Class 5A Notebook

The Class 5A field this season could be the deepest one I recall in the along time. Plenty of talent from top to bottom in the Palmetto State. Read more about these teams right here.  Dorman HS (16-4)  Can the Cavaliers win a 5th straight Class 5A State Championship ? The Cavaliers have so many weapons on the roster starting with seniors Jalen Breazeale Jalen Breazeale 5'10" | PG Dorman | 2021 State SC , Converse College signee Earl Burgess Earl Burgess 6'7" | PF Dorman | 2021 State SC and Southern Wesleyan University signee Dessie Canty Dessie Canty 6'4" | SF Dorman | 2021 State SC . Juniors Noah Clowney Noah Clowney 6'10" | PF Dorman | 2022 State #80 Nation SC and Jordyn Surratt Jordyn Surratt 6'6" | SF Dorman | 2022 State SC provide scoring around the paint.  Ridge View HS (13-2)  [player_tooltip player_id="927498" first="Tyler" last="Rice"] The Blazers have won the last 3 straight state championships in the Class 4A ranks. The Blazers made the move up to Class 5A this season. Something has to give between them and Dorman and the streaks. Tyler Rice Tyler Rice 6'0" | PG Ridge View | 2021 State SC (William & Mary), DaVeon Thomas DaVeon Thomas 6'0" | PG Ridge View | 2021 State SC (Queens), Jaylon Jeter Jaylon Jeter 5'11" | PG Ridge View | 2021 State SC , Greg Jackson Greg Jackson 6'8" | PF Ridge View | 2023 State #25 Nation SC , Xavier Moultrie Xavier Moultrie 5'11" | PG Ridge View | 2022 State SC and Jordan Frazer Jordan Frazer 6'0" | PG Cardinal Newman | 2023 State SC are just some key members of this talented squad.  Mauldin HS (13-4) The Mavericks won Region 1 while Woodmont HS finished in 2nd place. Caleb Byrd Caleb Byrd 6'1" | PG Mauldin | 2022 State SC leads the Mavericks in balance scoring this season at 12.1 ppg. Drake Downs Drake Downs 6'8" | PF Mauldin | 2022 State SC 11.9 ppg, Nic Williams Nic Williams 6'4" | SG Mauldin | 2021 State SC 10.3 ppg while Jameson Tucker Jameson Tucker 6'3" | SG Mauldin | 2021 State SC a Coastal Carolina University football signee comes in at 9.1 ppg.  Goose Creek HS (8-0) The Gators are back playing under Head Coach Blake Hall. The Gators play in Region 7-5A with the likes of Wando HS, Stratford HS, Berkeley HS and Cane Bay HS. Xavion Bennett Xavion Bennett 6'4" | SG Goose Creek | 2021 State SC (Converse College), Yaturi Bolton Yaturi Bolton 6'5" | SF Goose Creek | 2021 State SC and Taijon Simmons Taijon Simmons 6'6" | SF Goose Creek | 2021 State SC provide senior leadership for the Gators.  Fort Dorchester HS (6-0) , Summerville HS (6-1) and West Ashley HS (4-1)  Region 8-5A just started back up playing last week. The Fort Dorchester HS Patriots have gotten good production from O’Marion Green O’Marion Green 5'11" | SG Fort Dorchester | 2022 State SC 13.5 ppg and Demetris McKelvey Demetris McKelvey 6'6" | SF Fort Dorchester | 2022 State SC 12.8 ppg and Davion Joyner Davion Joyner 6'1" | PG Fort Dorchester | 2022 State SC 8.4 ppg.  The Green Wave is being led by freshman Yannick Smith Yannick Smith 6'2" | SG Summerville | 2024 State SC 16.3 ppg and senior Ryan Foor Ryan Foor 6'3" | SF Summerville | 2021 State SC 10.8 ppg. The Green Wave plays West Ashley HS tonight, Ashley Ridge HS Wednesday and Fort Dorchester HS on Friday night.  Dutch Fork HS (8-1) The Silver Foxes played in the Class 5A State Championship Game last season against Dorman HS. The Silver Foxes defeated Conway HS in the Lower State Championship Game last year. Houston Jones Houston Jones 6'4" | SG Dutch Fork | 2022 State SC and Jarvis Green Jarvis Green 5'11" | PG Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC provide production from the back court. The Silver Foxes lost to River Bluff HS in region play and stand at (5-1).  River Bluff HS (10-4)  Myles Jenkins Myles Jenkins 6'3" | CG River Bluff | 2021 State SC , Malachi Reeves Malachi Reeves 6'4" | SG River Bluff | 2021 State SC and Grayson Renner Grayson Renner 6'0" | SG River Bluff | 2021 State SC have the Gators in the playoffs. Blythewood HS (6-5) The junior dominated Bengals are in a battle with Northwestern HS for the 2nd place spot in Region 4-5A. The Bengals recently lost to Ridge View HS last week 83-56 and 55-53 last Friday. Julian Phillips Julian Phillips 6'8" | SF Blythewood | 2022 #24 Nation SC , Emmanuel Richards Emmanuel Richards 6'3" | SF Christ School | 2023 State NC , Isaiah Williams Isaiah Williams 6'6" | PF Blythewood | 2022 State SC , Samaad Wright Samaad Wright 6'0" | CG Blythewood | 2022 State SC , Olyn Knox Olyn Knox 6'8" | PF Keenan | 2022 State SC , Barry Hardy Barry Hardy 6'1" | CG Blythewood | 2022 State SC  and Kyle Greene Kyle Greene 6'2" | PG Pace Academy | 2024 State GA will look to help the Bengals finish strong this season.  Riverside HS (16-4) The Warriors really came out of nowhere this season to finish 2nd in Region 2-5A behind Dorman HS. The Warriors defeated Dorman HS this season finished just ahead of Byrnes HS (14-7). Alexei Iturbe Alexei Iturbe 6'0" | SG Riverside | 2021 State SC has really led this Warriors squad this season.  Gaffney HS (10-4) The Indians have been led all season long by Undre Lindsay Undre Lindsay 6'3" | CG Gaffney | 2021 State SC (Howard University Football Signee) and Akeereion Flack Akeereion Flack 6'4" | SF Gaffney | 2021 State SC .  Carolina Forest HS (11-4) [player_tooltip player_id="976946" first="Corbin" last="Pack"] The Panthers (4-0) in region sit out on top so far. Corbin Pack Corbin Pack 6'5" | SF Carolina Forest | 2021 State SC , Jonah Nesmith Jonah Nesmith 6'4" | SF Carolina Forest | 2022 State SC and Kyle Watkins Kyle Watkins 6'0" | PG Carolina Forest | 2021 State SC are leading the way. Watkins is headed off to Wofford University next to play football for the Terriers.  Conway HS (6-4) The Tigers have been playing under Assistant Coach Brandon Anderson with Head Coach Mike Hopkins out. The Tigers (3-1) in region have a big showdown with Carolina Forest HS this week. Underclassmen makeup most of this roster with Carlton Terry Jr Carlton Terry Jr 5'11" | CG Conway | 2022 State SC , EJ Huffman EJ Huffman 6'5" | PF Conway | 2022 State SC , Devin Grainger Devin Grainger 6'1" | CG Conway | 2024 State SC and Jamarious Woodbury Jamarious Woodbury 6'1" | CG Conway | 2023 State SC to name just a few here for the Tigers.  Sumter HS (5-3) The Gamecocks were off for 2 months and have came back (0-2) in the region with losses to Conway HS and Carolina Forest HS.  Byrnes HS (14-7)  The Rebels finished the season in 3rd place behind Dorman HS and Riverside HS.