South Carolina basketball fans love having in-state players committed to their favorite team because it gives them a chance to watch those pledges play ball before they ever put on the garnet and black.
This February, the South Carolina High School League basketball playoffs have featured a Gamecock commitment on both the boys' side of the court and the girls' side. 4-star power forward Hayden Assemian and his Powdersville Patriots made it to the state semifinals on Tuesday, and 5-star forward Joyce Edwards and her Camden Bulldogs also put themselves into the state semis.
By the time Tuesday night was over, both Powdersville and Camden won to advance to the state championship games. Powdersville will play against the Darlington Falcons, and Camden will face off against the Wren Hurricanes.
Assemian has been a massive piece of the Powdersville puzzle. In Powdersville's four games in the playoffs, he has scored at least 18 points in three games and logged three double-doubles. His best game was a 24-point, 13-rebound, 5-assist, and 4-block performance in the 3rd round against Fountain Inn.
Edwards has been excellent, as well, though, her numbers took a bit of a hit due to the blowout fashion in which her team dominated each opponent. Camden dominated all four games and did not need their star player to play at full speed for a full game. Even so, she has more points by herself (134) than all four opponents combined.
Assemian and Powdersville have never played for a state championship in basketball, so Saturday's AAA state title game against Darlington will be new territory for the Patriots. That contrasts with Edwards' Camden squad. The Bulldogs won the AAA title last season and played for it the year before but lost to Keenan High School and current South Carolina basketball star MiLaysia Fulwiley.