There are many Lexington County natives who graduated beyond high school athletics and have taken their talents to college. Some of those athletes even went D1 and are excelling in their sport. 

With 2024 coming to a close, let’s look at some of the local athletes who have had success in the past year. 

Football 

Gamecock football star Nick Emmanwori had an exceptional 2024 season and is expected to be selected early in this year’s NFL draft. 

The Irmo native was selected to the AP All-American first team and All-SEC first team after being a key leader on South Carolina’s defense. Emmanwori finished the regular season with 83 tackles, three tackles for loss and four interceptions, including two returned for a touchdown. 

Emmanwori was set to play with the Gamecocks in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31. He has yet to officially declare for the NFL draft. 

In the upstate, Dutch Fork alum Antonio Williams had another successful season as Clemson’s top receiving target. Williams led the Tigers in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. 

Williams’ efforts earned him a spot on the All-ACC first team. He had at least three catches in every game this season and caught multiple touchdowns three times. 

In Clemson’s College Football Playoff game against Texas, Williams caught four passes for 66 yards and one touchdown. 

Former White Knoll linebacker Jaiden Kimble had a promising freshman season at Kennesaw State, despite a tough year for the program. 

Kimble made nine appearances during his first season and finished the year with 18 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. His best two outings came in Kennesaw’s final two games last season. He recorded a season-high five tackles in the last game against Louisiana Tech and had a sack in each of the last two games. 

Basketball 

On the basketball court, Lexington High School’s Cam Scott joined the Gamecock men’s basketball team after winning a state championship with the Wildcats. 

Scott is still adjusting to the college game but has seen action in all of the Gamecocks’ games this season. He played 21 minutes in the season-opener to North Florida and recorded six points and four rebounds. 

In the team’s game against Radford, he played 14 minutes and set a season-high with nine points. 

Scott’s former Lexington teammate Jaxon Prunty was having a promising start to his career at the College of Charleston before injuring his shoulder and having to sit out. 

Prunty scored 10 points in his Cougars debut against Southern Illinois. He followed that up with a nine-point outing against South Florida and an 11-point outing against Florida Atlantic. Prunty is committed to recovering from his injury so he can continue to impress. 

Softball 

Former White Knoll softball star Lexi Winters had another great year with the Charlotte 49ers softball team in 2024.  

Winters started 50 games for the 49ers last season and recorded a .230 batting average with five home runs, 25 RBIs, 27 runs, eight doubles, 21 walks, and four steals. In 139 at-bats, she struck out five times.

She gave up just 18 stolen bases and just one in conference play. Her efforts on the field earned her the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year award. 

Winters transferred to the University of South Carolina in the offseason, following her former 49ers coach Ashley Chastain, who took over as the Gamecocks head coach. 

Karley Shelton played for the Gamecocks last season and will be back this year for her sophomore campaign. 

The Lexington native has a strong freshman outing, appearing in 50 games and making 34 starts. She finished the season with 21 hits, 14 RBIs and one home run. 

Baseball

Lexington County natives Billy Amick and Will Taylor had successful collegiate seasons in 2024 and were eventually selected in the 2024 MLB draft. 

Amick played for the Tennesee Volunteers in 2024 and helped the team win its first College World Series. In the clinching game, he had a hit and a run. In the first game, he hit a clutch single in the bottom of the ninth to keep the game going. Tennessee went on to win that game with a walk-off. 

He played in 65 games for Tennessee in 2024 and finished with 78 hits, 65 RBIs and 23 home runs. Amick was selected 60th overall in the second round of the MLB draft by the Minnesota Twins.

Taylor geared up for the Clemson Tigers in 2024 after committing to the sport full-time the summer before. Taylor’s season was cut short after suffering an injury and missed the second half of Clemson’s season. 

When he did play, Taylor was one of the team’s top hitters. He made 32 appearances and 23 hits, 19 RBIs and seven home runs. 

Taylor was drafted in the fifth round, No. 145 overall, by the Pittsburgh Pirates.