Lowe’s Roundball Classic
The Lowe’s Roundball Classic held at Chesnee High School in Chesnee, South Carolina will take place this season on December 28-30th. Bracket: Teams: East Rutherford High School (Forest City, NC)– East Rutherford High School in Forest City, North Carolina won it…
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Continue ReadingThe Lowe’s Roundball Classic held at Chesnee High School in Chesnee, South Carolina will take place this season on December 28-30th.
Bracket:
Teams:
East Rutherford High School (Forest City, NC)– East Rutherford High School in Forest City, North Carolina won it all in 2011. The Cavaliers defeated Northwood High School 58-56 and finished the season at 27-1 overall. Devince Boykins (went on to play at Marshall and Georgia Southern) of East Rutherford was the Wendy’s Charlie Adams MVP with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Zack Price scored 14 and T.J. Watkins 13 in the win. Devonte Boykins (Devince’s brother) graduated in 2014 and now plays for Georgia Southern.
Jawan BlantonHead Coach: Brad Levine has spent the last 19 years at East Rutherford and his teams have made the State playoffs 16 of those seasons. In those 16 seasons his teams have made the State Regionals 5 times and won the NC 2A State Championship in 2011. The last appearance in the Regionals was in the 2014 season. Coach LeVine has compiled a 362-145 record while at East Rutherford, and a 489-203 mark over his 27 years of coaching. He coached the East-West AllStar game in NC in 2012 and also coached the Blue-White All-Star game. Coach LeVine also coached at Southwest Randolph HS, Enka HS, and Owen HS.
Head Coach Brad Levine had this to say about the upcoming season,”The last two years we had a slew of transferring and injuries that kept us a possession or two from 13 or 14 wins to 20 or 21 wins. We have coming back a group that has played for me from 1 to 3 years. We could possible start 4 Seniors and a Sophomore, with a pretty good backup group of 3 Juniors and one other Senior. We have really worked hard in the off season on ball handling and shooting the basketball. I really feel we will be able to score the ball more this year than the past two or three years on offense, and you know we are going to try to get after you on defense that is always our thought process. Players to watch for is Seniors Jawan Blanton (Gaurd), Malik Hamrick (Gaurd), and much improved players in Stephen Archie (Sr.-Forward), Christian Walker (Soph.-Forward), Tyrese Carson (Sr.-Guard), Ryan Carson (Jr.-Guard), and several JV players that should make this season one that puts the Cavaliers back in the hunt! Call me if you would like to talk as the season gets closer, we could really make a run if the kids buy into playing 32 minutes.”
Chesnee High School (Chesnee, SC)-
Head Coach Andy Pitt: Coach Pitt is in his 6th year as Head Coach of Chesnee High School. During this span, the Eagles have had 9 players make All-Region and Deion Holmes was Region Player of the Year for 4 consecutive years. Holmes was also named AA All-State each year and AA Player of the Year twice. The Eagles tied for the Region Championship in 13-14, finished as Runner Up twice, and reached the playoffs in 3 of the 4 years. During his tenure, the Eagles have competed in prestigious events such as the Bojangles’ Bash, Farm Bureau Classic, and Cumberland Falls Invitational. Prior to Chesnee, Coach Pitt had stops as an assistant at Union County High School for one year and Byrnes High School for six years. Pitt is married to Ineka Pitt and they have a daughter, Lauren (3).
Returning Starters
Nate Lamb, 6’5 F – Jr
Mari Phillips, 6’3 G – Jr
Tyler Mahaffey, 6’3 F – Jr
Terrence Duren 5’10 F – Jr
Players to Watch
Nate Lamb, 6’6 F – Jr
Mari Phillips, 6’3 G – Jr
Tyler Mahaffey, 6’3 F – Jr
Kayne Alexander, 5’10 G – Soph
Zeke Blackwell, 6’3 F – Soph
2016-17 Outlook
Following a rebuilding campaign in 2015-16, the Eagles look to bounce back and make a run to the playoffs. Chesnee gained valuable experience over the last season and look to capitalize on growth and improvement.
Berea High School (Berea, SC)–
2015-16 Record:
Region II-AAA Champions
Head Coach: Jeff Maness
Assistants: Grey Little, Steven Norris, Austin Reid
Head Coach: Coach Maness– Coach Maness is in his 6th year at Berea were he also serves at Athletic Director. Prior to Berea, Maness was head coach at D.W. Daniel from 2004-2010. In 2010, Daniel claimed the AAA State Championship. Coach Maness spent time at Gettys Middle School and Easley High School prior to his time at Daniel. He is a 1992 graduate of Berea High School and 1996 graduate at Erskine College. Playing for coach Steve Corn and Ralph Patterson respectively.
4 Newa Hashim SG Jr. 6-0
5 Ta’mious Young PG Jr. 5-3
11 Thomas McLaurin F Jr. 6-3
12 Damarcus Leamon SF Jr. 6-2
20 Jalen Duffin SG,SF Sr. 6-2
30 Raymond Williams Jr.SG,PG Jr. 6-0
34 Jaylan Gordon C Jr. 6-6
Fort Mill High School (Fort Mill, SC)-
2015-16 Record:
AAAA Playoffs – Elite Eight
Region III-AAAA Champions
Head Coach: Dwayne Hartsoe
Assistants: Bryan Zulka, Troy Brace
Head Coach: Hartsoe
Coach Hartsoe is in his 25th year as a head coach. Previous stops include Hudgens Academy, Williston-Elko, Lancaster, and South Pointe. While at Williston-Elko, Hartsoe led the Blue Devils to the 1995 A State Championship. Through the years, Coach Hartsoe was selected as Region Coach of the Year five times.
1 Jamal White Jr
3 Austin Grainger Jr
10 Ryan Reyes Jr
12 Keaton Padgett-Griffin Jr
22 Ryan DeLuca Jr
32 Braxton Stirsman Jr
33 Norris Rachaels Jr
Mid-Carolina High School (Prosperity, SC)
Head Coach: Emmanuel O. DeWalt
Assistants: Greg Stewart, Jonathan Taylor
Head Coach: Emmanuel DeWalt
Coach DeWalt is in his 6th season at Mid-Carolina. There have been at least one All Region player on each of his teams. Two of his players have gone on to play college basketball while others have gone to play other college sports. Coach DeWalt spent the first eight years of his career as an assistant coach at York Comprehensive High School. There he helped develop a program that only won two games his first year into a team that made multiple playoff appearances. In his final season at York the Cougars reached the third round of the state playoffs.
Returning Players:
5’9 2017 guard Terrell Long averaged 5.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, 6’1 2018 guard Cade Ruff averaged 9.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last season, and 5’11 guard Kennan Boland who averaged 5.9 points and 2,5 rebounds per game.
Summerville High School (Summerville, SC)–
2015-16 Record: 21-5
Lost in the second round of the SCHSL playoffs to Irmo High School.
Union County High School (Union, SC)-
21015-2016 Record: 15-10
Head Coach: Will Hickson
The Yellowjackets return senior guard Douglas Brannon, who averaged 9.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest last season.