Heathwood Hall Winter Classic: Names to Know

<!-- 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 3rd Annual Heathwood Hall Winter Classic began on Thursday at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, South Carolina. This event featured public and private schools across South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and Prep Hoops SC was in attendance for day one. Here are some of the names you need to know based on who played well in the first four games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1669895"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-693335487b82b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pinewood Prep's [player_tooltip player_id='1669895' first='Jonathan' last='Slawson'] begins the group of names to know from day one of the 2025 Heathwood Hall Winter Classic. Slawson had his fingerprints all over the Panthers' win against Fort Walton Beach (FL), racking up 9 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals. Although he did a little bit of everything, it was Jonathan's passing that caught my eye the most. He has good touch on his passes, which makes them easy for his teammates to catch and immediately go up with a shot. Slawson will also do some of the gritty work by getting on the floor for loose balls and being a vocal leader for his team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2674162"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-693335487b8de"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Thursday's top scorer was Green with 27 points. He was in the zone from the jump in this one, scoring 10 points in the first five minutes of the game. Tre put the ball in the basket at all three levels, knocking down a pair of threes, getting to his spots in the mid-range, and finishing around the trees at the rim. Green's scoring ability raises this Pinewood Prep team to an elite level because of all the pieces around him, but even when the defense is focused on Tre, like they were yesterday, he can hit tough shots or earn trips to the free-throw line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2879760"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":3178469,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-693335487b982"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the non-South Carolina names to know is [player_tooltip player_id='2879760' first='Zeki' last='Locus'] of Morgan County (GA). Zeki isn't an overly flashy player with high-flying athleticism or fancy dribble moves, but he has a level of hunger to make "dog-like" plays on both ends of the floor. He shows up in several areas on the box score, tallying 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in the nightcap, but he will also do other little things, like drawing charges. This was my first look at Locus and Morgan County, but if last night's game was any indication of the type of player he is and the type of team they are, it will be a fun season for the Bulldogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":3178452,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Thomas Lee","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Brookwood School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-693335487ba50"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another Peach-State product who had a stand-out showing in Columbia was Lee. He seemed to be a crowd favorite in Brookwood (GA)'s matchup with Trinity Collegiate (SC), drawing "oohs" and "ahhs" with some impressive three-point shooting and tough finishing. It wasn't just scoring that made Thomas stand out, though; he also made some unselfish passes to get his teammates good looks, forced turnovers on the defensive end, and cleaned up a few long misses. Lee finished with 16 points, 4 steals, and 3 assists in the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2354724"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-693335487bab7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Preston was on the opposing side of Lee in the second game of the day. Although the result didn't go the way of the Titans, Jy'ell did show some really good things in a 17-point, 8-rebound performance. Trinity's best offensive possessions came when Preston was close to the rim, either getting there off the dribble, catching it with position in the paint, or working on the offensive glass. Jy'ell is an explosive jumper off two feet, which leads to him playing with good composure around the rim, so if he can add a consistent jump shot to his game, Preston can be a good player at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2267854"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-693335487bb14"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2267854' first='Deuce' last='Claxton'] of the host, Heathwood Hall, caps off this list of names to know from day one. The second half of the Highlanders' dominant win over Curtis Baptist (GA) was defined by their elite shooting, as they knocked down seven threes over the final 16 minutes. Deuce had two of those threes, as well as another one in the first half, on five total attempts. But Claxton is more than just a shooter. He was very active on the defensive end in trapping, switching, helping, and talking, all of which were crucial to holding their opponents to just 34 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->