HS notes: 2A football title games return to Benedict, Irmo’s Shuler stock is rising
The Class 2A football championships are going back to Benedict College and will be held a week later this season.
The championships were held at River Bluff High School this past season and played on the day after Thanksgiving. This year, the 2A Division I and II championships will be Dec. 1 with the first game beginning at 6 p.m. The 2A teams will have an off week before the championship game with the upper and lower state championship games held Nov. 20.
The Class A championship games remain the day after Thanksgiving at Benedict College and will be Nov. 27. The Class 3A and Class 4A Division I and II championships will be held Dec. 2 at Williams-Brice Stadium beginning at noon.
Midlands players selected for Palmetto games
More than 20 Midlands baseball players will participate in Palmetto Games this weekend at Carolina Stadium.
The annual showcase, hosted by Diamond Prospects, takes place Saturday and Sunday. Players are divided among six teams with each team playing two games. Players also will be timed in the 60-yard dash.
Midlands players will make up Midwest and Mideast squads. Area players on the Midwest squads are Brandon Tillmon, Aaron Adams and Walker McDowell (River Bluff), Steven Estep and Caleb Grubbs (White Knoll), Ward Hacklen and T.J. Shook (Dutch Fork), Josh Hernandez (A.C. Flora), Ryne Huggins (Newberry), Josh Tucker, Gage Jeffcoat and Josh Talton (Airport), Chase Williamson and Jared Kirven (Lexington), Ryan Stoudamire (Mid-Carolina) and Caleb Watkins (Gilbert). White Knoll’s Charles Assey will coach the Midwest team.
Area players on the Mideast team are Will Abbott and Devin Beckley (Camden), Jordyn Adams and Justyn Greider (Blythewood), Lane Botkin and John Durren (A.C. Flora), Kitt Cappell (Ben Lippen), Evan Estridge, Tyler White and Colin Santiago (Chapin) and Shannon Glover (Richland Northeast). Chapin’s Scott McLeod will coach the Mideast team.
Recruiting news
Devontae Shuler’s stock has continues to rise.
The Irmo guard recently picked up an offer from Florida to go along with ones he received from South Carolina, Clemson, Southern Cal and Wofford among others. The junior averaged 25.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and three assists last season.
Hammond’s Chevez Goodwin announced his final six schools on his Twitter page Tuesday. The 6-foot-8 senior listed College of Charleston, Richmond, Coastal Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, UNC Wilmington, and East Tennessee State as final choices.
Goodwin said he will take his official visits beginning in September.
Lower Richland rising junior Kameron Roach recently picked up an offer from Kentucky. The 5-foot-6 guard averaged 11.5 points and 3.7 assists last season for the Diamond Hornets. Roach also has offers from UNC Charlotte and Furman.
Spring Valley girls basketball player Taylor Lewis picked up an offer from South Carolina on Wednesday. Taylor will be a freshman this season.
Newberry Academy beginning 8-man varsity football
Newberry Academy will form an 8-man varsity football team this season for the first time since the 1990s.
The school will be part of the South Carolina Independent Schools Association and played for a SCISA state title back in the mid-1990s NA formed a middle school team in 2013 and went 6-2 as a JV football last season. Benji Sinse will coach the team.
Newberry will open up its season Aug. 21 at Jefferson Davis. Its first home game will be against Richard Winn on Sept. 11. All home games will be played at Newberry College.
Weekend football scrimmage schedule
Here are times for high school football scrimmage for Midlands teams on Saturday:
Saturday – Gilbert at Chapin, 8:30 a.m.; White Knoll at Barnwell, 9 am.; Batesburg-Leesville at Aiken, 9:30 a.m.; Brookland-Cayce at Spring Valley, 9:30 a.m.; AC Flora, Blythewood, Lakewood at River Bluff, 9:30 a.m.; Lexington at Dorman, 10 a.m.; Dreher, Saluda at Swansea, 10 a.m.; Calhoun County at Airport, 10 a.m.