Keenan coach gets another chance to work with star players | The State

Keenan girls basketball coach Reggie McLain knows it’s an honor to be picked to coach in an all-star game.

This year, it’s even more special.

McLain, an assistant for the North squad, will coach two of his players, Le’on Hill and Breia Jackson, one last time in the North-South All-Star game Saturday at Lexington High.

“I’m looking for a good showing out of them,” McLain said of his two seniors.

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Hill and Jackson played a big role in the Raiders’ success this season. Keenan won the Region 4-2A championship and advanced to the Class 2A championship before losing to Bishop England.

Jackson led the Raiders in scoring with 14.5 points a game, and Hill, a North Carolina A&T signee, led the Midlands with 5.7 blocks a game. She had a career-high 20 blocks in the lower state championship game against Newberry.

“There are a lot of great players here, so it is definitely fun to be able to play with them,” Hill said. “And I’m glad coach McLain gets to coach us one more time.”

Hill and Jackson are part of a heavy Midlands presence, which will have nine players in the game. Joining Hill and Jackson on the North team are Spring Valley’s Shantay Taylor, Lower Richland’s De’jah Williford, C.A. Johnson’s Kaitlin Pickens, Fairfield Central’s Tanise Davis and Ridge View’s Genell Addison.

Lexington’s Taylor Foulks and Airport’s Shakori Jennings-Shuler are on the South squad.

On the boys’ side, A.C. Flora’s Kendale Hampton and C.A. Johnson’s Tajh Green will play on the North team, and White Knoll’s T.J. Knight is on the South squad.

“It is a tremendous honor to play in this game, so it should be a good time.” Knight said. “I get to play against pretty high level competition and there are great players on my team.”

The North-South game is one of two all-star contests going on Saturday. The Carolinas All-Star Classic will take place at Socastee High and feature some of the top seniors from North Carolina and South Carolina.