Vote: Who should be South Carolina High School Athlete of the Week (Sept. 18-23)?
Here are the candidates for SBLive’s South Carolina High School Athlete of the Week for Sept. 18-23 as nominated by fans, readers and SBLive’s staff. Read through the nominees and cast your vote at the bottom of the page. Voting will conclude on Saturday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced in next week's poll.
THIS WEEK’S SOUTH CAROLINA ATHLETE OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
Editor’s note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.
Here are this week's nominations.
A.J. Brand, Irmo, Football
The Yellow Jackets’ quarterback threw six touchdown passes and ran for another in a 54-0 win over Airport. That gives the 6-foot-2, 197-pound junior 19 touchdown passes in 6 games.
Clara Cloninger, North Myrtle Beach, Girls Volleyball
Cloninger, a sophomore outside hitter, had 11 kills, 4 aces and 5 digs in the Chiefs’ 3-0 sweep of Myrtle Beach in a key region match. The Chiefs (15-1) have not lost to a South Carolina opponent in 2023.
Drake Braddock, Gilbert, Football
The senior quarterback threw four touchdowns as the Indians beat Saluda 49-27 in a battle of unbeaten teams.
Colton Link, Landrum, Football
Link had a highlight-reel night for the Cardinals. The senior quarterback ran 21 times for 407 yards and 6 touchdowns in a 74-34 romp over Blue Ridge.
Tamijai Johnson, Spartanburg, Football
The Vikings’ junior quarterback literally had a perfect night in a 57-0 win over Mauldin. Johnson was 14-of-14 for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also ran 4 times for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Giovanni Gonzalez, West Florence, Boys Volleyball
Gonzalez pounded a match-high 14 kills to go along with 8 digs, 2 aces and a block as the Knights beat rival South Florence 3-0 in their first-ever meeting between during the inaugural season of the program.
Jadyn Andrews, Beaufort, Football
Andrews ran for 184 yards and 5 touchdowns as the Eagles, reigning 3-A state champions, held off Bluffton 42-36.
Tremaine Davis, Jr., Daniel, Football
The junior cornerback had two interceptions in the undefeated Lions’ 56-14 rout of Riverside. His first interception set up a touchdown and accelerated the state’s top-ranked 3-A team runaway win.
Luke Gray, Pendleton, Football
Gray had a spectacular night, completing 24-of-30 passes for 329 yards and 7 touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 61-7 win over Palmetto.
Riley Staton, Gaffney, Football
The Indians’ quarterback was 23-of-31 for 321 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 48-40 win over Fort Dorchester.
