By Neill Kirkpatrick
Special to the HSSR
Goose Creek – While the state of South Carolina may not have the over-all numbers that other states have in terms of high school football players, each year the receiving talent that comes out of the Palmetto state rivals that of any state in the country.
2023 is no expectation as six of the High School Sports Report’s top 20 players are receivers or play some receiver among their positions and everyone has already commented to a Division I school. Add on the other 21 in the HSSR top 100 and you 27 wide receivers among the top players in the state.
“This is year’s class is the best in a decade,” said HSSR Senior Editor David Shelton. “The class is very deep with 8-10 high level guys that will have an impact at the next level.”
Braylon Staley (6-1,180) of Strom Thurmond (Transfer from Aiken) is the state’s top ranked receiver at number five. Staley has 4.4 forty speed and he has committed to Tennessee. He told the HSSR that the Volunteers made the best impression on him, and he felt like he belonged in Orange.
“I am excited to be playing for Strom Thurmond this year and I’m looking forward to having over 1,000 yards receiving this year,” said Staley. “The coaches are expecting a lot from me, and they know they are getting a ball player.”.
Phillip Simmon athlete Troy Stevenson (6, 175) checks in at number six. The Georgia Tech commit will be the go-to guy this year for the Ironhorse’s as they lost their top two receivers from a year ago. Last season he averaged over 23 yards every time he touched the ball. He is also one of the top defensive backs in the state as well.
South Carolina commit Mazeo Bennett of Greenville High is a special player that can go the distance every time he touches the ball. The 6-0, 175 speedsters accounted for over 1,700 yards in 2022, averaging over 19 yards per reception.
Greenville head coach Greg Porter said about Mazeo, “He believes that nothing is impossible,” said Coach Porter. “He is strong academically with a great work ethic and he has been consistent over a long period of time. His biggest asset is his unselfishness, and discipline to his craft.”
Over the summer, know player in the state has advanced up the HSSR 2024 Top list more than Yannick Smith (6-3,200) of Summerville. Smith committed to East Carolina in July but you can bet the farm, as his early senior film gets on Hudl, and elsewhere, some power five offers are headed his way.
“I think he is the number one player in the state,” said Green Wave head coach Ian Rafferty.
“He does things on a football field you just can’t coach. Defenses have to be mindful of where he is on every play.”
Smith was Player of the Year in basketball this season. His smooth hands, ability to change directions at full speed, and his vision, are a few things that make him a special receiver as well.
As a junior Smith played WR, Wildcat QB, DB, and returned kicks and punts. He caught 50 passes for 704 yards and six touchdowns. He rushed for 220 yards on 30 carries for a 7.3 yards average. In a limited role on defense, he had 14 tackles, one pick, and five pass-break-ups. He is considered the best receiver at Summerville since AJ Green 15 years ago.
The 11th ranked player in the HSSR Top 100 is Kentucky commit is Quay’sheed Scott (6-1, 186). Scott ran a 4.36 forty at both the South Carolina and Kentucky camps this summer. His speed allowed him to average over 30-yards a reception last season.
“I want to be one of the best that ever played for Marion; help my teammates, and win a state championship,” said Scott when asked about expectations for this season.
Christian Zachary (6-3,190) of Calhoun County checks in at number 17. He runs good routes, can take a short throw, and turn it into six, but what is most impressive is his tenacity when blocking an opponent. He has committed to Virginia. He also averaged 10 points five rebounds on the perennial state powerhouse Saints basketball team.
East Carolina commitment Jyron Waiters (6-0, 180) of Wilson rounds out the top 24 players in the state. He had 40 receptions for over 600 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. He has great feet and makes people miss in the open field.
“Jyron has tremendous leadership skills and work ethic on and off the field,” coach Rodney Mooney. “He's a player that other players want to follow and mimic. I can't say enough about what he's done for this program during my tenure.”
Chester’s Reggie Heath attended the HSSR media day and is excited about the season ahead. Last season he had 56 receptions for 1004 yards and five touchdowns. He has several schools showing interest in him, but he has no favorites currently.
“I feel like we are going to have a very good season. We have a lot of guys coming back and we have worked hard all summer,” said Heath.
Another top receiver that attended HSSR media day was Gaffney’s Emazon Littlejohn. He led the Indians in receptions last season with 64 catches for 725 yards. Currently, he has several schools looking at him. He has goals of setting a new state record in receiving this season and if he comes close to that goal, he will open more eyes.
When asked if having the Littlejohn last name adds any pressure, Emazon replied, “Yea, there are a lot of Littlejohn’s that have played for Gaffney, and I just want to keep up the tradition and legacy going.”
Hillcrest’s Avery McFadden (5-11, 190) has some eye-popping career numbers heading into his senior season with 140 receptions for 2,158 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also has accounted for over 1,200 return yards in the kicking game. Those numbers have gotten him offers from Coastal Carolina, Georgia State and James Madison.
James Island receiver Jaden “Wushi” Ravenell (5-11, 170) may be a sleeper in this class. Ravenell earned Lowcountry Player of the Year honors last season after catching 51 balls for 1,262 yards and 14 scores. He is a threat to score every time he touches the football.
Camden returns their top two receivers from last year in Cortez Lane (#50) and Jaquarius Mayrant (#59) and both have been receiving college interest. Lane is a jack of all trades as he was third in rushing (794 & 10 TD’s) and receiving (469 & 7 TD’s) for the Bulldogs. Mayrant was the Bulldogs top receiver with 63 receptions for 1002 and seven scores.
Here is a list of the rest of receivers listed in the HSSR Top 100 as the season begins. Kory Jones-Pendleton, Drew McKibben-Travelers Rest, Armoni Weaver-Byrnes, Jacob Hamilton-Dutch Fork, Anthony Williams-Bamberg Ehrhardt, Shawn Cunningham-Chapman, Chase Byrd-Greer, Zai Offord-Gray Collegiate, Derrick Salley-Ashley Ridge, Ja’Saan Faulkner-St. James, Zion Thompson-Scott’s Branch, Mikel McClellan-JL Mann, Tre-von Fernandez-Dorman, Tamari Daniels-Blackville-Hilda, along with Demarious Tolen of Strom Thurmond.
Tight Ends:
The tight end position is becoming a more recruited position in college football in recent years. You have flex tight ends, run blocking tight ends, and even tight ends who function as H-backs. The state has several talented tight ends spread through several classes.
In the 2024 Top 100, Josh Harrison (6-3,225), who lives in Greenville but plays for The Christ School in Arden, NC has committed to Wake Forest.
Rodney Lesane (6-1,225) of South Florence is a solid tight end prospect as is Cameron Sutton (6-3, 240) of Lexington. Zack Ramsey (6-3,245) is a solid TE prospect at TL Hann also. Calvin Jackson (6-2, 205) is a flex type TE at Boiling Springs this season. A very good run blocking TE is Bryce Rothwell (6-3, 240) of Lucy Beckham High in Mt. Pleasant.
The junior class has several top tight end prospects. Daniel Ray (6-5,205) of Lake View is a passing catching flex type with great speed, leaping ability, and good ball skills. Brady Ambrose (6-4,230) of Catawba Ridge is getting a lot of recruiting interest after a very good sophomore season. Ambrose caught 26 passes for 359 yards and three TD’s last year The top sophomore TE prospect in the sophomore class is Brock Feinberg (6-1, 230) of Wando.
Here is a look at some of the top rising junior receivers (Class 2025, no order). Jamarcus “Junior” Smith-Gaffney (6-1, 185) had 41 catches for over 500 yards and 6 scores. He has been receiving interest from several schools. He is also a point guard for the Indians basketball team.
TyDarion Grier (5-9, 175) of Fairfield Central is the top returning receiver in the class of 2025 as he led the Griffins with 73 receptions for 1110 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also rushed for over 300 yards and another four scores.
Jordan Gilliam-Catawba Ridge, Chamoryus Bonar-Byrnes, Trevon Walker-Woodland, Abijah Webb-Pendleton, Avery Jones-Airport, Amari King-Keenan, Cameron Cobb-Blacksburg, Jayden Sellers (5-11, 160)-South Florence, Rahmond Hamilton-Dillon, and Qua Clark-Chesterfield are all players to watch over the next two-years.
The sophomore (2026)class of receivers is led by Summerville’s Kemori DeWeese (5-11, 185), Jordan Gilliam (5-10, 170), Catawba Ridge, Trevon Walker (6-2, 215) of Woodland, Abijah Webb (5-11, 200) of Pendleton, Avery Jones (5-11, 160), Airport, Amari King (6-1, 200) of Keenan, and Cameron Cobb (6-3, 170) of Blacksburg.
All Rights Reserved | The High School Sports Report 1986-2021