Here are Upstate high school boys basketball players to watch during the SCHSL 2024-25 season:
Amare Anderson, Greer, Sr.: Anderson is a two-time Region 2-AAAA player of the year. Last season, the 6-foot-2 point guard averaged 16.0 points, 3.9 rebounds while leading Greer (24-6) to the Upper State semifinals. He signed with Presbyterian.
Keenan Arcega-Whiteside, Sr., Dorman: Arcega-Whiteside committed to Rice in football but has more work to do in basketball. The 6-5 forward helped lead Dorman to a 29-2 record and the Class AAAAA Upper State finals as a junior.
Amaziah Austin, Fountain Inn, Sr.: Austin averaged more than 20 points and 10 rebounds while leading the Fury to an 18-11 record. He’s a 6-5 power forward and was a top-10 high jumper at the Class AAA state track and field meet.
Paul Bishop, Blue Ridge, Sr.: Bishop, a 6-0 combo guard, averaged 13.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and had 26 steals to help Blue Ridge reach the Class AAA Upper State semifinals.
Sebi Boyogueno, Riverside, Jr.: Boyogueno, a 6-3 forward, helped Riverside (26-5) reach the Class AAAA state championship and will be a focal point after the graduation of Julen Iturbe (American University).
Adam Brown, Christ Church, Sr.: Brown, a 6-3 shooting guard, helped Christ Church (20-5) win the Class A state championship. He averaged 12.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals.
Von Burton, Powdersville, Sr.: Burton helped Powdersville win the Class AAA state championship by averaging 11.3 points and 3.8 rebounds. The 5-11 shooting guard will be key after the transfer of South Carolina signee Hayden Assemian to Morovian Prep in Hickory, North Carolina.
Tristyn Carrington, Daniel, Sr.: Carrington did just about everything in helping Daniel (21-8) to the Region 1-AAA championship. The 6-3 forward averaged 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.9 steals and was a lockdown defender.
Caden Coleman, Greenville, Jr.: Coleman is a key addition for Greenville, which went 22-5 last season, including 9-1 in Region 1-AAAA. The 6-3 point guard came from Hillcrest and has offers from Coastal Carolina and Western Carolina.
Roman Cooley, Greenville, Sr.: Cooley, a 6-4 forward, averaged 15.3 points (shooting 60%) and 6.8 rebounds. He is the Red Raiders’ top returning player.
Ethan Crews, Easley, Sr.: Crews, a 6-4 shooting guard, averaged 18.2 points and 3.5 rebounds. He shot 83% at the free-throw line and 41% on 3-pointers.
Bryson Drummond, Mountain View Prep, Sr.: Drummond, a transfer from Greenville, should impact the first-year program as he did for the football team as the quarterback for the Region 3-AAA champion.
Benett Edwards, Landrum, Sr.: Edwards averaged 14.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists as Landrum went 22-7. The 6-2 combo guard has already eclipsed the 1,000-point milestone.
Evan Enos, Byrnes, Sr.: Enos helped Byrnes (26-5) reach the Class AAAAA state title game. In Region 2 games, the 6-8 forward averaged 13.0 points and shot 53% on 3-pointers. He committed to Coker.
Colt Fowler, Byrnes, So.: Fowler showed remarkable poise and leadership last year the freshman point guard for the state runner-up. He averaged 4.8 assists.
Abijah Franklin, Wren, Sr.: Franklin, a 6-4 combo guard, was the Class AAA player of the year after leading Wren (25-6) to the Upper State championship game. Franklin averaged 23.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He signed with Furman.
K’majay Jenkins, Westside, So.: Jenkins as a freshman last season was one of the state’s best rebounders, averaging 8.6 per game as the Rams went 9-1 in Region 1-AAA. Jenkins, a 6-6 wing, also averaged 2.2 assists. His scoring average − 7.5 per game − is sure to skyrocket after the team lost its top two scorers.
Jaden Johnson, Dorman, So.: Johnson, a 5-11 point guard, transferred from Southside, where he averaged 18.8 points to rank top 30 in the state as a freshman and 11.0 points as an 8th-grader.
Rickey Littlejohn III, Gaffney, So.: Littlejohn, a 5-9 point guard, averaged 11.9 points and 5.0 assists.
Jaleel McGee, Powdersville, So.: McGee, a 6-1 point guard, helped the state title team by averaging 11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.6 steals.
Kaleb Phillips, Gaffney, Sr.: Phillips, a 6-3 shooting guard, made 49% of his 3-pointers (69-for-140) and averaged 10.1 points.
Coyie Poole, Chesnee, Sr.: Poole is one of the best shooters in the state. He shot 49% on 143 threes. He averaged 13.7 points, and that will increase with his older brother, Brady, now at Limestone.
J’sean Sanders, High Point Academy, So.: Sanders, a 6-7 forward, averaged 11.3 points with 7.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for a team that went 17-10.
Alvarez Smith, Mauldin, Jr.: Smith, 6-2 forward, averaged 10.3 points and 4.6 rebounds and helped Mauldin (17-12) reach the Class AAAAA Upper State championship game.
Lucas Wiersma, T.L. Hanna, Jr.: Wiersma is a 6-7 power forward who averaged 14.0 points and 9.8 rebounds for T.L. Hanna (21-8) in Region 1-AAAAA.
Todd Shanesy covers high school athletics for the Greenville News, Spartanburg Herald-Journal and Anderson Independent Mail in the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at todd.shanesy@shj.com. Follow him on X, formerly called Twitter, at @ToddShanesySHJ.
