The Charlotte Observer’s York, Lancaster (SC) boys’ high school basketball preview

The Observer’s high school basketball preview for York, Lancaster counties in upper state South Carolina:

Teams to watch

Andrew Jackson: The Volunteers’ boys, just like the girls, reached the 2A state semifinals last year. They lost several key scorers but return 6-2 senior F Ghaleb Wilson, who played a key role in Andrew Jackson’s playoff drive. Also back are last year’s top two rebounders — 6-4 sophomore Zacayden Clyburn (7.7 rebounds a game) and Jy’Kevius Johnson (7.2). They will join with Wilson and several newcomers to make the Volunteers a state championship contender again this winter.

Catawba Ridge: The Copperheads were 24-5 last season and reached the third round of the 4A playoffs. They return 6-1 senior G Zyan Hager, 6-3 senior F Landon Foley and 6-3 F Lance Barnes, each of whom was a key figure on the 2022-23 roster. If 6-6 sophomore Billy Burris and 6-5 junior Brady Ambrose can develop as inside forces, Catawba Ridge could have another Region 3 4A title contender.

Clover: With 6-1 senior Jaylon Hoover in the lineup, the Blue Eagles are poised to climb from the middle of the Region 3 5A pack to contender status. Hoover is among the area’s top players, but seniors Hunter Decuir (6.3 points a game) and Isaac Allen (5.9 points) will provide plenty of support. Clover fans will get an indication of how much the team has improved quickly, as the Blue Eagles open Nov. 28 at powerhouse Lancaster.

Lancaster: The Bruins went all the way to the state championship a year ago before falling 58-45 to Irmo. Jordan Watford, a 6-5 junior F who scored 25 points in the title game, leads the list of returnees. Coach Jerron Cauthen also has 5-9 senior G Ladarian Cloud, who averaged 15.5 points a game and was an all-region pick. Sophomore PG Malik Tinsley will be the playmaker on a Lancaster team that figures to win a lot of games.

Nation Ford: Could the Falcons go from worst to first this season? Nation Ford tied for last in Region 3 5A a year ago (2-8) but seems ready to make the jump, especially with 6-10 senior Caden Giles patrolling the paint. Add in 6-4 senior Jackson Falkner, a strong rebounder, and Nation Ford is ready to make the big jump in Region 3 5A. A key to the Falcons’ improvement could be the play of two newcomers at guard – 6-4 senior Jackson Burnham and 6-3 sophomore Drew Robertson.

Westminster Catawba: Coach Ed Addie’s team will contend in the Metrolina Athletic Conference, behind 6-8 F Nick Hamrick, a Division 1 recruit, and G Kenyon Addie, a Division 2 recruit. Both are seniors who have considerable playing experience. Add in newcomer Stephen Quinn, who played with some of the nation’s best players at Combine Academy, and junior PG Nikayla Hodge, who averaged 17 points last season at Palisades High in Charlotte, and you have a well-rounded and strong team.

Players to watch

Zyan Hager, Catawba Ridge: A 6-1 senior, Hager averaged 16.9 points and 2.5 steals a game last season for a Copperheads team that finished 24-5. He was Region 3 4A Co-Player of the Year and made the all-state team.

Jaylon Hoover, Clover: A 6-1 senior, Hoover averaged 12.7 points a game last season and is part of an experienced Blue Eagles team. Fans will need to be patient, though, as Hoover is playing on, the Clover football team that has reached the second round of the playoffs. It could be December before he is in basketball shape.

Michael Jones, Indian Land: Jones, a 5-9 guard, had a sensational freshman season, averaging 20.2 points and 3.9 assists. He was named Newcomer of the Year in Region 3 4A.

Jordan Watford, Lancaster: He could be the key piece on a Bruins team that hopes for another big playoff run. Watford averaged 17.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists last season, was an all-region pick, and was named Lancaster County Player of the Year.

Ghaleb Wilson, Andrew Jackson: A 6-2 senior shooting forward, Wilson averaged 18.5 points and 5.8 rebounds last season for the Volunteers. He has several college offers.

Players on the rise

Nas Berry, Fort Mill: A 6-1 junior, Berry is back after sustaining a season-ending knee injury a year ago. He was a standout on the Phenom Hoops circuit in the offseason and seems ready to pick up where he left off after a superb freshman season.

Sullivan Gay, Catawba Ridge: Gay is a 6-4 senior who came into his own late last season and finished with 12.7 points and 6.5 rebounds a game. He was an all-region selection.

Caden Giles, Nation Ford: Giles got plenty of attention last season, as you’d expect from a 6-10 player who can rebound and shoot the 3-pointer. But he’ll be even more important this year, with the departure of J.J. Rembert from the team.

Stephen Quinn, Westminster Catawba: He is a 6-2 guard who played the past two seasons against national-level competition with Combine Academy and Moravian Prep. He is a senior who is being recruited by Division 1 programs.

Treven Raymon, South Pointe: On a team that lost a lot of seniors, Raymon, a 6-4 sophomore forward, figures to have a key role. He averaged 9.6 points and 4.0 rebounds last year.

Preseason All-York, Lancaster team

Zyan Hager, Catawba Ridge, 6-1, senior

Jaylor Hoover, Clover, 6-1, senior

Michael Jones, Indian Land, 5-9, sophomore

Stephen Quinn, Westminster Catawba, 6-2, senior

Ghaleb Wilson, Andrew Jackson, 6-2, senior

Preseason player of the year: Jaylon Hoover, Clover

Notes

▪ There’s a newcomer at the helm of the Fort Mill boys’ team, but Myron Lowery, named head coach in May, is hardly a newcomer to coaching. He worked for nearly 30 years in Mecklenburg County, serving as head coach at Harding, Providence and Butler.

▪ Speaking of Fort Mill … it will be interesting to see how the Yellow Jackets adjust to the loss of four leading scorers. A.J. Washington, who had an excellent freshman season, will get help from Nas Berry, who missed last season with a knee injury.

▪ You might be wondering why J.J. Rembert of Nation Ford is not in our list of top players. That’s because Rembert, who averaged 17.7 points and 3.2 assists per game, has transferred to Legacy Early College in Greenville.

▪ Rock Hill has only three of last year’s 15 varsity players returning.

▪ College coaches hoping to build a strong backcourt should head to Lancaster. The Bruins have six outstanding guards, and head coach Jerron Cauthen said several are getting attention from Division 1 coaches.

▪ Look for improvement this season at Buford, which was 7-15 a year ago. New head coach Jaybe Shackleford can build around 5-9 guard Aaron Morris, who averaged 15.3 points a game last season. Morris also was a standout wide receiver in football.

Conference predictions

Region 3 5A: Clover; Fort Mill; Nation Ford; Blythewood; Spring Valley; Rock Hill

Region 3 4A: Lancaster; Catawba Ridge; Indian Land; South Pointe; Northwestern; York

Region 5 2A: Andrew Jackson; Central Pageland; Cheraw; North Central; Chesterfield; Buford; York Prep

Metrolina Athletic: Concord Academy; Gaston Christian; Northside Christian; Westminster Catawba; Gaston Day; SouthLake Christian; Metrolina Christian; Hickory Grove Christian