Ridge View HS Open Practice Evaluations + Season Preview

<!-- 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 month of September provides a key chance for high schools to get back to work and display their prospects to College Coaches. Monday, I was in Columbia, South Carolina, to check out Ridge View High School, the three-time defending State Champions who seem to get better every year. Check out this deep dive into some of their top players and what could be in store for the team as a whole in 2026-27:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team Information:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>School: Ridge View High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>City: Columbia, South Carolina</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach: Josh Staley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Classification: SCHSL Class 5A Region 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Returning Prospects:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2104388' first='Robert' last='Wylie']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2367667' first='JT' last='Van Kallen']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2139480' first='Christopher' last='Horton']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2373165' first='CJ' last='Moore']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1982894' first='RJ' last='Davis']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2559297' first='Noah' last='Sanders']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Names to Know</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2029 [player_tooltip player_id='3724148' first='Zavier' last='Gleadell-Smith']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2029 [player_tooltip player_id='2820444' first='Jason' last='Staley']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2029 [player_tooltip player_id='3771165' first='Dontay' last='Phillips']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Potential Contributors:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2824781' first='Kaleb' last='Peters']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2541186' first='Gregory' last='Williams Jr'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2559433' first='Evin' last='Scott']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2872232' first='Sidney' last='Haney']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Open Practice Evaluations:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2104388"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aaab347901a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the first things that jumped out to me about Ridge View's Open Practice was the amount of on-ball responsibility Wylie had. That has been a major development this summer, and based on what I saw on Monday, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him be the guy bringing the ball up in big spots this season. DJ excelled running the pick-and-roll, showing flashes with strong takes to the rim and pull-up threes when defenses didn't show the right coverage. This shift in Wylie's game raises his and Ridge View's ceiling and is something that will have college coaches monitoring closely.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2373165"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aaab347901fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Like Wylie, Moore's increase in ball-handling responsibility over the last four months is something that continues to boost his stock. He was running the pick-and-roll often, too, using his size to see over defenses and make easy reads. With the addition of a new big man, CJ will be even more freed up to play as a true wing, which is a scary proposition for everyone else in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2820444"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aaab34790232"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Due to last season's departures and a couple of players away with football, [player_tooltip player_id='2820444' first='Jason' last='Staley']'s timeline has been sped up. He is the current backup Point Guard, meaning that he is getting a lot more opportunity in a crowded scene of youngsters. Jason is one of the craftiest guards in his class, and he's not afraid to attack the paint around big bodies in practice. Look for him to get some early usage in 2026-27, particularly if football makes a deep run in the playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2872232"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aaab34790263"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sidney is a prospect who I have started to really enjoy watching. They call him "Mr. Consistent" because of his constant positive demeanor and production. Haney simply plays his role to perfection and does what it takes to earn minutes around a ton of talent. He is an excellent on-ball defender, stays engaged away from the ball, will screen to create mismatches, attacks open spaces, and can knock down an open shot. If he continues to play how he did in June through September and into Fall League play, the Blazers will have to give him time off the bench this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3771165"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aaab34790292"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Not only did I get to see the Blazers play on the court, but I got a glimpse into their work in the weight room. Phillips was one of the guys who stood out in both settings. Dontay looked strong and explosive in certain workouts, while also being active and effective in 5-on-5. He is a switchable defender who they will use to come in and cause havoc on the perimeter, so as he improves his jumper, he could become a key rotation piece.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team Takeaway</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You are not going out on much of a limb to say Ridge View is a surefire contender in South Carolina's Class 5A, but I would venture to say that [player_tooltip player_id='2104388' first='Robert' last='Wylie'], [player_tooltip player_id='2367667' first='JT' last='Van Kallen'], [player_tooltip player_id='2373165' first='CJ' last='Moore'], [player_tooltip player_id='1982894' first='RJ' last='Davis'], and [player_tooltip player_id='3724148' first='Zavier' last='Gleadell-Smith'] is arguably the best five-man, public-school lineup in the country. Mix in their depth pieces with guys like [player_tooltip player_id='2139480' first='Christopher' last='Horton'], [player_tooltip player_id='2559297' first='Noah' last='Sanders'], [player_tooltip player_id='2824781' first='Kaleb' last='Peters'], [player_tooltip player_id='2541186' first='Gregory' last='Williams Jr']., [player_tooltip player_id='2820444' first='Jason' last='Staley'], [player_tooltip player_id='2559433' first='Evin' last='Scott'], [player_tooltip player_id='2872232' first='Sidney' last='Haney'], and [player_tooltip player_id='3771165' first='Dontay' last='Phillips'], and the Blazers are more than gifted with elite talent. Their defense will likely be the best in the state simply because of all the size, but their offensive versatility will create matchup problems on a nightly basis. Shooting and turnovers are the only areas of concern given their lack of a high-volume perimeter shooter and true Point Guard, but I still see Ridge View as a tier above every other team in the state going into the 2026-27 Season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->