Heathwood Hall’s Lauren Jacobs awarded Gatorade South Carolina Girls Basketball Player of the Year

We’re celebrating the remarkable achievement of Lauren Jacobs, a standout point guard from Heathwood Hall, who has been named the Gatorade South Carolina Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season.

Standing at 5-foot-9, Jacobs had an incredible senior year, averaging 25.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and 2.4 assists per game, leading Heathwood to a 17-4 record and a spot in the SCISA Class 4A state semifinals.

On September 14, Jacobs committed to Ole Miss, choosing the Rebels over Dawn Staley‘s South Carolina team, which was also among her top 10 choices.

Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, located in Columbia, holds significant basketball history, as it’s the same school where former Gamecocks star A’ja Wilson played. Wilson was honored as South Carolina’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2014.

Jacobs, ranked No. 83 by ESPN, is a four-time state champion and a two-time SCISA Player of the Year. Heathwood Hall coach Brionna Zimmerman praised Jacobs, saying, “Lauren is a fantastic athlete and an even better person. She’s a strong student and has been accepted into the National Honor Society. She’s also led our team by example, both on and off the court.”

The past two South Carolina Girls Basketball Players of the Year were Joyce Edwards of Camden High, who now plays for Staley’s Gamecocks, and Ashlyn Watkins from Cardinal Newman School, who was recognized in 2021-22.

This award further solidifies Jacobs’ impressive career as she prepares to continue her journey with Ole Miss. For more updates on South Carolina athletics, stay tuned!

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4-Star QB Landon Duckworth Plans Official Visit to South Carolina

Live Report: Four-Star QB Landon Duckworth’s Recruitment Heats Up as Senior Year Approaches

In the world of college football recruiting, few names have been generating as much buzz as four-star quarterback Landon Duckworth. After decommitting from South Carolina last summer, the talented 6-foot-3, 190-pound signal-caller has seen his recruitment soar. Coming off a dominant junior season, Duckworth is gearing up for his senior year, ready to further elevate his stock before making a final decision on where to play college ball.

Duckworth’s junior year stats are nothing short of impressive. He threw for 3,109 yards and 34 touchdowns, while also adding 631 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in just 14 games. Over the course of his high school career, the state champion quarterback has accumulated over 6,400 passing yards and 80 total touchdowns across 30 games.

Looking ahead, Duckworth has mapped out his official visit schedule, confirming his trips to his top four schools. He will first visit Georgia on May 30, followed by South Carolina on June 6, Florida State on June 13, and finally Ole Miss on June 20.

In a recent interview with On3’s Chad Simmons, Duckworth shared his thoughts on the recruiting process. “There are some other schools I’m considering, but Ole Miss, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida State are my main focus right now,” he said. “All of them are recruiting me hard, and they want me on campus this spring, so I’m planning to take official visits to all four.”

While South Carolina has worked hard to maintain a strong relationship with Duckworth in hopes of bringing him back into the fold, the Gamecocks are far from alone in their pursuit. Other powerhouse programs are also heavily involved in the race.

When asked about his commitment timeline, Duckworth was clear: “If I’m ready to commit before the season, I will,” he explained. “But if not, I’ll wait. What’s most important to me is the atmosphere of the school, how the coaches treat me, the offensive system, and the background of the staff in developing quarterbacks.”

As the summer draws closer, all eyes will be on this highly coveted recruit and his final decision on where he will take his talents next. The countdown to his commitment continues.