hampton County's State-Championship hopes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3515328"],"_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-699c89fc7777f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another Hurricane who caught my eye on Friday is Singletary. Jaylen is an elite football player at Hampton County with offers from The Citadel, Morgan State, Wingate, North Greenville, and Florida Tech Central, but he is also a crucial member of the basketball team. He had one of the better defensive games I've seen this season in round two of the playoffs, racking up a ridiculous 7 steals, 2 blocks, and 5 rebounds. Singletary just seemed to want it more than anyone else on the floor, making hustle play after hustle play to ignite his teammates and get the crowd noisy. If the Hurricanes are to continue on this impressive run, Jaylen will have as important a role as anyone in their success. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2175528"],"_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-699c89fc777c7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It would not have been the way he wanted his High School career to end, but Braxton should leave with his head high after Friday's game. He was the Patriots' best and most consistent offensive option in the loss, with his play being the only reason they were close for most of the night. Sumter consistently got to the rim, where he was excellent in finishing or creating contact. Braxton is very crafty, both as a ball-handler and a finisher, so his deep bag of moves kept the opposing defense off balance frequently. Sumter finished with 17 points and 3 assists despite York Prep just having 39 total points in the loss. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2364856"],"_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-699c89fc7780a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Switching over to round two, night two, [player_tooltip player_id='2364856' first='Tristan' last='Anderson-Edmond'] had a huge game for North Augusta to help them grind out a 71-61 win over fifth-seeded Crestwood. Tristan filled up the box score, putting up 14 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, but he really seemed to be at his best when his team really needed it. He was a key part of an early run, getting a couple of quick baskets in transition, and was just as important late in the game with crucial offensive and defensive rebounds as the Yellow Jackets battled to prevent extra possessions for Crestwood and early some for themselves. That is exactly the type of style this North Augusta team needs to win, and the addition of Anderson-Edmond to this group has worked seamlessly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1875715"],"_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-699c89fc7784a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nabriat also played a key role in the Yellow Jacket victory. He represented a matchup advantage for North Augusta because of his defensive versatility. Toian guarded a true one through five on Saturday, starting on Crestwood's big man and ending on their top scoring guard. Despite his lack of height, Nabriat neutralized that disadvantage against the big because of two drawn charges and some excellent boxouts, however, when he was assigned to guards, his size became a weapon because of a combination of speed and strength. He chipped in with 13 points as well, often beating his man off the dribble when he had the space to work. Overall, Toian proved to be a crucial piece of the puzzle as his squad advanced to the Elite 8. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2566640"],"_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-699c89fc778c9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Despite their season-ending loss, one of the positives for Crestwood should be the emergence of All-State freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2566640' first='Sheldon' last='Davis']. Davis had an excellent season in Sumter, and it was great to see him rise to the occasion in this intense playoff game. He played a crucial role in their third-quarter comeback, knocking down three threes in the period as they trimmed a 13-point halftime deficit down to just one heading to the fourth quarter. He finished the game with 20 points on 5 3PM, doing so in a variety of ways: off designed sets, pull-ups in the pick-and-roll, stepbacks, in transition, and from deep range. Keep an eye on Sheldon to be one of the top-ranked players in his class when the Prep Hoops SC Freshman Rankings drop in a few weeks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->