River Bluff 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 Lexington, South Carolina, to check out River Bluff High School, a team that will be one of the most improved from last season to this season. 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: River Bluff High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>City: Lexington, South Carolina</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach: Will Clarke</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Classification: SCHSL Class 5A Region 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Returning Prospects:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2887395' first='Ford' last='Stratton']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2552933' first='JT' last='Brodowski']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Names to Know</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3772215' first='Eddy' last='Kamden-Noubissi']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3672111' first='Dalton' last='Hodges']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Potential Contributors:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2149126' first='Charlie' last='Henson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2880972' first='Chevy' last='Anderson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 <strong>Mason Williams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 <strong>Jeremiah Felder</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2836039' first='Kori' last='Dozier']</strong></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":["2887395"],"_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-6aad426cb88d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2887395' first='Ford' last='Stratton'] is one of the best shooters in South Carolina's 2027 class, and he really broke out over the summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2078753' first='Upward' last='Stars Columbia']. Ford struggled with injuries a year ago, so his consistent health and shot-making alone should give them a floor higher than their win total from 2025-26. Stratton again showed signs of improvement as a driver in practice Tuesday, which will help balance his scoring package and keep defenses uncomfortable. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2149126"],"_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-6aad426cb8971"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another senior who has been around the Gator program for a while and will be an important leader this season is Henson. Charlie is a lefty playmaker who can work from on or off the ball depending on what lineup is needed. He can start on ball and set the table for others, or play off the ball and be a spot-up shooter or secondary playmaker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2552933"],"_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-6aad426cb8a48"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Next up on the River Bluff Open Practice Evaluations is [player_tooltip player_id='2552933' first='JT' last='Brodowski']. Brodowski recently returned from a lower-body injury and looked healthy and effective on Tuesday afternoon. He has a pure stroke as a standstill shooter and plays off two feet when he attacks the lane. The only drawback with JT is his size, but he's becoming confident enough as a true Point Guard that it plays to his benefit, rather than his detriment. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3672111"],"_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-6aad426cb8aab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hodges is an emerging prospect who I'm starting to really like. I first became familiar with him and his game during the June Scholastic Period, but he was arguably their most productive player at the practice I attended. Whether he was working as a roll-man, catching-and-shooting on the perimeter, or making things happen off the bounce, Dalton proved to be a guy who can beat a defense in multiple ways and will be a huge piece for the Gators in 2026-27. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3772215"],"_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-6aad426cb8b00"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='3772215' first='Eddy' last='Kamden-Noubissi'] caps off my evaluations from Tuesday's Open Practice at River Bluff High School. Eddy is a very complimentary piece to Hodges and Stratton, bringing an elite motor and athleticism to do the little things while their skill is on full display. Kamden-Noubissi is one of the highest-flyers in the state, but he's not a guy who simply wants to catch lobs and play in transition. He dominates both sides of the glass, moves very well in the open floor, covers lots of ground defensively, and is a bouncy shot blocker. Look for him to be a potential X-Factor for this team this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team Takeaway:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season's 2-23 mark won't be a hard one to top, but I think River Bluff will be one of the most improved teams in Class 5A this year. [player_tooltip player_id='2887395' first='Ford' last='Stratton'] took the next step in his development during the offseason and will be one of the state's most high-volume shooters, plus they have a ton of guards to mix and match depending on the matchup. [player_tooltip player_id='2552933' first='JT' last='Brodowski'] will likely be the #1 option in the backcourt, but expect [player_tooltip player_id='2149126' first='Charlie' last='Henson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2880972' first='Chevy' last='Anderson'], <strong>Mason Williams</strong>, <strong>Jeremiah Felder</strong>, and [player_tooltip player_id='2836039' first='Kori' last='Dozier'] to all play a role in some capacity, with intriguing rising freshman [player_tooltip player_id='3758419' first='Bennett' last='Baker'] even getting the chance to fight for a varsity roster spot this fall. The scoring ability of [player_tooltip player_id='3672111' first='Dalton' last='Hodges'] and the athleticism of [player_tooltip player_id='3772215' first='Eddy' last='Kamden-Noubissi'] will swing a lot of games for the Gators, but new Head Coach Will Clarke has a lot of faith in how the pieces could fall into place in a region that is available for the taking in 2026-27.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->