Momentum grows for more shot clock use in SC high school basketball. Here’s the latest

With a trial period wrapping up, a push is under way for more full-time use of shot clocks in South Carolina high school basketball.

A shot clock proposal is expected to go before the South Carolina High School League’s activities committee April 15 and the league’s executive committee two days later.

In April 2022, the SCHSL executive committee passed a two-year trial period to use a 35-second shot clock in showcases or invitational basketball events held in the state. The trial period will end after the 2023-24 school year. That move came after the National Federation of State High School Associations decided that a 35-second shot clock would be permitted in boys and girls high school basketball games beginning in 2022-23.

The shot clock was used at such Midlands events as the Chick-fil-A Classic, Cayce Roundball Classic, The Bash at Ridge View and MLK Bash at Eau Claire.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, there are now 27 states, including South Carolina, that use the shot clock for basketball, at least on a limited basis. That number is up from 12 from before the start of the 2022-23 season.

Byrnes High coach Layne Fowler and members of the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association want to make the shot clock a permanent fixture.

Fowler has been one of the most outspoken on the issue and presented the topic before all five classifications at the S.C. Athletic Administrators Conference in March. Class 5A (52-2), Class 4A (34-8) and Class 3A (20-15) all voted in favor of it in a straw poll. Class 2A (25-18) and Class A (37-9) voted against the proposal.

“It was really positive,” Fowler said of the feedback. “... I felt really good about it. We are definitely to the point with 5A and 4A.”

The response was a lot better than Fowler and the SCBCA received when the subject was brought up in 2018. He presented it to 5A athletic directors in a straw poll then and was defeated 40-8 — with seven of the eight yes votes coming from Fowler’s region.

The State recently surveyed Midlands basketball coaches on the topic. Of those who responded, 14 said they are in favor of it, three said they are against it, and one said they’re unsure.

Fowler is in the process of drafting the proposal for April’s meetings but has some key points in it. Every class will have the option to use the shot clock in non-region games and tournaments/showcases for the next two years. Then, it would be mandatory for at least Class 4A and 5A schools in all games starting in 2026-27. Class A, 2A and 3A could join in if they wanted to.

Fowler said the reason to make shot clock usage mandatory in 4A and 5A is because of the response of the two top classes and the hesitation among smaller classifications.

“That would get better traction,” Fowler said. “There are states that started in higher classifications first, and I don’t want to be so forceful that it will get shot down.”

The proponents of the shot clock say it makes for a better flow of the game and prevents teams from holding onto the ball. And it gets the athletes used to how the game is played at higher levels.

The biggest drawbacks are the costs of the added equipment and having to find a person — perhaps a volunteer or a paid official — to operate the clock. Fowler said estimates for portable shot clocks range from $700 to $1,200, with high-end ones on top of the basket running about $3,200.

The CFA tournament in December at River Bluff had three referees each day who took turns operating the new clocks.

States that use shot clock

According to the NFHS, these states have some use of the shot clock in high school basketball:

Arizona, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois. Iowa, Florida. Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska. New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Washington

Other topics for April’s SCHSL executive committee

▪ Name, image and likeness: The SCHSL made NIL a priority in 2023-24 and wanted to clarify its stance on the matter, and a document was drafted. Some of the key points:

- Athletes can’t be compensated based on specific athletic performance or achievement.

- Compensation can’t be used as an incentive to enroll or remain enrolled at a school.

- Compensation can’t be provided by the school or any person acting as an agent for the school.

▪ Sites for football and basketball championships: The 2023 football championships were held at South Carolina State University, and the 2024 basketball semifinals and finals were held in one location for the first time, at the Florence Center.

Those sites are options for next year, but a lot of discussion was had during the S.C. Athletic Administrators Conference about alternate venues. Williams-Brice Stadium was mentioned for football championships, but SCHSL commissioner Jerome Singleton said in a letter to athletic directors, obtained by The State, that mentioned the increased cost involved with hosting games there in the past and that it would likely be an extra day with Class 5A expected to split into two divisions.

Having basketball semifinals and championships at one site at Florence Center was a hot topic and that continued at the SCACA meetings.

“While this format solved the problem of securing three venues in the past, there was much discussion about whether or not to continue the process based on location and game time schedule,” Singleton wrote.

Singleton also said Bon Secours Wellness Center in Greenville and Colonial Life Arena in Columbia are unavailable for the state finals. North Charleston, however, could be a possible option.

▪ Increased penalties for open/closed season violations: There is a proposal that increases the penalty for infractions occurring during the open and closed season practices.

Currently, first-time offending schools are fined $500, lose a scrimmage and practice day. The new proposal has those sanctions but the head coach or any assistant coach involved also will be suspended for the first two games.