Panthers Have Experienced Team

By Roger Lee

Contributing Writer

Summerville – If things continue the way they have, 2026 may just be the Pinewood Prep Boys’ year.

The Panthers went 5-0 on the hardwood the first 18 days of January to improve to 18-5 on the season with a 3-0 mark in SCISA 4A, Region 2. The team has talent, size and good basketball IQ.

“Our five starters played a whole season together last year so we know what everybody is capable of doing so hopefully we will continue putting them in the spots for them to do that,” said Pinewood coach Pat Eidson. “We are a very veteran team with a lot of game experience. I would put our top five up against any team in the state and believe we would have a chance for a win.”

Lately the Panthers have played a tough schedule that includes some 5A South Carolina High School League teams. Last season, they advanced all the way to the SCISA state semifinals before being eliminated by Augusta Christian with a 23-8 record.

Senior point guard Jonathan Slawson, senior guard Jayden Alexander, junior power forward Kias Parris, junior small forward Tre Green and junior center Tripp Eidson all returned to the team’s starting lineup for another campaign. Parris, Slawson and Eidson are the team captains.

“I am really excited about my senior point guard, Jonathan Slawson,” Coach Eidson said. “This is his third year running our team and I sense a real determination in him to have a great senior season. Jayden Alexander is coming off a fantastic season as a wide receiver on our football team and he brings that athleticism and toughness to our team. Our juniors returning from last year have all physically matured and are playing at a much higher level.”

Green led the team in scoring last season, averaging 15 points per game. Alexander averaged 10.5 points and Parris averaged 10.3. Slawson led in assists, averaging 4.1 per game. Parris averaged 3.9 assists and Alexander averaged 2.2.

Eidson led the Panthers in rebounds (7.9 per game) and blocks (2.3 per game). Parris averaged 7.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks and Green averaged 5.8 rebounds. Slawson led in steals with 2.9 per game. Alexander averaged 2.7 steals and Parris 2.3.

Senior Bralon Blackwell and junior Heyward Moore are also seeing a lot time on the floor. Freshman Caleb Fernandez and juniors K.J. Robinson and Graham Gilmer have shown promise and are working to get more playing time.

Slawson is highly rated among the state’s point guards while Green, Parris and Eidson are regarded as three of the best juniors in the state.

Green is currently leading the Panthers scorers, averaging 20.7 per game. Parris averages 17.3 per game and Slawson 11.2. Slawson leads in assists with 6.2 per game, followed by Green (2.9) and Parris (2.7).

Eidson leads in rebounds with 10.6 per game as well as in blocks with 3.8 per game. Parris averages 8.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks while Green averages 5.1 rebounds.

Some of Pinewood’s more notable wins came over South Wake out of North Carolina, Summerville, Hammond, Lucy Beckham, Conway, First Baptist School and Porter-Gaud. The Panthers have two key region games coming up as they host Northwood Academy Jan. 23 and First Baptist School Jan. 30.