Yesterday, we talked about Ishan White and the intrigue that he’s bringing to the state of South Carolina. However, he’s going to have his hands full for the upcoming contest against Cardinal Newman during our Low Country Showcase this weekend in Charleston. These two teams play contrasting brands of basketball, so it’ll be particularly interesting to see which powerhouse program comes out on top. Berkeley is loaded with athletes that play above the rim and look to push the tempo whenever possible. Whereas a team like Cardinal Newman prefers to slow it down and work through their quality sets more regular basis.
Berkeley, as previously mentioned, typically plays through Ishan White and Trevur Smalls, whose athleticism and overall versatility could cause problems for a guard-heavy team like Cardinal Newman. One could argue that Smalls is going to be the “x-factor” for this contest, seeing as he’ll likely be tasked with containing an incredible backcourt duo in Josh Beadle and Chico Carter. This could be a big-time showing from Berkeley, as they look to maintain their undefeated season against one of South Carolina’s toughest teams.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Newman is a relatively-known commodity with arguably the best backcourt in the state. Things start and end with Murray State-signee Chico Carter, a high-level scoring guard that can generate offense from any spot on the floor. He’s strong and utilizes his body well to finish inside the paint, yet also possesses a reliable three-point stroke and understands how to effectively get going from distance. His running mate, Josh Beadle, is emerging as a high-major prospect and has shown no signs of turning back. The lefty can do a strong amount of everything on both ends of the floor and is capable of changing his approach from a possession-to-possession basis. Their guard depth is terrific, which allows Bryce Earle and Terrell Flemming to seamlessly coexist and make their presence felt. This will also be a huge game for big man Malik Tucker, as he will need to do everything possible to try and contain Berkeley’s guys that are known for biting the rim.