The Fort Mill Yellow Jackets boys’ basketball team was one basket away from going to the state finals last year.
That can sometimes sit with a team, but Fort Mill head boys’ coach Myron Lowery is trying to make sure that doesn’t happen. The Jackets bring back a lot of talent from last year’s team that finished 26-3 and lost in the Upper State finals to Greenville.
“To get that close and have a great opportunity obviously, we feel like we didn’t finish,” Lowery said. “We would like to get their, but it’s a long road. Right now, our focus is getting better for Nov. 21 (season opener). That is as far as we can think. All that other stuff builds a foundation. We are brick by brick now.”
Fort Mill brings back a three headed monster of talent in sophomore Jermier Nelson, seniors Wallace Campbell and AJ Washington, who returns to the team this season. The Jackets lost Nas Berry and Logan Parker to graduation, both key players in last season’s offense.
“Every season brings different positives,” Lowery said. “It’s a different team. We are learning our identity and trying to find ourselves. There are different strengths and weaknesses. We are trying to find ourselves.”
Fort Mill has strong good core coming back in Nelson, Campbell, and Washington; but the Jackets should also be deep on their bench as well.
“We have three guys with a great deal of experience,” Lowery said.
Fort Mill was picked to repeat as Region 3-5A champs, which they did last year in pulling off a perfect 12-0 region campaign. However, Lowery said where people pick them doesn’t matter to him.
“A lot of that stuff is based on last year,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you are first place or last place, until you tip it off and play, it really doesn’t matter.”
Fort Mill will have several games before Thanksgiving and will play in the Roundball Classic at Lexington High School for their Christmas tournament Dec. 26-28. They will open region play at Catawba Ridge on Friday, Dec. 19 and resume it on Friday, Jan. 2.
Girls’ basketball
The Lady Jackets return after finishing the 2024-2025 season with a second-place finish in the region at 9-3 and a 16-11 record overall. Fort Mill fell to Greenville in the opening round of the playoffs last season.
Like their male counterparts, Fort Mill returns a lot of talent in junior Colbie Wolf and seniors Kate Marker, Zoe Williams, who recently signed with Lees-McCrae, and Ava Shave.
“We had a great summer and great off-season,” said Fort Mill head girls’ coach Nathan Wruble. “Girls have great energy and we have a lot of players coming back.”
Fort Mill is returning eight players from last year, including four starters.
“We have a lot of experience coming back and we are excited about the season,” Wruble said.
Wruble said he feels like Fort Mill will again compete for a region title, but knows teams like Clover and Rock Hill are always tough to face, along with Nation Ford, who has played the Jackets tough in recent games.
“Everybody this season got a lot better from last season and I feel like we did as well,” he said. “Last year we didn’t finish a few plays. We have to finish those plays and keep competing.”
Wruble said he wants to keep building on last season and be able to host a playoff game.
The Lady Jackets will play in a Thanksgiving tournament at West Charlotte High School on Nov. 28-29 and will play in a Christmas tournament Dec. 27-29 in Greensboro.
Fort Mill tips off the season with Hunter Huss on Friday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. with the girls’ game and then the boys following.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
