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| Dwayne Rudd - Strom Thurmond's |
It took me until the twentieth day of June to see any of the schools on the South Carolina side of the border play in person this summer, but Thursday's matchup between Fox Creek and Strom Thurmond in the third annual Fox Creek Summer Shootout made the wait worth it.
Strom Thurmond is coming off of a third round finish in last season's class 3A state playoffs, and returnees Jikeal Brown and Dalton Hitt were two of the more impressive guards playing in Thursday's six team shootout. Fox Creek, which topped Thurmond 59-58 after senior DeMarkus Young buried a three pointer from the right corner with 10 seconds remaining, will aim to turn things around after failing to qualify for the state playoffs for the past two seasons.
After splitting a pair of games Saturday in South Carolina's NCAA certified team camp in Columbia, Fox Creek coach Andrew Peckham sounded optimistic when I asked him about his expectations for next season:
"Our guys have had a solid summer. We have played 20 games this summer and went 16-4," coach Peckham explained. "I have been impressed with my team and have high expectations for us to be very competitive next season in Class AA. Four out of my five starters all played on my JV team two years ago that went undefeated (18-0). So they know how to win and how to play together."
Young, a 6-5 senior wing who only played 6 games last season, was one of the starters on that undefeated JV team from two seasons ago after he transferred from North Augusta following his freshman year. Because of the transfer, he was prohibited from playing on the varsity during his sophomore season. If he can string together a complete season this year, I expect him to make a huge splash because he has the talent to be among the best handful of players in our wide area.
Another talented newcomer
Another potential surprise star surfaced at Fox Creek’s Shootout when sophomore Otis Carter took the court for Aiken. Carter’s name has been buzzing throughout the offseason because of his play on the local AAU circuit. He showed why when he checked in to Aiken’s matchup against Pelion, stretching the floor with a handful of deep threes in the Hornets’ blowout win.
But as much of a surprise as it was to discover two players the caliber of Young and Carter, nothing could match the shock that it was to many people to see that junior RJ Felton, who earned the reputation in the eyes of many as the best player in the area during his run as North Augusta’s leader last season, will now suit up for Aiken, a region rival of his old school. Felton will instantly make the Hornets a contender because he is as polished and as dangerous a weapon as there is with the ball in his hands.
As you can see in the video above, Felton can fly, he has a strong frame and he shoots the ball well from the perimeter. Coach Darris Jackson complimented Felton on his competitiveness, his leadership and his ability to create shots off the dribble for both himself and his teammates in the three games Aiken played in last weekend’s NCAA certified team camp.
Video: Felton "gets to his spot" in a game in last weekend's team camp:
— Latravea Felton (@latravea) June 25, 2019
Jackson said the team improved each game while playing against some of South Carolina’s best competition, beginning with a 14 point loss to Wade Hampton, a traditionally strong class 5A (SC’s highest classification) team. The Hornets started to hit a stride in a hard fought, 50-39 loss to back-to-back class 4A state champion Ridge View. And things really clicked when Aiken earned a 60-42 win over Fort Mill, another highly respected class 5A team.
Video: RJ Felton hits Otis Carter with the pass of the summer in last weekend's team camp:
— Latravea Felton (@latravea) June 25, 2019
In addition to Felton’s leadership, and Carter’s ability to score as well as just about any guard in the area, Jackson was very complimentary of senior forward George Bussey and another couple sophomore guards, Kameron Williamson and Clay Howard. Bussey, who stands 6-4, plays harder than just about anybody, and he earns more than his share of rebounds, put backs and other buckets in the paint. And Williamson and Howard play with poise and skill beyond their years.
After winning back-to-back region titles and making the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs in 2017 and 2018, the Hornets took a step back last season. But coach Jackson’s group might be ready to make a run at the crown that North Augusta claimed in 2019 by sailing through the region schedule and making the quarterfinals of the playoffs itself.
North Augusta is still in the pole position
Such a run by Aiken will be easier said than done because even without Felton, North Augusta is loaded with talented returnees. Because I won’t get to see the Yellow Jackets at all this month, now is as good of a time as any to reintroduce four of those impact players who will lead the defense of their region title. I voted for all four of them to participate in this Sunday’s Top 20 Area Showcase game at Richmond Academy. None of them were chosen to play in the game, which is very much focused on players from the Georgia side of the border.
But these are the four players I watched propel North Augusta past Orangeburg Wilkinson in the second round of last season’s class state 4A state playoffs. And these four players are the reason I think North Augusta is the area’s most talented team entering next season: Omarion Byrd (senior), Jordan Wilburn (junior), Colin Rodriguez (junior) and Kaleb Cooper (senior).
Video: 4 of North Augusta's talented returnees lead the Yellow Jackets into the quarterfinal round of the class 4A state playoffs:
More Featured Players from the 3rd Annual Fox Creek Summer Shootout
Deavion Scales (Fox Creek) - 6'0" G '2020
Coach Peckham on Scales:
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