Four Lowco area hoops teams earned spots in the Preseason Top 10, and one Lowco standout was tabbed as one of the top five seniors in her classification by the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association on Monday.
The Whale Branch girls will begin the season ranked sixth in Class 1A, as they return star guard Kynew Barnwell, who was picked as one of the top five seniors in Class 1A. The Warriors went 10-0 in regular-season play last season before being stunned by Lamar in the opening round of the playoffs. Barnwell was an All-State selection a year ago, averaging a Lowco-best 20.9 points and hitting 2.3 three-pointers per contest. The Warriors also return standout center Erin Rivers but will have to replace All-State forward Zhani Thompson and defensive whiz Jazmin Diaz.
Bluffton’s girls are ranked seventh in Class 4A in the preseason, largely on the strength of an outstanding backcourt. Sophomore guards Tacoya Heyward and Katie Rodney return for the Bobcats, along with classmate Madi Washington in the post, but they have several key players to replace off last year’s 11-3 squad that fell to Myrtle Beach in the first round of the postseason.
A pair of Lowco squads cracked the top 10 in the Class 4A boys poll, with a veteran Beaufort High team ranked ninth, one spot ahead of 2020-21 state runner-up Hilton Head High.
The Eagles return a terrific trio in the frontcourt with James and Michael Dennison back along with star Zyrin Odom, who earned a spot on the All-Lowco First Team with nine points and 10.2 rebounds per game a year ago.
The Seahawks lost their top three scorers from a year ago, including All-State pick and Lowco Player of the Year Will McCracken and big man Sam Summa, but they return point guard Alex Smith and football star Jaylen Sneed along with a number of players who will have to take on larger roles.
2021-22 SCBCA Preseason Rankings & Awards
SCBCA Elite Boys
Jordan Butler, Christ Church
Noah Clowney, Dorman
Zachary Davis, Denmark-Olar
Gregory Jackson, Ridge View
Cam Scott, Lexington
SCBCA Elite Girls
Talaysia Cooper, East Clarendon
Joyce Edwards, Camden
MiLaysia Fulwiley, Keenan
Jada Jones, Rock Hill
McCall King, Christ Church
Anala Nelson, Lower Richland
Jessica Woods, Westwood
Shardasia Zeigler, Orangeburg-Wilkinson
5A Boys Preseason Top 10
1. Ridge View
2. Dorman
3. Dutch Fork
4. Riverside
5. Goose Creek
6. Clover
7. Mauldin
8. Fort Dorchester
9. Conway
10. Byrnes
Top 5 Boys 5A Seniors
Lawrence Bartee, Clover
Houston Jones, Dutch Fork
Jonah Nesmith, Carolina Forest
Jordyn Surratt, Dorman
Isaiah Williams, Blythewood
5A Girls Preseason Top 10
1. Sumter
2. Rock Hill
3. JL Mann
4. Wando
5. Dorman
6. Lexington
7. Woodmont
8. West Ashley
9. Summerville
10. Byrnes
5A Girls Top 5 Seniors
Jasmine Grant, Summerville
Jasmine Jenkins, Cane Bay
Kristen Jenkins, West Ashley
Savannah Porter, Byrnes
Alexis Sexton, Lexington
Dylan Silber, Wando -inj-
4A Boys Preseason Top 10
1. South Pointe
2. Greenville
3. Irmo
4. West Florence
5. Hartsville
6. Travelers Rest
7. North Augusta
8. AC Flora
9. Beaufort
10. Hilton Head
Top 5 Boys 4A Seniors
Jacob Brown, Travelers Rest
Bryson Felder, Westwood
Tristan Lexander, Hartsville
Quan Peterson, South Pointe
Dylan Williams, Irmo
4A Girls Preseason Top 10
1. Westside
2. North Augusta
3. Westwood
4. South Pointe
5. AC Flora
6. Catawba Ridge
7. Bluffton
8. Eastside
10. North Myrtle Beach
4A Girls Top 5 Seniors
Sommer Joseph, Darlington
Najah Lane, South Pointe
Destiny Middleton, Westside
Imani Williams, Dreher
Albany Wilson, South Florence
3A Boys Preseason Top 10
1. Orangeburg-Wilkinson
2. Keenan
3. Seneca
4. Dillon
5. Berea
6. Oceanside
7. Blue Ridge
8. Daniel
9. Lake City
10. Brookland-Cayce
3A Boys Top 5 Senior
Justin Bailey, Blue Ridge
Demarco Bethea, Dillon
EJ Evett, Seneca
Jordan Simpson, Orangeburg-Wilkinson
Bobby Taylor, Daniel
3A Girls Preseason Top 10
1. Keenan
2. Orangeburg-Wilkinson
3. Camden
4. Blue Ridge
5. Southside
6. Emerald
7. Wren
8. Clinton
9. Bishop England
10. Daniel
3A Girls Top 5 Seniors
Tinique Austin, Clinton
Deondra Darby, Orangeburg-Wilkinson
Kara Harrison, Powdersville
Quadaija Langley, Blue Ridge
Somarian Webb, Pendleton
2A Boys Preseason Top 10
1. Christ Church
2. Gray Collegiate
3. York Prep
4. Wade Hampton
5. Andrew Jackson
6. Landrum
7. Phillip Simmons
8. Abbeville
9. Woodland
10. Chesnee
2A Boys Top 5 Seniors
Russell Branch, Barnwell
Kory Davis, York Prep
Miles Haight, Phillip Simmons
Ca’Darrius Sowell, Andrew Jackson
Isaiah Washington, Landrum
2A Girls Preseason Top 10
1. Blacksburg
2. Christ Church
3. Silver Bluff
4. Phillip Simmons
5. Andrew Jackson
6. Gray Collegiate
7. Saluda
8. Latta
9. Marion
10. Barnwell
2A Girls Top 5 Seniors
Mya Carroll, Saluda
Madeline Duwe, Christ Church
Emma Johnson, Crescent
Brie Smith, Chesnee
TyTy Tate, Blacksburg
1A Boys Preseason Top 10
1. Southside Christian
2. Scott’s Branch
3. Calhoun County
4. Great Falls
5. Hannah-Pamplico
6. Carvers Bay
7. Denmark-Olar
8. CA Johnson
9. CE Murray
10. Baptist Hill
1A Boys Top 5 Seniors
Jace Avant, Johnsonville
Russell Brunson, Calhoun County
Tali Coleman, Great Falls
Cyrus Ellison, Hannah Pamplico
Zakee Rendell, Scott’s Branch
1A Girls Preseason Top 10
1. Military Magnet
2. High Point Academy
3. East Clarendon
4. Denmark-Olar
5. Lake View
6. Whale Branch
7. Southside Christian
8. McBee
9. Lamar
10. Cross
1A Girls Top 5 Seniors
Kynew Barnwell, Whale Branch
Jasmine Cade, Calhoun Falls
Taia Garris, Cross
Jaylin Peterson, McBee
Ja’Niya Waters, Lake View