Region 3-AAAAA Preview
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From the Upstate to the Lowcountry and from the CSRA to the Pee Dee. From the Grand Strand to the Midlands and from the Piedmont to Metrolina. Another unforgettable season of high school hoops is on the verge of tipping…
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Continue ReadingFrom the Upstate to the Lowcountry and from the CSRA to the Pee Dee. From the Grand Strand to the Midlands and from the Piedmont to Metrolina. Another unforgettable season of high school hoops is on the verge of tipping off across South Carolina.
That is where we come in. Throughout the last several days and months, Prep Girls Hoops has provided in-depth, comprehensive previews of every region in the state. We are spotlighting the standout players in those regions and offering our opinions on how we believe things will play out at season’s end.
Class 5A is full of talent – and Region 3-AAAAA – which comprises teams of Midlands and Metrolina teams – is no exception.
(*PGH Preseason Player of the Year*)rnThe 2021-22 campaign was a resurgent one for the 5A school at the corner of Hardscrabble and Two Notch. Liebert and the rest of her Vikings teammates turned it up a notch last season. She ran on the grassroots realm with Upward Stars Select 2023. Much of what she does occurs in the backcourt as a guard. In addition to putting plenty of points on the board, Liebert is a skilled rebounder and can weave her way through defenders en route to the rack. Expect for the Vikings to continue their ascent up the 5A ranks in the 2022-23 season.
Highlights
Wright knows what championship euphoria feels like. She was part of the 2020-21 rendition that won a 5A state crown in a thriller over Sumter. Wright will play her first and only season under incoming head coach Shakkia Walker following the retirement of Sherer Hopkins. She stands at 5-foot-9 and is primarily listed as a small forward. She maintains a high level of activity and much of what she does with her superb defense can get opposing ball carriers to cough the rock up where she can take advantage of those miscues. Her offensive rebounding also creates second-chance point opportunities for her team.
The Blue Eagles will maintain their 5A status this season and will remain in its Region 3-AAAAA. Massey has embarked on a grassroots career that has included stints with Next Generation 15U as well as NC Lady Gems. Massey maintains confidence in her ability to drain 3-point attempts and plays the game on contact which can give her a bevy of opportunities at the free throw line. As a 5-foot-11 four with five skills, Massey puts forth a great deal of work in the low post and thrives as a rebounder. Clover followed up its 5A championship-winning campaign with a 2021-22 where they won 18 games.
Entzminger saw playing time in 23 of the 26 games last season that Spring Valley competed in. She helped the Vikings take a major step in the right direction when they 16 games. The team is moving from Region 4-5A to Region 3-5A in the coming season. She is one of the anchors of the defense for coach Megan Assey’s team. She moves the ball well and will make tough shots against a number of defenders. In addition, she runs the floor with efficiency, can corral a good bit of steals and adds a 3-point shooting dimension to the Spring Valley offense.
The year after claiming 5A state supremacy last season, coach Kenny Orr’s Bearcats bunch will have a new look in 2022-23. Three of its star veterans graduated and the Hankerson sisters transferred to Charlotte Country. Crawford is still around and will likely be part of the nucleus of the new look Rock Hill squad. She has previously ran grassroots for Next Generation. Crawford approaches every matchup with a fearless mentality. She brings versatility to the game with her ability to play minutes as either one of the guard spots or as a small forward. Crawford also has a knowledge of her team’s passing lanes and how to find those open teammates. Getting to the free throw line is another element to her game.
Reed saw playing time in 17 matchups the Bearcats played in last season. She has also taken part in track and field events alongside what she does in basketball. She stands at 5-foot-10 and combines the height of a four with the skill of a three. An aspect where her track and field background translates well to the basketball court is when she gets out in transition. Along with playing either as a small forward or a power forward, Reed will also put forth productive minutes as a wing. Reed also puts plenty of emphasis on developing in terms of her shot.
There has been plenty of Blue Eagles representation on the Charlotte Dream Elite rosters as of late – including Alexander (including Clover teammates Marcia Watt Marcia Watt 5’6″ | CG Clover | 2024 State SC and Samara Lucas Samara Lucas 5’11” | PF Clover | 2025 State SC ). Her athleticism greatly helps the Clover cause and one way this shines through is how effective she can be with her footwork. On both the defensive and offensive glasses, she can bring down rebounds. She also has mastered the art of converting on high-percentage bucket opportunities. Alexander is listed at 5-foot-9 and primarily plays at the three. She can turn offensive boards into two-point putbacks. Incoming coach Shakkia Walker should be excited for what she will get from this multi-skilled veteran.
When coach Shakkia Walker looks at her roster, she will look at the laundry list of standouts that wear the Blue Eagles’ colors and ought to be very impressed with this junior. Watt has participated on the grassroots realm with Charlotte Dream Elite 2024. Last season, Watt was one of four sophomores that comprised the 2021-22 Blue Eagles rendition. The 2022-23 season will be one that sees Watt transition to veteran status and Watt has shown throughout her career that she is more than ready for said challenge. Watt was one of only four from the 2020-21 roster that was at either 5-foot-5 or less and has received more playing time as previous Clover upperclassmen have departed for the college ranks.
Previously, Wildy was part of the Next Generation 15U grassroots team. Also previously was Wildy getting experience with the junior varsity team at Rock Hill before earning a varsity berth. Defensively it appears that Wildy stays one step ahead of whoever she is guarding and that knowledge can translate to her intercepting passes. Wildy is gifted as a transition runner and can be relied on in terms of her high-percentage shot opportunities. If a teammate is looking to score, Wildy can get near the rim just in case she needs to haul in an offensive rebound to create a second-chance point opportunity.
Prep Girls Hoops became really familiar with Ratchford throughout the spring and summer months of AAU. She has worn the A’ja Wilson Elite 2025 uniform under the Nike umbrella and the team participated on a few events on the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit Triumph Region. Her team was at Peach Games in Atlanta. She can convert on tough shots and comes to the court with a confidence that can permeate throughout a locker room. Defensively, she can create steals and give her team extra possessions in addition to getting herself in position to haul in rebounds. Ratchford may have been sidelined from the Vikings’ playoff run because of an injury, but she is poised to be part of a Spring Valley assembling that looks to put the rest of the 5A field on notice.
The centerpiece of the Falcons’ girls basketball program at the moment, Kerridge is coming off an AAU season where she participated with Team Curry 15U during the spring and summer months. Last season, Kerridge amassed one of the signature breakout freshman campaigns anywhere in the state as she averaged 19.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game in 2021-22. Kerridge is a stout defender that can get opposing ball carriers to commit turnovers and create extra Nation Ford possessions. She can score either by attacking the rim or by shooting the triple which can throw many a defender for a loop. Ball handling skills are another facet of her overall game and she will change directions with the ball.
Between Kerridge and Wilmore, Senior Day in 2025 at Nation Ford is sure to be a memorable one. Wilmore actually runs on the grassroots circuit with FBC Queen City Ballers 15U. She stands at 5-foot-5 and can operate typically as a small forward. She has the ability to wave her way through a slew of opposing defenders en route to the basket or drain a midrange jump shot. Wilmore can help a team’s rebounding efforts and displays on-court versatility by playing as a wing or a guard in addition to the three. She is a multi-sport athlete that also turns Woman of the Match-worthy performances on the soccer pitch.
Fairfield Central’s loss happens to be Spring Valley’s gain here. Needing someone to serve in the stead of Ariana Wilkes, who now is in the college ranks at Division I Hampton, coach Megan Assey and the Vikings have secured themselves a formidable interior presence for the next several seasons. The calling card for Yarborough is what she accomplishes in the low post. Yarborough, as a 5-foot-11 power forward can also bring down rebounds and win plenty of battles on the boards. She is an efficient floor runner, will absorb contact to get to the free throw line, displays impressive footwork and asserts herself fearlessly on the court.
Williams is a rising star with a bright future who runs on the grassroots circuit with SC Future. She makes up an important aspect of the current Vikings roster – its bevy of young talent. Williams is a 5-foot-8 combo guard who is unafraid to draw contact and take her chances at the free throw line. She attacks the rim with ferocity and can give plenty of opposing teams and coaches fits with how she can relentless guard against an opponent’s inbounds pass. Another attribute to her defense is how she can come away with steals which translates to additional Spring Valley possessions.
Following the graduations of Nadia Dial and Lindsay Paukovitz from the Yellow Jackets, this leaves Fort Mill’s rising star guard as the centerpiece of the program in the coming seasons. Moore has participated on the grassroots circuit with FBC Carolina Brown 15U. She is listed at 5-foot-4 and can be described as a floor general. Moore possesses a potent 3-point shot and finds herself at the right places and right times to make plays. She provides plenty of rebounds and will get through a number of defenders en route to the basket. This will be first season for Nathan Wruble at the helm of the program following Heather Klipa’s departure.
Highlights
In addition to basketball, Sterling has participated in track and field events throughout her athletic career which include what she has done in the discus throw. Her primary position is the four and she stands at 5-foot-9. Sterling understands how to box out to get herself in better position to grab rebounds and is willing to draw contact that can put her at the free throw line. One area of the court where she is particularly on point is in the low post where she can find spacing in the interior. Sterling will certainly make her presence known on both ends of the floor and her play is more indicative of an upperclassman than a sophomore.
Crosland brings previous experience from the Vikings’ junior varsity before crossing over to varsity land with the Vikings. Instead of the green and gold Spring Valley uniform, she wears a black and gold Capital City Tyrants uniform throughout the spring and summer months of AAU ball. In addition to the 5-foot-9 stature she plays with, she also adds length to go along with the height. Crosland is a skilled rim attacker who also puts plenty of emphasis on taking care of the ball. In addition, she does things that may not show up on the scoresheet – such as diving for loose balls – that actually have a major impact.
Highlights
Lucas is another of the standouts for the Blue Eagles that comprise one of the Charlotte Dream Elite rosters. She stands at 5-foot-11 and was one of the taller players on this past AAU season’s Charlotte Dream Elite 16U roster that had two other Clover participants. The upside that exists in Lucas can be seen in many areas of the game – including how she will hustle for 50-50 balls. Lucas also welcomes the opportunity to take on tough defensive assignments. She will maneuver flawlessly within the ebb and flow of an offense and she herself is a gifted ball distributor.
If recency is a guide, the typical South Carolina high school girls basketball fan may not necessarily think of the Bengals as being a hotbed for the sport. If its youth movement that includes Hightower has its way, that will soon change. Hightower previously participated in grassroots ball with Palmetto 76ers 2026. She is a gifted ball handler who is a natural southpaw. Hightower possesses a midrange jumper and consistently looks to make plays near where the ball is. She understands how to get past defenders to finish at the rim, keeps her hands and arms active as a defender and gets opposing ball handlers at risk to commit a turnover.
Last season, Hudson managed to earn playing time in 19 of the Bearcats games last season. And that roster was a Rock Hill one that had no shortage of noteworthy stars – both veteran and young. She typically can be found in the backcourt when she is allotted playing time. Hudson adds a 3-point shooting element to a team’s offense and stays active even when she does not have the ball in her hands. She also sets herself up at the right places and right times to receive passes and convert those feeds into scores. Hudson will be an important player for Rock Hill as the program goes from championship to rebuild.
Prep Girls Hoops predictions:
Spring Valley – Who knows how deep the Vikings’ playoff run would have been if they had a healthy Ratchford.
Rock Hill – Many of the notable cast of characters that got the Bearcats its first championship have departed, but coach Kenny Orr still has talent to work with.
Clover – Coach Shakkia Walker will have a talented team to work with.
Nation Ford – The duo of Kerridge and Wilmore is ready to spearhead the Falcons’ ascent up South Carolina’s high school girls basketball food chain.
Fort Mill – Who will step up following the graduations of Dial and Paukovitz?
Blythewood – There is nowhere to go but up after going zero for the season as was the case last season with the Bengals.