By Thomas Grant Jr.
A year ago, guard Kaleb Evans was a member of a Lexington team which was ranked start to finish en route to winning the Class 5A boys basketball title.
While the Wildcats are unranked in this year’s S.C. Basketball Coaches Association preseason polls for Division I, Evans is still considered one of the state’s top players. He was one of seven players chosen to the Elite Boys team.
Without Player of the Year Cam Scott and All-State forward Javon Prunty, Evans looks to become as much a scorer as a playmaker for Lexington.
“The foundation that Coach (Elliott) Pope has put into us, as long as we keep doing what he say and keep working hard at practice, I feel like we’ll be okay.”
Archrival River Bluff was ranked 10th in the Division I poll and guard Yasir Cromer was named a Top Five senior in Division I. He’s worked on his shot selection and his 3-point proficiency as he looks to help the Gators return to the title game they won three years ago.
“The whole group has to buy in, really put in the work…and believe in Coach (Benjamin) Lee,” Cromer said.
Newberry also made the preseason poll at number seven in Class 3A.
On the girls’ side, guard Emory Waters-Inman of White Knoll was the lone Lake Murray player selected to a Top Five Senior team. She was selected in Class 5A Division II and believes she can lead the Lady Timberwolves to success in a region dominated by Lexington and current champion Dutch Fork.
“We know how to work together and not be selfish,” she said. “Finishing and looking out for each other on the wings and not cracking under pressure.”
Saluda was the lone Lake Murray girls team selected to a Top 10 in Class 2A.
SCBCA PRESEASON RANKINGS
(BOYS)
CLASS 5A
Division I
1.Ridge View, 2. Dorman, 3. Summerville, 4. Mauldin, 5. Sumter, 6. Dutch Fork, 7. J.F. Byrnes, 8. West Ashley, 9. Blythewood, 10. River Bluff
CLASS 3A
1. Keenan, 2. Loris, 3. Orangeburg-Wilkinson, 4. Christ Church, 5. Oceanside Collegiate, 6. Powdersville, 7. Newberry, 8. North Charleston, 9. Dillon, 10. Walhalla
(GIRLS)
CLASS 2A
1. Andrew Jackson, 2. Fairfield Central, 3. Blacksburg, 4. Landrum, 5. Kingstree, 6. Clinton 7. Saluda, 8. Cheraw, 9. Chesterfield, 10. Woodland
LAKE MURRAY TIPOFF SCHEDULE
(Monday’s Games)
New Gym
(Game 1) Gilbert vs. American Leadership Academy 6 p.m.
(Game 2) South Aiken vs. Lexington 7:30 p.m.
Old Gym
(Game 3) Fox Creek vs. Westwood 6 p.m.
(Game 4) Ben Lippen vs. Lugoff-Elgin 7:30 p.m.
(Tuesday’s Games)
New Gym
(Game 5) Game 1 vs. Game 2 Winners 6 p.m.
(Game 6) Game 3 vs. Game 4 Winners 7:30 p.m.
Old Gym
(Game 7) Game 1 vs. Game 2 Losers 6 p.m.
(Game 8) Game 3 vs. Game 4 Losers 7:30 p.m.
(Wednesday’s Games)
New Gym
Game 5 vs. Game 6 Losers 9:15 a.m.
Game 5 vs. Game 6 Winners 10:45 a.m.
Old Gym
Game 7 vs. Game 8 Losers 9:15 a.m.
Game 7 vs. Game 8 Winners 10:45 a.m.
Photos and video by Thomas Grant Jr.
