Zone Reads: Primed To Blow Up Along The Grand Strand/Pee Dee

Ian Guerin May 18, 2022 @ 09:54 PM

The northeast corner of the state was well represented in the latest Class of 2024 rankings update. And amid all those players from the Pee Dee and Grand Strand were a handful who are probably closer to shooting up the recruiting boards than we may have initially thought. From two tailbacks who are set up nicely at their respective programs to a pair of hard-hitting defensive standouts and a SCISA athlete who does both, we are seeing five names as potential stars in the years to come. [player_tooltip player_id="340389" first="Caden" last="O’Keefe"], RB, Socastee O’Keefe is 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds. He’s a weight room junkie and also wrestles and runs track. He was lightly used during his sophomore season, as Socastee had a senior tailback already in the position, but this fall will be different. O’Keefe could easily see 150 or more carries and will have every opportunity to become the guy. [player_tooltip player_id="208334" first="Kelvin" last="Hunter"], DB, West Florence Hunter already has some SEC and ACC offers, but he’s only scratched the surface of what he can do. As a sophomore, he put up 34.5 total tackles, 11 for loss, three sacks and recovered two fumbles. He’s a pure crash-down strong safety when he needs to be and could easily transition to linebacker. No matter what position he’s in during next two years at West, he’ll be among the top defensive players in Region VI-4A. [player_tooltip player_id="208336" first="Malachi" last="Washington"], RB, Myrtle Beach Washington spent last season slightly under the radar while a crop of talented seniors, led by [player_tooltip player_id="59494" first="Ryan" last="Burger"] and [player_tooltip player_id="59464" first="Adam" last="Randall"], got most of the attention. Still, he rushed for 758 yards and seven touchdowns. Washington spent the Spring getting faster with the Seahawks’ track squad and becomes an even bigger piece of an offense that will be working in new players at quarterback, receiver and on the line. That means he’ll get his touches. [player_tooltip player_id="267461" first="Ben" last="Thompson"], LB, Green Sea Floyds As a first-year starter in 2021, the 5-foot-10, 195-pound linebacker notched 76 tackles in just nine games. With a season of experience and a full season and a coaching staff that knows how to develop linebackers, Thompson almost assuredly flirts with triple digits in 2022. He’s got a nose for the ball and the speed, hand technique and footwork to shed blockers in order to reach that rare figure.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> [player_tooltip player_id="322302" first="Teague" last="Ward"], LB/RB, Williamsburg Academy We listed Ward at his defensive position for the purposes of the rankings (we can only do one). But the SCISA standout is a true two-way threat for the Stallions. He helped Williamsburg Academy back to the state championship game by leading the team in tackles from his spot at linebacker and also rushing for just shy of 900 yards and nine touchdowns on offense. Ward has the size and strength to play at the next level - after two more years of high school, of course.