Jackie Carson Camp at Furman University – 2024 Top Performers
Since the conclusion of the high school basketball season, top high school ballers traded their high school uniforms for those of their AAU teams. For the month of June, they sport those high school colors once again as camp month…
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Continue ReadingSince the conclusion of the high school basketball season, top high school ballers traded their high school uniforms for those of their AAU teams. For the month of June, they sport those high school colors once again as camp month commences.
One of those camps emanated from Furman University in Greenville. The home of the Paladins utilized four courts – including that of its volleyball team – and welcomed teams from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.
It also welcomed Prep Girls Hoops which made the trip up to the South Carolina Upstate for day two – Saturday of the festivities. Here is a look at who stood out among the 2024 class.
Kaila Lewis – York HS – Instead of sporting a softball uniform, Lewis took some time to return to the basketball court for this weekend’s team camp at Furman University. Among her diverse skillset includes the ability to shoot the 3-pointer as well as make proficient passes to her teammates. Lewis is also a force to be reckoned with on the defensive side – a consistent threat to steal the ball. She tallied 12 points and only had one foul called against her in what was a hard-fought 28-27 victory against Boiling Springs on day two – Saturday – of the the meet at the Paladins’ home court.
Kylie McMillan Kylie McMillan 5'8" | CG Boiling Springs | 2024 SC – Boiling Springs HS – Prep Girls Hoops remembers the name Kylie McMillan Kylie McMillan 5'8" | CG Boiling Springs | 2024 SC from when the Bulldogs participated at a midseason tournament over the holidays at Landrum. McMillan can score in a variety different ways – including from behind the arc, at the free throw line and from inside the perimeter. She keeps teams in games when it looks as if her team will be routed. McMillan hauls in rebounds and attacks the rim with a fearless attitude. She scored 14 points to lead a ferocious comeback effort for the Bulldogs in its matchup with York on Saturday in addition to a 17-point effort in a rout of Thomas Heyward.
Julie Janus – A.C. Reynolds HS – Janus played a key role in a Rockets 2021-22 that saw the team finish with a 22-5 mark, an 11-1 conference mark and a deep run in the 4A state playoffs. She finished with 12 points on Saturday in one of her team’s matchups – a 41-11 rout of two-time defending SCHSL 4A champion Westside. She will fearlessly attack the rim and can make her attempts from midrange. She can be versatile as an offensive player with how she makes plays from around the perimeter as well as near the basket. Janus is also effective as a ball distributor, rebounder and ball hawk.
Raina McGowens Raina McGowens 5'10" | CG Wren | 2024 State SC – Wren HS – At this past weekend’s Furman camp, McGowens once again proved why schools such as Presbyterian and Appalachian State have her on their respective radars. McGowens is efficient with taking care of the ball, can deliver blocks on defense and will organize an offense in a halfcourt set. She is a gifted rebounder as well as a gifted free throw shooter who is unafraid of contact. McGowens excels in the transition game and is a fearless rim attacker. She scored 15 points to lead all scorers in a 34-24 victory for the Hurricanes over Tennessee-based Dobyns-Bennett.
Sarah Ezell Sarah Ezell 6'1" | SF Boiling Springs | 2024 State SC – Boiling Springs HS – Ezell is coming off a stellar performance with FCA Eagles 2024 at the Triumph Region Finals of the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit. She stands at 6-foot-1 and is an at-will scorer. How she puts points on the board – primarily via high-percentage shots near the rim – is complimented by what she accomplishes as a rebounder. Ezell also understands how to make things happen even when the ball is not in her hands and one way she accomplishes this is via setting screens. She finished with 16 points late Saturday afternoon in a Bulldogs rout of the Thomas Heyward Rebels.
Aniya Booker – Berea HS – Booker managed to make plays early and often when her Bulldogs matched up tough against an Oceanside team that made a run in last season’s SCHSL 3A playoffs. She bolsters a team’s offensive output via the 3-point shot and is hard to contain as quick as she is with the ball in her hands. Booker is also not afraid to draw contact and find herself at the free throw line. The five points she had – all in the first half – of that game may not seem like much but it proved to be plenty in a contest where scoring was at a premium.
Tianna Thompson Tianna Thompson 5'10" | PG Galloway | 2024 State GA – Galloway HS – When thinking about at-will scorers, one must not overlook this multi-talented star from Atlanta. She is listed at 5-foot-11 and has offers from a number of major schools including Alabama, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Auburn, George Washington, Mississippi State, Harvard, Georgia Southern and Southern Miss. As talented as a scorer as she is, she also knows when to pass as well as when to score. Thompson possesses a potent 3-point shot along with rim attacking ability and impresses with her long wingspan on both ends of the floor. Thompson tallied 21 points in a Scots victory over Mount Paran Christian late Saturday.