2024-25 Midlands HS boys basketball: Breaking down top teams, players to watch
The high school boys basketball season begins in full this week after preseason tournaments wrapped up last week.
Here is a look at top teams and players in the area to watch for the 2024-25 season:
Teams to Watch
——Class 5A——
Blythewood: The Bengals won 21 games last season and made it to the second round of the playoffs. Blythewood is ranked No. 9 in by the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association in Class 5A Division I
Dutch Fork: The Silver Foxes are coming off back-to-back losing seasons but should bounce back this year. Dutch Fork is ranked No. 6 by SCBCA in Class 5A Division I.
Ridge View: The Blazers won the 4A title last year and finished the season nationally ranked in several polls. Ridge View is making the move up to 5A this year and is preseason No. 1 by SCBCA in Class 5A Division I.
River Bluff: The Gators return talented guard Yasir Cromer and are ranked No. 10 by SCBCA in Class 5A Division I.
Westwood: The Redhawks won 23 games last season in Trent Robinson’s first year and are making the move up from 4A to 5A.
——Class 4A——
AC Flora: The Falcons won 21 games last season and made it to the second round of the 4A playoffs.
Brookland-Cayce: Bearcats had a losing record last year but returned several key pieces and had some new faces that should contribute right away.
Gray Collegiate: War Eagles won three straight titles in 2A, are moving up to 4A and have a new coach in former South Carolina great Carlos Powell.
Lower Richland: The Diamond Hornets won 21 games last year and made it to the 3A Lower State championship, but are moving up to 4A and must replace several key pieces.
——Class 3A——
Keenan: The Raiders had a rare losing season last year but still made it to the 2A Upper State championship. Keenan has most of its team back, is moving up to 3A and is ranked No. 1 in SCBCA preseason poll.
Newberry: The Bulldogs have a talented duo in AJ Jeter and Kenton Caldwell back and are No. 7 in preseason 3A poll.
——SCISA——
Cardinal Newman: The Cardinals won the SCISA 4A title last year and should be contenders again this year despite losing several key pieces.
Hammond: The Skyhawks made it to the 4A semifinals before losing to Cardinal Newman and returning most of its roster.
Preseason Honors
The State’s Preseason Player of Year: Korie Corbett, Ridge View
Preseason Player of Year (Reader’s choice): TJ Lewis, Blythewood
30 Players to Watch
Broderick Anderson, Keenan: Junior averaged 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game last season.
Levi Ball, Gray Collegiate: Junior averaged 16.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season at Salado High School in Texas.
LJ Britt, Gray Collegiate: Senior averaged 7.9 points, 3.4 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals on War Eagles’ state championship team. Was named a top five senior in 4A by the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association.
Jordan Brown, Dreher: Junior averaged six points, 3.7 rebounds and two assists last year.
Kenton Caldwell, Newberry: Junior averaged 14 points and six assists last year.
Nigel Chivers, Cardinal Newman: Senior played at Lugoff-Elgin last year and averaged 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists last year.
Korie Corbett, Ridge View: Junior was all-state selection and averaged 16 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.1 assists last season. Corbett was on the 2024-25 SCBCA preseason elite players list.
Yasir Cromer, River Bluff: Senior guard was all-state selection and averaged 14 points, 6.1 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals last season. Cromer was on the 2024-25 SCBCA preseason top players list for 5A.
Hilton Dessausure, Northside Christian: Senior averaged 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season. Committed to Maryville College.
Manny Davis, Eau Claire: Senior played last season at Cardinal Newman. Davis was named to 2024-25 SCBCA preseason top players list for 2A.
Yale Davis, Ridge View: Junior averaged nine points, six assists, three steals and three rebounds on Blazers’ state championship team last year.
AJ Edwards, Brookland-Cayce: Senior was all-region and averaged 13.2 points last season.
Kaleb Evans, Lexington: Senior averaged 14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, four assists and 1.9 steals in helping the Wildcats to the Class 5A championship last season. Signed with Winthrop and was on 2024-25 SCBCA elite players list.
Ta’Maj Gilliam, Batesburg-Leesville: Junior averaged 16.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists last season.
Jaiden Haltiwanger, Hammond: Senior all-region averaged 16 points, six rebounds and four assists last season for the Skyhawks.
AJ Jeter, Newberry: Junior averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds per game last season.
Amarii King, Brookland-Cayce: Senior played at Cardinal Newman last season and averaged 10.2 points, three rebounds and 2.9 assists.
TJ Lewis, Blythewood: Senior was all-region selection and averaged 12 points, five rebounds, 3.5 assists and two steals a game last year. Lewis was on the 2024-25 SCBCA preseason top players list for 5A.
Jahmaire Mcleod, Camden: Senior averaged 12 points and five rebounds last season.
Milton McCray, CA Johnson: Sophomore averaged 10 points, three assists and four rebounds last year.
Nic Nichols, Heathwood Hall: Senior averaged 12.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game last year.
Justin Ray, Chapin: Senior averaged 11.9 points, 4.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds last year.
Jamere Singleton, Dreher: Junior averaged 9.1 points and 5.3 rebounds last season.
Elton Smith, Cardinal Newman: Junior averaged 7.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 blocks per game last season in helping the Cardinals to SCISA 4A championship.
Braysen Stockman, Ben Lippen: Junior was all-region selection and averaged 20.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game last year.
Brian Sumpter, Keenan: Senior was all-state selection and averaged 12.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 2.1 assists last season. Signed with Wofford and was on 2024-25 SCBCA elite players list.
Bryson Taylor, Dutch Fork: Senior averaged 10 points and 3.5 assists per game last year.
Dmarcus Thomas, Westwood: Junior averaged 8.1 points and two rebounds per game last season.
DJ Wiley, Ridge View: Sophomore averaged six points, five rebounds and 1.5 steals last year as a freshman.
Will Willard, AC Flora: Senior averaged 10.3 points, five assists and four rebounds per game last season.
Others to Watch: Jeremy Anderson, Irmo; Justus Bell, Dutch Fork; Charlie Bonds, Richard Winn; Antione Caughman, Keenan; Ty Floyd, Mid-Carolina; Dalton Gadson, Northside Christian; Laquaree Glenn, Lower Richland; Damarcus Haliburton, Richland Northeast; Desmond Harrington, Cardinal Newman; Nate Hughes, Brookland-Cayce; Kamauri Hunter, Heathwood Hall; Daniel Jeffries, Airport; Peyton Jennings, White Knoll; Robert Johnson, AC Flora; Kaleb Long, Lugoff-Elgin; Reggie Mack, Ridge View; Quan McDuffie, Gray Collegiate; Cade McNeill, Northside Christian; Henry Morris, Heathwood Hall; Sam Mills, Lexington; Braylon Mumford, Lugoff-Elgin; Jason Rogers, Cardinal Newman; Talan Staley, Ridge View; Tyler Stephens, Blythewood; Khayree Wilson, Spring Valley
