Spring Valley 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. Thursday, I was in Columbia, South Carolina, to check in with another one of the young, up-and-coming coaches in the area, Cameron Lee at Spring Valley. 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: Spring Valley High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>City: Columbia, South Carolina</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach: Cameron Lee</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='2377456' first='Kensley' last='Parks']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3598542' first='Aquil' last='Lake']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2624989' first='Christopher' last='McClenic']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3230791' first='Hassan' last='Lake']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Names to Know</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3778734' first='Brian' last='Cooper']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 <strong>Ethan Ard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2029 [player_tooltip player_id='2948752' first='Malik' last='Woods']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Potential Contributors:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2896377' first='Isaiah' last='Mabry']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3764303' first='Daevon' last='Cobaris']</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":["2377456"],"_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-6ab691f1d9b23"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2377456' first='Kensley' last='Parks'] is first up on my open practice evaluations. There was a clear emphasis on Kensley playing more on the ball and on the perimeter than in years past. He pushed the pace on the break often, ran designed pick-and-roll looks, and even brought the ball up to facilitate half-court sets on occasion. Parks also looked more comfortable knocking down one- or two-dribble pull-up jumpers, so these developments should be intriguing for college coaches to track this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3598542"],"_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-6ab691f1d9bab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another one of their senior leaders this season will be Aquil. He really raised his level of play as practice went on Thursday afternoon, and he looks extremely comfortable playing within the offense. Lake proved he can knock down an open jumper, move the ball around the perimeter to get a better look, or drive the defense and play off two feet around the paint. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2624989"],"_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-6ab691f1d9bfc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2624989' first='Christopher' last='McClenic'] is Spring Valley's highest-ranked and most physically gifted prospect this year. Because of his size, length, athleticism, fluidity, and skill, his potential is through the roof. McClenic's jump shot has steadily improved this summer, and he showed off some of that development in practice as he knocked down corner threes and elbow jumpers. If he can lock in on some of that game-to-game consistency, Chris will make a push for an All-Region spot in one of the most talented regions in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3230791"],"_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-6ab691f1d9c64"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Every team has a guy that people outside the program don't know exactly how good they are, and Hassan is that guy for the Vikings. He is a true Combo Guard that can absolutely go. Lake is a solid three-point shooter, capable ball handler, and smart decision-maker, but he is also one of their most impactful on-ball defenders. His length and athleticism have really started to come along over the past six months, so look for him to break out from a statewide standpoint in 2026-27. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3778734"],"_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-6ab691f1d9cb0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='3778734' first='Brian' last='Cooper'] caps off this list of evaluations from Spring Valley's practice check-in. Cooper is a guy who jumps out at you immediately when watching the Vikings because of his impressive frame and uber athleticism. They are still working on getting him to play within the offense as a screener and interior presence, but he has the motor and physical tools to be an impactful defender and rebounder for them this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team Takeaway:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a region with some of the best and most-talented teams in the state, it will be no easy task for Spring Valley to push for a playoff spot this season. However, they have the pieces and the makeup to do so, if they can get the chemistry and buy-in to click. Their four-man core of Point Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2948752' first='Malik' last='Woods'], Combo Guard [player_tooltip player_id='3230791' first='Hassan' last='Lake'], and exciting wings [player_tooltip player_id='2624989' first='Christopher' last='McClenic'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2377456' first='Kensley' last='Parks'] is one of the better ones in Columbia. The five-man is a question for them going into the year, but they could also turn to veterans like [player_tooltip player_id='3598542' first='Aquil' last='Lake'] or <strong>Ethan Ard</strong> to fill in and go a little smaller. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2896377' first='Isaiah' last='Mabry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3764303' first='Daevon' last='Cobaris'] could have solid roles off the bench, and [player_tooltip player_id='3778734' first='Brian' last='Cooper'] is the swing piece with a low floor and high ceiling in terms of production. I am intrigued to see how this unit stacks up this season, particularly in region play and with regards to next-level scouting, but they are in a solid spot in year one of the Cameron Lee era.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->