Pepsi Carolina Classic: 2023 Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 36th Annual Pepsi Carolina Classic just finished this past week in Florence at Wilson HS. The event featured 8 teams this past season. Prep Hoops was in an attendance of action like usual. Let's take a look at the 2023 Top Performers from the event right here on your source for basketball coverage in the Palmetto State. It's time to <strong><em>#RecruitThePalmettoState </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1723748,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/44DDC25F-B8C2-481D-8D47-D7E05993A0A1.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/44DDC25F-B8C2-481D-8D47-D7E05993A0A1.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1723748" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='865315' first='Deuce' last='Hudson']</strong> - West Florence HS </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hudson came out firing in the opening round contest vs Marion. He dropped 29 points on the Swamp Foxes. Hudson is one of the top guards UNSIGNED in the Palmetto State for next season. Deuce got to the basket time after time by changing speeds and finishing on both sides of the bucket. Hudson can score the ball from all 3 levels on the floor and when he's not scoring the ball, he brings constant ball pressure on the defensive end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1723756,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/867FDDC8-75E6-49F6-8F0B-FF07A3D8B8E0.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/867FDDC8-75E6-49F6-8F0B-FF07A3D8B8E0.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1723756" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1162462' first='Darren' last='Lloyd']</strong> - West Florence HS </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lloyd is a fierce competitor and like built like a pocket rocket on the hardwood. He finishes drives at the basket through contact all the time. Darren ran for more than 2,200 yards this past year on the gridiron for the Knights. Lloyd and Hudson are a great duo in the backcourt for Head Coach Kevin Robinson. Darren will sacrifice his body for a charge without a blink of any eye on the defensive end. Darren likes to get the ball downhill and to the rack and when he doesn't, he will stop and pop with a nice pull-up jumper in transition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1723760,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/A25537EE-2521-4CED-8AE3-62C2084F4D9D.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/A25537EE-2521-4CED-8AE3-62C2084F4D9D.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1723760" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1295790' first='Jevon' last='Brown']</strong> - Wilson HS </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Somebody says SHOOTER - don't look too far than Mr. Brown. Jevon has a quick trigger from downtown and he really shoots it at a good clip. He never looks to force the issue and he understands good shot selection. He really likes to set-up shop out behind the three-point line especially in the corners. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1295761' first='Joshua' last='Green']</strong> - Wilson HS </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Green is the ultimate RIM-RUNNER at times on the floor. Josh will look to stalk the baseline and plays bigger than his size on both ends of the floor with his athleticism. He remains active on both ends if that means grabbing a rebounding and pushing it up the floor in transition or just picking up a deflection in the passing lanes. Joshua NEVER takes a play-off while on the floor. Green was teammates with Hudson and Lloyd on the Grassroots Circuit with the Carolina Bad Boyz. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1723745,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/6F5C80D2-4484-4881-8165-FAD4EC7286A7.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/6F5C80D2-4484-4881-8165-FAD4EC7286A7.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1723745" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='865337' first='Myles' last='Squirewell']</strong> - Lakewood HS </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Squirewell has a new home this season over in Sumter for the Gators. Myles has really thinned out his frame and shows to have a great set of MITTS down low. He catches everything thrown his way and into his direction. Myles is at his best when inside the paint and close to the cup. He dropped several jump hooks today and logged a lot of minutes for the Gators. Myles scored 22 points today for the Gators in a opening round loss. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1723767,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/F8D03714-677B-483A-B15B-0A5BE205101F.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/F8D03714-677B-483A-B15B-0A5BE205101F.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1723767" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1723739' first='Arntrez' last='Ross']</strong> - Lakewood HS </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ross came over from Ridge View HS this past off season. Arntrez is extremely quick end to end on the floor. He connected on some floaters today in the lane when he wasn't being disruptive on the defensive end at times. He keeps the ball low to the floor and rarely turns the ball over. Arntrez a water-bug point guard NEVER GAVE up at all when getting behind and really likes to touch the paint. He finished with 20 points in a loss to Wilson HS. Ross is a new name to add to the 2023 South Carolina database for sure. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1723757,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/D5452405-B5D0-4D8F-A4B8-6B51ED4C9881.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/D5452405-B5D0-4D8F-A4B8-6B51ED4C9881.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1723757" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1121048' first='Nigel' last='Okwakol']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1640341' first='Tyson' last='Barrett'] </strong>both attend Quality Education Academy in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This duo helped the Pharaohs to victory today. Okwakol picked up a few offers this weekend for his play here from Coker University (SC) and Converse College (SC) both NCAA D2 programs. Nigel brings great versatility to the floor with his play. He can defend 1-4 positions at times on the floor. The left-handed Okwakol can play inside-out at times if it means knocking down perimeter jumpers or attacking the rim along the baseline. He looks to stuff the stat sheet every night he touches the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1723765,"width":256,"height":192,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/2152FC55-2D40-4671-B9EC-2EA3DA4F23A6.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/2152FC55-2D40-4671-B9EC-2EA3DA4F23A6.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1723765" width="256" height="192" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barrett originally from Lexington, KY was able to drop 17 points today in a win according to my unofficial stats. Tyson a big wing prefers to play around the perimeter and was able to drop some mid-range jumpers when he wasn't connecting from downtown. Barrett runs the floor well and was able to fill the lane in transition while finishing at the bucket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->