Team 9 got a lucky draw with two elite bigs. The first is Ian Gause Ian Gause 6'8" | PF Marion | 2028 State SC , a 6’8″ Power Forward ranked in the Top 10 of South Carolina’s junior class. Playing next to another big allowed Ian to roam the perimeter and show off an improved handle. This makes him a well-rounded offensive threat who can not only catch the ball inside and work from the post, but also create a shot for himself if given the space to attack off the bounce.

Keeping it in the Pee Dee, Gause rises from #16 to #8 in the August Rankings Update. Ian put together two of the best performances that I’ve seen from him in June and July of this year, showing excellent progression with his interior game on both ends of the floor. There were some highs and lows throughout the season with Upward Stars SE , but I’m expecting Gause to be one of the most dominant players in Class 1A this winter.

Ian Gause Ian Gause 6'8" | PF Marion | 2028 State SC is a 2028 big man who has been playing excellent basketball this summer. Gause showed all that he can do offensively on day one, putting up 14 points on 2 3PM, a baseline drive for a layup, a finish from the dunker spot, and some easy buckets around the rim. He still needs to become a stronger and more consistent finisher in the paint, but the stretch aspect of his game is something I haven’t seen before. Gause looked confident and comfortable stepping out to the perimeter on his two attempts, showcasing a clean stroke and good touch. Look for Ian to be a big riser in the rankings with all the movement in South Carolina’s 2028 Class.

Headlining the top performers from the Swamp Fox Summer Showdown is Ian Gause Ian Gause 6'8" | PF Marion | 2028 State SC . Gause flashed his elite potential on Tuesday, putting up 18 points, 19 rebounds, and 2 blocks against West Florence and 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks against Wilson. Ian was dominant all day long, showing tons of aggression around the rim, controlling both sides of the glass, and displaying an intriguing combination of length and athleticism.

Ian Gause Ian Gause 6'8" | PF Marion | 2028 State SC is one of the names to know in the Pee Dee. He has tons of potential based on his length alone, but he took a big step in production in 2025-26. Gause put up 10.5 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game, and 1.8 blocks per game, showing a solid all-around skillset for a big man. However, if he can put on a little bit of strength to dominate smaller matchups and hold up against bigger ones, he will see both a boost in numbers and college attention.

Ian was one of the most intriguing interior prospects at the 2026 King’s Klassic. Playing for the hosts, Gause flashed a little bit of what makes him one of the top youngsters in the Pee Dee area. He put up 13 points and 9 rebounds, including a buzzer-beater to send the game to overtime. He has really shown good progression with his jump shot this season and will always have the length to work the offensive glass and finish at the rim, but if he can add a little bit of strength to hold up defensively and work offensively from the dunker spot, he will be a very good player.