Top recruits Joyce Edwards, Sarah Strong seize the spotlight at Chick-fil-A Classic

The top two girls high school basketball players in the country lived up to that billing Wednesday.

Sarah Strong and Joyce Edwards put on a show in the Chick-fil-A Classic’s second annual girls showcase game at River Bluff High School.

Strong, the No. 1-ranked player in Class of 2024 by Hoopgurlz, poured in 31 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as Grace Christian defeated Edwards’ Camden squad, 58-52.

“It was a great atmosphere and showcases the ladies’ game. It was a great matchup with the top two players in the country,” Grace coach Chad Revelle said. “Joyce and Sarah both showcased their talents on the big stage. The atmosphere, everything was incredible. South Carolina knows their amateur sports, and it was a great environment and win for us.”

Strong has ties to the Palmetto State, with her father, Danny Strong, playing at Great Falls High then at N.C. State. He followed that with a 15-year professional career overseas.

Her mother, Allison Feaster, played at Chester High, is the third-leading scorer in state high school basketball history before an All-American career at Harvard. Feaster played 10 years in the WNBA and eight overseas and currently works with the Boston Celtics.

Feaster will go into the S.C. Athletic Hall of Fame next year.

Strong was potent from three-point range Wednesday, going 7-of-10 from behind the arc. Her seven 3-pointers were two off the Classic record set by former Porter-Gaud boys standout Aaron Nesmith, who hit nine in 2017. Nesmith currently plays for the Indiana Pacers.

The 6-foot-2 Strong scored 15 of her team’s first 17 points.

“I got hot in the beginning,” Strong said. “It was a rough third quarter, but we were able to pull it out.”

The game was the second installment of the girls showcase event. Last year featured Edwards and Camden against MiLaysia Fulwiley and Keenan.

Chick-fil-A Classic organizer Gray Fulmer said he will look to continue to showcase a high-profile girls matchup, although that might be a little more challenging with no nationally ranked players like Fulwiley and Edwards in the state right now.

This year’s game drew a star-studded crowd that included South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley and her coaching staff as well as Fulwiley and other Gamecock players. UConn assistant coach Jamelle Elliott also was at the game.

The top-ranked Gamecocks and the Huskies are among those recruiting Strong. USC already has signed Edwards in the Class of 2024.

Edwards’ future coaches had to like what they saw from her. The reigning S.C. Gatorade Player of the Year and No. 2 prospect in the country finished with 27 points and nine rebounds.

After the game, Grace coach Ravelle pulled Edwards aside to compliment her when the two teams were shaking hands.

“She can finish at the rim and to see it in person as opposed to film is something special,” Revelle said of Edwards. “She is going to go to South Carolina and make Dawn Staley one happy lady and keep that tradition going.”

Edwards had 16 points in the second half as the Bulldogs rallied from an 11-point deficit. She brought the USC staff to their feet when she made a block that led to a Deanna Jeffcoat 3-pointer and tied the game at 41-41 early in the fourth quarter.

Grace (13-0) responded and built the lead back up to 52-44 on a 3-pointer by Strong.

But the Bulldogs (11-2) fought back and cut it to 54-52 on Braylin Mungo’s layup with 1:11 left. Camden had a chance to tie it, but Grace’s Isa Roman stole a pass and went in for a layup with 22 seconds to seal the win.

“I know it wasn’t the ending that we wanted, but the atmosphere was great and fans came out to support women’s basketball,” Edwards said. “It is a step towards making more people aware of women’s basketball. That’s something I am really proud of.”

Schedule

Wednesday

Chick-fil-A Classic

St. John’s DC 80, Keenan 49

K: Cedric Schofield 14, Nyheim McNeil 10, Sumpter 9, Anderson 7, Robinson 5, McCullough 1, Odom 1, Simmons 2. SJ: Omari Witherspoon 11, Atosh Newman 11, Devin Toatley 12, Finley Billy 11, Barton 9, Chase 9, Clark 6, Musiime 3, Satterwhite 2, Olorunghohunmi 6.

Grace Christian (NC) 58, Camden 52 (girls)

GC: Sarah Strong 31, Storm 9, McNair 7, Roman 4, Campbell 3, Whitley 4. C: Joyce Edwards 27, Carter 7, Mungro 9, Jeffcoat 9

Ridge View 64, River Bluff 59

RV: Korrie Corbett 27, Joshua Smith 17, T. Smith 2, Cooper 6, Davis 6, Pretty 6. RB: Yasir Cromer 19, Luke Chapman 18, Pac Pitts 10, Wilson 9, Avery 3.

Carolinas Challenge

Northside Christian (NC) 62, Indian Land 44

Richland Northeast 54, Charlotte Christian (NC) 47

Charlotte Country Day (NC) 58, Irmo 40

Thursday

Chick-fil-A Classic

Grayson (Ga.) vs. Imani Christian (Pa.), 11:10 a.m.

Rock School (Fla.) vs. Dream City Christian (Az.), 12:40 p.m.

DME Academy (Fla.) vs. Hillcrest Prep (Az.), 2:30 p.m.

Dynamic Prep (Texas) vs. Combine Academy (NC), 4:10 p.m.

Gray Collegiate vs. Prolific Prep (Ca.), 5:50 p.m.

John Marshall (Va.) vs. Lancaster, 7:30 p.m.

Slam Dunk and 3-point Contest, 9:10 p.m.

Carolinas Challenge

Auxilary Gym

Indian Land vs. Charlotte Christian (NC), 2:10 p.m.

Charlotte Country Day (NC) vs. Richland Northeast, 3:50 p.m.

Irmo vs. Northside Christian (NC), 5:30 p.m.