Five Takeaways From PRZ Media Days West Ashley

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The inaugural Prep RedZone South Carolina Media Days series opened with one of its first two sites at West Ashley on Friday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And while there were no pads, plays or fields, information was everywhere as we gear up for the 2024 season. All told, coaches and players from 21 teams appeared at the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each player received an updated profile shot and conducted interviews with our staff, as well as those from other media outlets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some of the takeaways from the afternoon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ONE LAST RIDE FOR HOST SENIORS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The vast majority of players in attendance at West Ashley were seniors. And to say they're chomping at the bit for their final season at this level was an understatement.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The players from the host school among them.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sitting front and center in the gym (wisely in front of an oversized school logo), West Ashley's Carson Luckie (linebacker), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='875795' first='Hampton' last='O'Donald']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249843' first='Davion' last='Kinard-Taylor']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254118' first='Daniel' last='Dounian']</strong> (linemen) and quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254089' first='David' last='Dounian']</strong> were able to hold court with not only our staff, but those from other media outlets, as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They represent the core of a team that was 6-6 last year and lost in the second round of the playoffs in a close game at Carolina Forest. Some of the 2023 losses could be attributed to health, and because of the contingent coming back, the Wildcats are a dark horse candidate to make some noise in the Lowcountry this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our team wants it more,” Kinard-Taylor said. “We have the ability to do big things.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OWNING IT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cross junior safety and receiver [player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey'] has been described as the most talented player on any high school field he's going to set foot on by high school and college coaches alike. Having seen him live in games, 7-on-7s, combines and more film than we can guess, we struggle not to automatically agree with that evaluation.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, the rising star also knows there's more to the game than just his physical talents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Friday, Ramsey used a portion of the Media Day to admit publicly that him not being on the field during the team's Class A Lower State semifinal loss to Bamberg-Ehrhardt was on him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I know my team depended on me,” Ramsey said. "And I let them down.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ramsey was suspended for the game by coach Shaun Wright for an sideline argument during the previous round. With him in street clothes, the game quickly got out of hand and Cross saw a promising season end in the third round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday was yet another example of the 2026 doing everything right since he stood in street clothes in that season-ending loss. He had great showings at both the Joanne Langfitt Challenge in December and the Carolinas Coaches Combine in March. Not by coincidence, he's also picked up offers from Coastal Carolina, North Carolina Charlotte, South Florida and Virginia Tech (in that order) since the end of January.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WEIGHT ROOM PAYOFFS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offseason has been good to a large number of players who appeared at West Ashley. <strong>Damien Freeman</strong> (Battery Creek), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360171' first='Connor' last='Wiendl']</strong> (Hilton Head), <strong>Darriel Porcher</strong> (Philip Simmons), <strong>Maliquan Pimentel</strong> (Fort Dorchester), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359220' first='Antwain' last='Mitchell']</strong> (Hanahan), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473027' first='Meliq' last='McGowan']</strong> (Goose Creek) and <strong>Amir McKnight</strong> (Stratford) weren't the only ones who stood out for that reason. But they certainly did their part.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each of these players - and some of them at the state's highest levels - look ready to do some significant damage for their respective teams this fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FRESH COMMITMENT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We were able to spend a few moments joking with Summerville senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='367350' first='Jaden' last='Cummings'] about why he couldn't find a good college to continue his academic and athletic pursuits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We could have also joked about him just finding a school with a similar color scheme.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cummings, of course, was just three days removed from his verbal commitment to Ivy League member Dartmouth. The Green Wave signal caller chose the Big Green over the likes of Harvard, Georgia Southern, Akron and 12 other NCAA programs at the Division I level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder threw for 3,379 yards and 36 touchdowns last season while leading Summerville to a 13-1 record and a spot in the Class 5A Lower State final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THIS AND THAT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashley Ridge offensive tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1110005' first='Cody' last='Peterson']</strong> showed up to West Ashley in a walking boot on his left foot. He suffered a small hairline fracture this offseason but coach Jeff Tate said the expected prognosis will have the 6-foot-5, 315-pounder out of the boot with about 10 days to spare prior to practice opening August 2. … Porter Gaud safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360313' first='Tony' last='Brown']</strong> is a name that more folks should know in the coming months. The senior is up to 6-foot-1 and about 180 pounds, both of which have increased since he began seeing regular playing time as a freshman. Last fall, he put up 70 tackles and eight tackles for loss (plus 400 rushing yards and three scores while spelling [player_tooltip player_id='1157754' first='JJ' last='Fludd'] at tailback). Brown may develop into one of the area's top safeties by the time his senior season is over.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->