BATTERY CREEK DOLPHINS
Coach: CJ Brown
Record at school: 1st season as head coach
2018-19 record: 3-20 overall, 1-7 region
Returning starters: None
Top returners: None
Key losses: None
Key newcomers: AJ Waring
Coach’s outlook: “This is a whole new team. Look for us to be fast and athletic. A team that loves to play full-court man-to-man for 32 minutes and push the ball. We have great ball handlers that can create shots for our shooters. We are excited and look forward to competing this year.”
BEAUFORT HIGH EAGLES
Coach: Jeremy Huff
Record at school: 1st season as head coach
2018-19 record: 9-15 overall, 2-4 region (lost in first round of Class 4A playoffs)
Returning starters: 2
Top returners: G/F Jamaad Rivers (Sr.); G Oliver Holmes (Jr.); G Josh Aiken (Sr.); G Rush Riley (Sr.); G/F Zyrin Odom (Soph.); F CJ Smith (Sr.); F Jontavious Murray (Sr.)
Key losses: G Trae Heyward; F Desmond Gaillard
Key newcomers: C Ben VanHise (Jr.); F Davis Willis (Soph.); F Christian Wilborn (Jr.); G Malcolm Murray (Soph.); G David Smith (Jr.); G Christian Miles (Jr.); F/C Sam Horton (Sr.)
Coach’s outlook: “We have had a great fall and the guys have been working hard. We are looking to improve and rebuild the basketball culture that was such a tradition at Beaufort High for so long. We play both a very tough region and non-region schedule, but we are certainly up for the challenge. As a team we are getting better and stronger every day, and the cohesiveness is kicking in, which is something we all like. We are looking forward to being competitive this season and being in the mix in a region that is very good top to bottom come January.
WHALE BRANCH WARRIORS
Coach: Jim Raymond
Record at school: 49-45 (4th season)
2018-19 record: 14-10 overall, 4-4 region (reached Class 2A second round)
Returning starters: 3
Top returners: F Shawn Chisolm (Sr.); F Nick Pringle (Sr.); G/F Shemar Williams (Sr.); G Javon Hogue (Sr.)
Key losses: G JaQuan Watson, G RaQuan Brisbane
Key newcomers: G Jaylen Reeves (Sr.)
Outlook: Reeves returns after a year at Beaufort Academy and joins Hogue in the backcourt to complement what could be a dominant front court. Big men Pringle and Chisolm are going to a be a problem for most opponents, especially when they’re on the floor together.
BEAUFORT ACADEMY EAGLES
Coach: Bobby Smith
Record at school: 1st season as head coach
2018-19 record: 13-8 (reached SCISA 1A quarterfinals)
Returning starters: 3
Top returners: G/F Dawson Coleman, G Kai’Shawn Jenkins, G Elijah Fess, G Brandon Trapp, F Thomas Holladay, C Malachi Rodriguez
Key losses: David Mathai, Jaylen Reeves, Ja’Sean Lawson (injured)
Key newcomers: Sully Gay, Maleik Chalmers
Outlook: “This team was three points away from making the final four and returns nearly everyone who played significant minutes. The schedule has been upgraded and features both 1A and 2A state champions, and final four teams from both divisions, as well. We are really excited to see what our younger student-athletes are made of and expect a lot from our upperclassmen. We will be a team focused on defense and toughness and should make a deep run in February.”
