About Community Grant
Winners
National Winners
State Winners
Winner Access Nominate
mobile navigation - click to open mobile navigation - click to close
6 Days Until the State Boys Basketball Announcement
Gatorade 2025 - 2026: Player of the Year

Girls Basketball - South Carolina

Gatorade Player of the year

Khalia Hartwell

Center
WESTSIDE HS
ANDERSON , SOUTH CAROLINA
JUNIOR
Height: 6-FOOT-5
Press Release

Peak Performance

12.4

Average points (per game)

8.3

Average rebounds (per game)

2.2

Average blocks (per game)
“Khalia is a dominant player who changes the game at both ends of the court. Being 6-foot-5, she can score with high-level moves down low, but can also handle the ball and shoot from the outside. She has a high IQ and is always able to make the right pass. Khalia is dominant on defense and controls the paint, grabbing rebounds and leading the transition game. She’s unselfish, a great teammate and leader on the court.”
Samantha Camp
Head Coach - Wren High

Athletic Excellence

The 6-foot-5 junior center averaged 12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks playing about 16 minutes per game this past season, leading the Rams (27-2) to the state title game. Ranked as the nation’s No. 16 recruit in the Class of 2027 by 247Sports, Hartwell shot 49 percent from the field. She entered the year as a two-time All-State honoree.

Academic Achievement

Anderson has maintained a weighted 4.7 GPA in the classroom. She will begin her senior year of high school this fall. 

Exemplary Character

A mentor and member of the leadership team for her school’s Beta Club chapter, Hartwell has volunteered locally by helping to organize a school-wide training to support The Lot Project for the homeless. In association with the student council, she donated her time to the “Oh Snap” initiative, which collected, packed and distributed meals to Anderson-area families impacted by Snap benefits delays. Also an invited member of the Anderson 5 Student Impact initiative focused on quality assurance for Anderson schools’ educational outcomes, she was selected for the “Dream Team” helping city and county officials support the community.