2026 Rankings: Realignment’s Impact on GSPD

Much of the talk in South Carolina since October has revolved around the multiplier, and - more importantly - what it would do for regions.   There was some fallout, as some old rivalries will have to hold on as non-region games. And while some of that will be lost in the shuffle, it also means new opportunities for athletes who will see a somewhat different look from opponents.    Here are some ways in which it will affect players from the Grand Strand and Pee Dee.    REGION V-5A   While West Florence has spent the majority of the last two decades paired up mostly with teams from Horry County, the shift to a region with six Midlands squads means our three ranked 2026s will get some big-city exposure.   Coincidentally, all three Knights are on defense. Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='617662' first='Jamie' last='Williamson'] is joined by linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1025773' first='Romello' last='Patterson'] and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1165145' first='Clayton' last='Folse'] (although Folse may be moved to linebacker). And while their new region assignment might not feel like it's previous one in the old Region VI-4A - often considered the strongest one in the state - Patterson, Folse and Williamson will see some diversity in the offenses.   Ridge View is poised to open things up a bit more to take advantage of rising sophomore quarter [player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='233146' first='Jordon' last='Gidron'] at receiver. Sumter is a run-first power scheme that will test the Knights' meddle in the trenches.    REGION VI-5A   The Horry County super region has been talked about for some time. Now, it's a reality. And that means the six teams will have to fight it out against only each other for playoff berths and seedings.    Currently, five players from those teams are ranked in the class.   Conway receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1025782' first='Jordan' last='Jenkins'] becomes the Tigers' top receiver after putting up nearly 500 yards and five touchdowns during his sophomore season. Jenkins recorded his first 100-yard receiving game against new region mate Myrtle Beach (although that came in a blowout loss).    He's not the only ranked receiver in this new group, either.   Budding sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='816754' first='Tyree' last='Cauthen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='816753' first='Rayvon' last='Green'] of Myrtle Beach are both expected to start this fall. Cauthen was slow going last season. However, Green put himself front and center by catching a last-second touchdown pass in a win over West Florence in September and finished with a pair of scores in seven games.    North Myrtle Beach's defense led by linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1025820' first='Lamontae' last='Smith'] (pictured) and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1025821' first='Zyrion' last='Reed'] should be even better. Reed finished second on the team in tackles (36) last fall, while Smith was third with 34. That came while playing the gauntlet of the old Region VI-4A, as well. The Chiefs will now merge into a region that outside of it, Myrtle Beach and Carolina Forest does not have a ton of recent playoff success but plenty of familiarity with everyone else.    REGION V-4A   [player_tooltip player_id='816736' first='Terry' last='Gordon'] was an absolute problem for South Florence opponents last fall. He led the team in tackles (111) and tackles for loss (17) while also finishing third in sacks. With most of the power brokers of the region moving up to Class 5A, though, South immediately becomes the favorite to win its third straight region title.   Regardless, Gordon is looking to build upon his gaudy 2023 season and is now a focal point for a defense that is bringing back a decent amount of talent around him.    REGION V-3A   No matter what Class 3A region Dillon is it, the Wildcats are almost assuredly going to be the favorite. That'll be the case while sharing a new Region V-3A with Aynor, Georgetown, Loris, Marlboro County and Waccamaw, too.   A four-pack of Dillon sophomore standouts will carry this team into the next realignment cycle: Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='205556' first='Josiah' last='Oxendine'] and his favorite target at receiver in Zamarious Robertson (who also stands out at defensive back) and reserve tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1025778' first='Dominick' last='Felton'] and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1025771' first='Keryien' last='Brown'] should all continue to thrive despite some heavy losses on both sides of the ball.    All that said, no one else in the region is going to hand the Wildcats another title.   Standout twin brothers [player_tooltip player_id='473016' first='AJ' last='Grate'] and [player_tooltip player_id='473025' first='Andre' last='Grate'] helped make some at least relative history when they both threw a touchdown pass in a Week 10 loss to Manning. But the bigger impact each of them had throughout the season was that this team is being built around them. Both play quarterback, tailback and receiver, and AJ is also among the team's leading tacklers on defense.   Over at Loris, the Lions will have a known commodity and a relative newcomer to the rankings helping Greg Mance's squad. Edge [player_tooltip player_id='473018' first='Landon' last='Conner'] will enter his junior season with 149 career tackles and 23 tackles for loss. Against the teams Loris will share a region again, Conner had 37 tackles alone last fall. His classmate - quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='797160' first='Moon' last='Gerald'] - was able to dazzle some in limited action last fall. While he was still steadily parked behind [player_tooltip player_id='327302' first='Jackson' last='Huff'] and typically used in change-of-pace situations, Gerald is able to provide a spark and will clearly get even more reps next year as a way to keep some of those teams who know Loris well from getting an upper hand.   REGION VI-2A   There may not be a ranked Class 2A 2026 with more of an opportunity to shine more than that of defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1025808' first='Chris' last='Stewart'] at Andrews. Now in the neighborhood of 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Stewart and his teammates are now Region VI-2A, which also includes successful offensive lines at Philip Simmons, Timberland and Woodland.   Stewart was hampered some toward the final part of the season with an ankle injury. Yet, he still produced a team-high 12.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in 10 games. If he boosts those figures against the tackles he'll be lining up again, Stewart's opportunities for the future will expand, too.     REGION VII-2A   Kingstree's [player_tooltip player_id='473015' first='Tyleek' last='Dukes'] has been one of the better hybrid defensive backs in this class since the start of his freshman season. As a sophomore, he put up 66 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and an interception. He can line up at corner or safety, and in the Blazers' new region, his skills at the both will be necessary.   Marion and Mullins tend to focus a little more on their passing attacks; East Clarendon and Manning are more run-based; Atlantic Collegiate is still TBD as it will be entering its first year of full SCHSL membership.     What's already clear is that Dukes is the team's top returning defender. Factor in that he was also the team's top receiver last fall, and his second two years of high school ball could be highly productive.   REGION II-A   The first year of coach Stephen Burris' offensive scheme in Lamar was a process, as the Silver Foxes made it to the third round of the process and showed a relatively balanced offense (1,801 yards pass, 1,830 rushing). That took into account starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce'] missing three games in the middle of the season.    Pierce had a successful surgery after the year and appears to be well on track to dwarf the passing and rushing numbers he put up in a much different looking Region II-AA. While Lewisville is now on the last-season slate, some of the others won't present as much opposition. Combined with the non-region schedule, Pierce could be set up for his breakout campaign.

Much of the talk in South Carolina since October has revolved around the multiplier, and - more importantly - what it would do for regions.