A Quick Review Of Boys’ Basketball In All Five Classes For The 2025-26 Season
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Moncks Corner--The 2025-26 SCHSL State Basketball Finals for the 12 surviving boy’s teams comprised from Div. I AAAAA, Div. II AAAAA, Class AAAA, Class AAA, Class AA, and Class A will be contested at the Colonial Life Center on the campus of the University of South Carolina between March 5 through March 7.
It will be time to watch slam dunks, downtown tre’s, blocked shots and March Madness invading the heads of thousands of prep basketball fans!
The AAAAA Div. I boy’s finals is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday March, 6. The Div. II gold medal round is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Thursday March, 6 while the AAAA boy’s final is to be played at USC at 6 p.m. on Saturday March, 7. The AAA boy’s state finals will be played out at 4 p.m. on Friday March, 6 with the AA boy’s finals set for 4 p.m. on Thursday March, 5. The Class A boy’s championships will be at noon on Saturday March, 5.
The Lower State boys’ finals will all be played at the Florence Civic Center on February 27-28. The upper state boy’s finals will be played on agreed neutral sites on February 27-28 also.
Div. I AAAAA Boy’s Preview:
Can Ridge View win their third straight boy’s state basketball championship when the gold medal round is contested for Div. I AAAAA at 8 pm in the Colonial Life Arena at USC on Friday March 6?
Their fans certainly will have a short drive to cheer Josh Staley’s team on. Last year the Blazers defeated Blythewood 71-47 to earn their second straight title with Korie Corbett pouring in a game-high 23 points and Yale Davis contributing 13 points.
After that big win Coach Staley said, “That’s how you prepare,” he said. You prepare to play a whole game, and the work you put in comes out in moments like this.”
With Corbett and Davis graduated the new stud on the Ridge View team is Talon Staley and the team does not have quite the playmakers around him they had a season ago. Ridge View lost to Div. II foe Westward 64-61 on Jan. 5 and that verified this observation.
So, who are the candidates to take Ridge View’s place in the gold medal round this year? Could it be number two -ranked Dorman or third ranked Dutch Fork, or even number five Byrnes?
Never count out a Thomas Ryan coached Dorman (13-5) team. When you have been there and won it all several times you can always figure it out so watch out for the Cavaliers. They are led by senior PF Will Bush (4 pts), junior SG Aaden Bruton-Smith (12 pts), and junior PG Jaden Johnson (12 pts).
Bret Jones is doing an excellent job coaching up Dutch Fork (16-2) and you never know when the Silver Foxes’ football magic might run off on the basketball team. The Foxes are by senior PF Justis Bell (21.5 pts), junior PG Samajae Govan (16.4 pts) and “KJ” Dupree (9.3 pts).
Layne Fowler has built a solid program at Byrnes (15-3), and the Rebels must be in the gold medal round conversation. They are led by top junior PG prospect Colt Fowler (24.2 pts), senior F Sukhi Singh (15.5 pts) and junior SF Fabian McClintontock (14.7 pts).
From the Lower State, Cane Bay (17-2) could play a dark horse role. Head coach Shawn McKeen tells the HSSR, “We definitely expect big things from this team.,” he said. We have good talent and we are very deep.”
The Cobras are led by soph SF Jamel McKinney (11.9 pts), junior G Jahleel Sanders (10.6 pts), and senior SF Amare Merrell (9.7 pts).
Brad Dobbels is an excellent X an O coach, and his Ashley Ridge (16-2) round ballers must be considered contenders also. They are led by senior G Clayton Everett Jr. (21.3 pts), senior G Shayne Pinckney (10.9 pts) and junior PG Javion Gathers (9.4 pts).
West Ashley (15-3) is certainly capable of making a charge in the playoffs also under head coach Tre McLean They are led by senior PG Kendall Mack (15.3 pts), junior F Jackson Terrell (13.2 pts), and junior SG Maurice Cannon (10.8 pts).
HSSR Prediction For Gold Medal Round: Byrnes or Dorman vs. Cane Bay or Ashley Ridge
Div. II AAAAA Preview:
Goose Creek head coach Blake Hall spent a lot of time in his huddle talk with his players following a gut wrenching 81-71 double OT loss in the Div. II AAAAA finals against Greenville last year at the Florence Civic Center.
The Gators are currently 18-1 and they are playing like a snowplow clearing the way of downtown Fargo, North Dakota these days. The HSSR is confident that Goose Creek will emerge as the Lower State boy’s champions this season. Who they square off against in the state finals is anyone’s guess right now.
From the court, after the game last year, Coach Hall let his feelings out after the defeat. “You can not beat a team when they shoot almost 40 free throws,” said Hall. “I told our guys that you have no control over the officiating, but you must play through it. For the most part I thought we did, but it was too much to overcome.”
Before coming to Goose Creek 20 years ago, Coach Hall won a state title at North Charleston High School. He was a two- time HSSR-SCISA all-player at Pinewood Prep under Hall of Fame coach Pat Eidson.
Goose Creek is led by senior guard Ja’Quell Brown who scored 27 points against Greenville in the finals last year. They have seven players back who played in the state title game a year ago.
Greenville, under first year veteran head coach Yerrick Stoneman, are currently 13-4 but they have lost to some out-of-state powerhouse teams, and they are undefeated in their region. Coach Stoneman is also a state championship coach, and he will have his team playing their best come playoff time.
Greenville returns three starters from last year’s gold medal winners led by senior PG Caden Coleman (17 pts) who had 21 points in the big game. Senior F Gavin Griffin (16.6) is also back along with junior SG Tucker Scholl (14.6 pts) a game.
Westwood (16-1) is currently capable of making it to the gold medal round led by senior PG Jayden Crews (14.5 pts), senior D’Marcus Thomas (12.4 pts), and Cylan McLeod (10.6 pts).
Fort Mill (15-4) has also turned some heads with their recent OT win over Byrnes. They are well-coached by Myron Lowery. Fort Mill is led by soph PG Jermier Nelson (21.1 pts), senior SG AJ Washington (17.8 pts), and senior G Wallace Campbell (13.6 points).
Riverside (16-2) could be a spoiler before the dust settles in March. They are led by senior F Sebi Boyogueno (6-4, 190) who is avearaging31 points a game.
HSSR Prediction For Gold Medal Round: (Rematch) Greenville vs Goose Creek
The AAAA Boys Preview:
The SCHSLAAAA boys’ basketball championship will be last state finals match-up played starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday March, 7 at the Colonial Life Arena at USC, and wonder who the final wo teams will be left standing to battle it out in the gold medal round?
The big news in AAAA boys’ basketball coming into the season was the return of Dion Bethea to the Gray Collegiate (14-2) team where he had coached six War Eagle teams to AA titles in the past before leaving two years ago to become an assistant at Georgia Southern.
Coach Bethea recently told the HSSR, “We’re just trying to build the championship culture back,” he said, “With me leaving for a year it kind of got broken up a bit.”
Gray is being led by 6-6 Kennesaw State signee Levi Bell along with Irmo 6-6 PF transfer Jayden Rivers. These two studs are a key reason why the War Eagles must be considered top contenders for the AAAA title this season.
Lancaster defeated North Augusta 69-55 last year in the finals, but the Bruins suffered heavy graduation losses, and they are currently (8-11) are not ranked. However, senior PG Malik Tinlsey (18.4 pts) is having a solid senior season once again.
On the other hand, the North Augusta boys of head coach Tony Hararell contenders but they must find a way to get ahead of region for Gray Collegiate, a team they lost too in December 64-56.
Four players on last year’s team returned to the NA team this year. They are led by top scorer G Quh’mareon Webb who had 10 points in last year’s state finals. Others are G Jodan Rouse, G Tojan Nabriat, and Zayvion Harris.
Darlington’s (15-4) recent win over Crestwood kept them 5-0 in their region and head coach Brad Knox has put together a solid team. The top two players on the team include senior G LaHenry Yarbrough (17 pts) and senior G Rodney Spears (9 pts) as the top two scorers on the team.
Chapman (14-3) head coached by Jared St. Charles, has a solid team in the AAAA upper state and they could make a deep run in the playoffs. They are led by junior SG Grayden Humphries (16.4 pts), senior SG Hawk Smith (12.2 pts) and soph PG Cade St. Charles (10.4 pts).
Other teams in AAAA with deep playoff run potential are May River (17-2), Midland Valley (13-4), Hartsville (11-5), Daniel (11-7), and Camden (12-5).
HSSR Prediction For Gold Medal Round: Chapman or Camden vs Gray Collegiate
Class AAA Boy’s Preview:
The AAA boys’ basketball championship will be battled out on Friday March 6 at 4 p.m inside the Colonial Life Center at USC and the HSSR feels strongly that the Christ Church (14-1) boy’s bus will arrive early for the event.
Last year Keenan defeated Powdersville 58-53 in the boy’s AAA finals at the Florence Civic Center as the Raiders won their 10th state title. It was Keenan head coach Zach Norris’ 8th state title at Keenan. Powdersville suffered heavy graduation losses are currently (5-13).
Keenan (15-5) is led by soph PG Antonio Caughman (14.5 pts), soph PF Bryson Schofield (9.4 pts) and senior F Broderick Andrson, Jr (8.4 pts).
Christ Church is head coached by veteran John Butler. The Cav’s are led by senior SG David Dixon (14 pts), senior Big Man Jonathan Perry (13.4 pts), and senior PF Jude Hall (9.2 pts).
Keenan might be challenged by Loris (16-3) in the Lower state finals, and this would be a classic game between the country boys from a rural community versus a group of players from the big city of Columbia.
Loris is coached by Andrew Eads. The Lions are led on the boards by Big Man MyKhai Bell (8.3) and in scoring by senior G Nigel Miller (15.6 pts), senior G Khalid Sherman (14.4 pts), and senior G Khalil Sherman (11.9 pts)
Fox Creek (13-4) could also make a run. They are coached by Tim Butler. They are led in scoring by junior G Chanze Allen (14.5), junior Kobe Sims (13.4) along with junior Justin Vining (12.9).
HSSR Prediction For Gold Medal Round: Christ Church vs Keenan or Loris
The AA Boys Basketball Preview:
The AA boys’ basketball championship finals will begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday March 5 inside the Colonial Life Center at USC.
You might have a better chance guessing the power ball numbers then predicting what two teams are going to meet in the AA boy’s finals this year.
Last year Atlantic Collegiate Academy defeated High Point Academy 58-52 to win the AA title at the Florence Civic Center. High Point Academy (17-2) is likely to be back in the finals, but Atlantic Collegiate Academy (7-8) is in a rebuilding season, although they are 5-1 in their region right now.
High Point Academy head coach Lee Sartor will forever be known as the man who coached Zion Williamson at Spartanburg Day a few years ago. Coach Sartor came to High Point from Erskine College where he served as the head coach for several seasons.
High Point returns two key starters from last year’s runner-up team. They are junior F J’Sean Sanders (18.9 pts), and senior G Deylen Whitaker (10.7 pts). Senior guard Chris Copeland (14.6 pts) is a newcomer to the team.
The HSSR had been high on Andrew Jackson (12-3) until they suffered back-to-back losses against Central and Loris on Jan. 16-17. AJ are led by two top scorers in senior SF Zeke Clyburn (21.4) and senior G Samias Seegars (18.8).
The success of the football team must be carrying over to Central (13-5) as head coach Desmond Sowell’s team is 5-0 and appeared headed to winning a region title. The Eagles are in scoring by senor G Tazhie Webber (17.4 pts), Jordan Crowder (16.9 pts) and senior G Jakari Hollomon (11.9 pts).
Hampton County (13-4), coached by Joshua James, could be a lower state challenge to High Point. They are led in scoring by senior G Darius Brooks (16.6), senior SG Jacquin Solomon (12.90) and soph SF Maryln Adkins (10).
When Chesnee (12-6) beat Liberty (15-4) 48-25 on Jan. 16, that altered some thinking about what upstate teams might be able to challenge High Point Academy. We will just have to wait and see.
HSSR Prediction For Gold Medal Round: High Pointe Academy Vs. Hampton County
The Class A Boys’ Basketball Preview:
The boy’s SCHSL Class A state finals will take place on Saturday March 7 at 2 p.m. inside the Colonial Life Arena at USC.
Last year Denmark-Olar defeated Abbeville 58-52 at the Florence Civic Center to earn the school’s first boy’s state title sending head coach Hercules Davis into a happy retirement.
Marcus Rivera, a one-time mayor of Barnwell, is the new coach, and the team is currently 6-15 but 4-1 in the region and playing much better. They are led by junior G Christian Rivera (27.1 pts), and the top rebounder is 6-7 William Ross (6).
Number two, ranked Abbeville (10-2), has an excellent opportunity to get back to the state finals. Veteran head coach Douglas Belcher has the Panthers 8-0 in the region right now. The team is led by senior Jaden Baylor (19.1 pts), soph G Jamerion Williams (14.7) and soph G Jamiyus McManus (10.6 pts).
Bethune-Bowman (14-3) is ranked number one in the latest Class A boy’s ranking. They lost twice to bigger schools in competitive games, but their 60-51 loss to Scott’s Branch (8-9) recently is a bit concerning. The team is le dby senior SF Terrance McFadden (16.4 pts), soph G Jaeon Bell (11.7 pts) and junior G Kejuan Guinyard (8.6 pts).
Horse Creek Academy (14-4) is also 7-0 in region play coached by Chon Matthews. They are led in scoring by soph PG David Kearse (10.1 pts).
The HSSR feels like Carvers Bay (13-4, 5-0), head coached once again by Jeff Mezzatesta, could be the lower state champion when the dust clears. They are led by junior PG Jamie Graham (18.3 pts), senior G Kenard Heyward (14 pts), and soph G Ethan Morris (10.6 pts.).
Watch out for teams like CA Johnson (11-7 & 7-0) and Latta (11-3, 5-1) as they have strong teams as well at Class A level.
HSSR Prediction For Gold Medal Round: Abbeville Vs. Carvers Bay
