Zone Reads: Charleston’s 2023 Prospects
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Of the more than 230 players ranked in the 2023 class from South Carolina, 31 of those are from high schools in and around the Charleston area of the Lowcountry. As the regular season of the 2022 season reaches the…
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Continue ReadingOf the more than 230 players ranked in the 2023 class from South Carolina, 31 of those are from high schools in and around the Charleston area of the Lowcountry.
As the regular season of the 2022 season reaches the midway point, now is a good time to catch up on the progress of the area’s top players.
The state’s top-rated prospect, Oceanside Collegiate tackle Monroe Freeling Monroe Freeling 6'7" | 285 lbs | OL Oceanside Collegiate Academy | 2023 State SC (6-7, 295) recently ended his recruiting process with a verbal commitment to defending national champion Georgia. Freeling decided to end the drama earlier than he had expected so that he could focus on his final season as a prepster.
“It was just time. I knew where I wanted to be and even when I tried to talk myself out of it, it always came back to Georgia,” Freeling said.
Freeling is one of six Landsharks currently ranked in the class of 2023. The list also includes running back Vaughn Blue Vaughn Blue 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Oceanside Collegiate Academy | 2023 State SC , who is the 15th-ranked prospect and No. 2 running back in the statewide list. Blue has rushed for 691 yards and six touchdowns in four games, including four 100-yard efforts.
One of the top defensive linemen in the area is Tim Castain Tim Castain 6'1" | 240 lbs | DL Oceanside Collegiate | 2023 State SC , the 33rd-ranked prospect overall in the state. Safety Zach Hagedon Zach Hagedon 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Oceanside Collegiate | 2023 State SC and receivers Jace Kraftchick Jace Kraftchick 6'3" | 205 lbs | WR Oceanside Collegiate | 2023 State SC and Cole Strickler Cole Strickler 6'4" | 220 lbs | WR Oceanside Collegiate Academy | 2023 State SC round out the Landsharks who are ranked in the class.
The position of strength in the Charleston area is clearly linebacker. Eight of the 31 ranked players in the 2023 class play linebacker and all will likely earn a college opportunity at some level.
Ashley Ridge has three linebackers ranked. Alex Ledford Alex Ledford 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB Ashley Ridge | 2023 State SC is averaging nine tackles per game early on, while teammates Christian Garland Christian Garland 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Ashley Ridge | 2023 State SC and TJ Wilson TJ Wilson 6'0" | 215 lbs | LB Ashley Ridge | 2023 State SC are getting their share of hits as well.
The top-rated linebacker in the area is TImberland’s Omari Jenkins Omari Jenkins 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Timberland | 2023 State SC . While his team is winless in five games, Jenkins continues to set the pace on defense while also seeing significant time at running back.
The top tackler in the area is Cane Bay’s Cameron Avery Cameron Avery 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB Cane Bay | 2023 State SC , who is averaging better than 13 tackles per game. In a losing effort to West Ashley a few weeks ago, Avery was in on 25 totals, including 11 solo hits.
James Island’s Walker Woodall Walker Woodall 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB James Island Charter | 2023 State SC is a recent addition to the list. The 6-1, 215-pounder is averaging eight tackles per game and has spearheaded the Trojans’ 4-1 start.
Wando’s Mikey Rosa Mikey Rosa 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Wando | 2023 SC is another of the area’s most physical players and recently made a verbal commitment to The Citadel.
The second-best offensive lineman, behind Freeling, in the Charleston area is Cane Bay’s Kameron Durant Kameron Durant 6'4" | 315 lbs | OL Cane Bay | 2023 State SC , a verbal commitment to East Carolina. Summerville’s Drew Inabinet Drew Inabinet 6'5" | 325 lbs | OL Summerville | 2023 State SC and Reginald Pinckney Reginald Pinckney 6'4" | 320 lbs | OL Summerville | 2023 State SC , along with First Baptist center Roy Maybank Roy Maybank 6'2" | 280 lbs | OL First Baptist | 2023 State SC also are ranked.
In the secondary, Summerville has two players ranked in safety Keith Elmore Keith Elmore 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Summerville | 2023 State SC and corner Michael Jenkins Michael Jenkins 6'1" | 165 lbs | DB Summerville | 2023 State SC . Jenkins has blocked two punts already this season.
Goose Creek’s Jordan Turner Jordan Turner 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Goose Creek | 2023 State SC is a top 100 player while new additions to the list include safety Bryce Carpenter Bryce Carpenter 5'9" | 160 lbs | DB Fort Dorchester | 2023 State SC of Fort Dorchester and safety Gemoi Brown Gemoi Brown 5'9" | 175 lbs | DB James Island | 2023 State SC of James Island, who had a season-high nine tackles in last week’s game against Cane Bay.
Fort Dorchester’s DeAndre Jones, who transferred from Summerville prior to this season, is one of the top defensive linemen in the area. Porter-Gaud’s Zihaire Jackson Zihaire Jackson 6'2" | 210 lbs | DL Porter Gaud | 2023 State SC and Goose Creek’s Jaylon Richardson Jaylon Richardson 5'11" | 275 lbs | DL Goose Creek | 2023 State SC also earn top 100 rankings in the state.
The lone placekicker from the Charleston area to earn a statewide ranking in the 2023 class is Griffin Gore Griffin Gore 6'5" | 160 lbs | K Philip Simmons | 2023 State SC .
Baptist Hill’s Kevin Townsend Kevin Townsend 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH Baptist Hill | 2023 State SC is a recent addition to the senior list as an athlete. Townsend excels as a receiver and defensive back for the Class A Lower State power.