Class 3A – Region 5 Preview

<p>Who will be on top at the end of the season in Class 3A - Region 5 ? Will the Bearcats and Bruins battle it out ? Will the feisty Predators and some Runnin Rebels have something to say about that. Read more about it right here on your source for basketball coverage in the Palmetto State. </p> <p><strong>Predictions: </strong></p> <p><strong>Brookland Cayce HS - </strong>The Bearcats return 8 of 12 kids on the roster this season. The Bearcats finished (13-14) last season<strong>.</strong></p> <p><strong>Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS - </strong>The Bruins will rely on [player_tooltip player_id="650231" first=<strong>"Jordan" last="Simpson</strong>"] (2022) and [player_tooltip player_id="1015557" first=<strong>"Larry" last="Howell"</strong>] (2021) this season. </p> <p><strong>Fox Creek HS - </strong>The Predators could be the sleeper on a given night under Head Coach Andrew Peckham this year. The Predators finished last season at (16-14) in Class 2A. </p> <p><strong>Strom Thurmond HS - </strong>The Rebels finished last season at (9-14). </p> <p><strong>Swansea HS - </strong>How far can <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="927581" first="Tymir" last="Lowman"]</strong> carry the Tigers squad for Head Coach Chris Register ?</p> <p><strong>Gilbert HS -</strong> The Indians will really have to battle this season and rely on <strong>Dalton Rye.</strong> </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>Players to Watch in the Region: </strong></em></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="927505" first="Aubrey" last="Richardson"] (2021) - Brookland Cayce HS (Prep Hoops Region Player of the Year) </strong></p> <p>Richardson is a TWEENER on the floor and a MANCHILD at times. Richardson a 3 time All-Region Performer averaged 14 ppg and 8 rebounds last season for the Bengals. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/D41DD72C-2C30-4771-9C4D-9179DBD55849.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1015676" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/D41DD72C-2C30-4771-9C4D-9179DBD55849-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1015557" first="Larry" last="Howell"] (2021) - Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS </strong></p> <p>Prep Hoops expects Howell to have a breakout season this year for the Bruins. Howell had a good summer on the Grassroots Circuit playing with Big Shots Virginia Select. Howell is a great athlete who averaged 4.5 ppg last season for the Bruins. Howell has a good motor and better work ethic on the floor for Head Coach Willie Thomas. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/9673FD4D-E586-4FD2-84C6-F83157A40A5A.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1086703" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/9673FD4D-E586-4FD2-84C6-F83157A40A5A-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="927581" first="Tymir" last="Lowman"] (2021) - Swansea HS </strong></p> <p>Lowman a guard averaged 11 ppg last season for the Tigers. </p> <p><strong>Dalton Rye (2021) - Gilbert HS </strong></p> <p>Rye is a 3 year starter for the Indians and averaged 13 ppg last season. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/83603681-A06C-472D-A29B-B41D52310A0F.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1004972" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/83603681-A06C-472D-A29B-B41D52310A0F-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="650231" first="Jordan" last="Simpson"] (2022) - Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS </strong></p> <p>Simpson is back to lead the Bruins team for Head Coach Willie Thomas. Simpson averaged 14.6 ppg last season for the Bruins (16-11). Simpson ran on the Grassroots Circuit with Upward Stars Southeast 2022. Simpson is a versatile guard in the backcourt with his ability to create his own shot and for his teammates. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/88596C21-F691-4156-920A-2CAAFF6C1637.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1086694" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/88596C21-F691-4156-920A-2CAAFF6C1637-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="795989" first="Christian" last="Ferguson"] (2022) - Brookland Cayce HS </strong></p> <p>Ferguson is back for the Bengals after averaging 7.8 ppg and 4.8 rebounds last season. Ferguson a small forward is a great loose change guy on the floor with the ability to knockdown the elbow jumper. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/FA6391DF-EA7D-41A7-810C-2229F697418C.jpeg?1605730281110"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1086695" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/FA6391DF-EA7D-41A7-810C-2229F697418C-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="930641" first="Jahmari" last="Kennerly"] (2022) - Brookland Cayce HS </strong></p> <p>Kennerly a point guard is back to lead the Bearcats offense. Kennerly started off his career at Airport HS. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/21CEAE20-85FE-48F3-8E82-F7C1BB6474D3.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1007031" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/21CEAE20-85FE-48F3-8E82-F7C1BB6474D3-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="837359" first="Jadon" last="Johnson"] (2022) - Fox Creek HS </strong></p> <p>Johnson plays Quarterback in the fall and in the backcourt when it comes to hoop season. Johnson averaged 8.3 ppg,4.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists last season for the Predators. </p> <p><strong>Chandler O’Bannon (2022) - Fox Creek HS </strong></p> <p>O’Bannon is looking to have a breakout season for the Predators after averaging 5.9 ppg and 7.7 rebounds last season. O’Bannon 6’4 power forward is a new name for Prep Hoops to follow this season.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/4D45812C-BB94-442A-94ED-89A6020497DD.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1045433" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/4D45812C-BB94-442A-94ED-89A6020497DD-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="922023" first="Horace" last="Jacques"] (2023) - Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS </strong></p> <p>Jacques had a good summer on the Grassroots Circuit after averaging 5.3 ppg last season for the Bruins. </p> <p><em><strong>Some players moving on: </strong></em></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="930630" first="Skylar" last="King"]</strong> will not play basketball this season for the Brookland Cayce HS Bearcats. King has committed to play baseball at the University of West Virginia.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/5AF1CBD2-55DD-43CF-A48D-FA240F216084.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1015040" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/5AF1CBD2-55DD-43CF-A48D-FA240F216084-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1005770" first="Jahmonie" last="Parker-Jones"]</strong> has transferred out of Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS and reclassified into the 2022 class. Parker-Jones is currently in school at New Life Christian Academy in Fayetteville, NC. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>