At this point, it should be no secret that our neighbors to the south have some of the most underrated basketball talent of any state in the country. Sure, South Carolina might not necessarily have the depth of prospects like North Carolina but their top grouping could consistently go toe-to-toe against the best players from almost any other state (including North Carolina). Even looking back at the previous classes, there are guys who went from widely underrated in high school to absolutely thriving'like Aaron Nesmith, Ja Morant, James Reese, etc. Now, there's an incredibly loaded collection of point guards stacked up within the Class of 2022 and this series will take a closer look at each one. First, we look at Jazian Gortman of Keenan High School and Upward Stars.'

Arguably the most popular of the top grouping, Gortman has really been the model of success since entering high school. He saw limited playing opportunities as a freshman with Gray Collegiate, largely due to the pure talent and experience on the roster. However, Gortman still showcased the game and tools worth staying optimistic about. Between his time with Gray Collegiate and summer showings with Palmetto City Hurricanes, it was clear that Gortman was preparing to take the next step in his progression sooner than later. That step came in the form of transferring to Keenan High School. 

Upon joining the Raiders, Gortman became an exceptional running mate to star Raekwon Horton. He posted nightly averages of 17.0 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 2.5 SPG while shooting 54% from the floor, 46% from beyond the arc, and 74% from the line. Gortman is a tough, intelligent floor general with extreme craftiness as a creator and the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. He's a exceptional defender with quickness, aggression, and great anticipation. His numbers were flat-out impressive, especially when accounting for the massive uptick in usage and overall playing time. The expectations for Gortman have always been high, but it seems although he's prepared for any type of challenge. His recruitment has been slowly picking up over the last calendar year, but the addition of a Wake Forest offer should ultimately lead to dozens more scholarships throughout his high school career.