Virginia Rankings Breakdown: 2018 Wings
The Vantage Hoops Virginia 2018 Top 100 Rankings were updated yesterday, and now it’s time to take a closer look. Below is a breakdown of the top 10 wings in the class. Stay tuned for more content, including additional position-by-position break-downs, biggest stock boosters,…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Vantage Hoops Virginia 2018 Top 100 Rankings were updated yesterday, and now it’s time to take a closer look. Below is a breakdown of the top 10 wings in the class. Stay tuned for more content, including additional position-by-position break-downs, biggest stock boosters, and more.
Keldon Johnson | 6’5” | Park View | #1 Overall
There’s no question about the top spot in the 2018 class, as time and time again Keldon Johnson has proven to be an elite scorer at the highest level. Whether it’s playing up on the EYBL circuit or playing in the prestigious NBPA Top 100 camp, Johnson has proven to be well ahead of his time in understanding how to score against the best competition. A strong and physically mature player for his age, Johnson refuses to settle and gets to the rim in the half court or transition sets. He’s an excellent finisher, sees the floor when defenses collapse and is always looking to make the next play. He’s a big time prospect that has a chance at making it very far in this game.
Brandon Slater | 6’6” | Paul VI | #3 Overall
Slater stays in the gym, and you can tell by his improvements between his freshman and sophomore year. He started as a long and athletic wing that made plays using those physical gifts, but he’s developed into a guard who can handle the basketball in transition and has become a deadly shooter from deep. His upside is tremendous, and if he continues to improve at the rate he has in the past then Slater is only scratching the surface with how good he could be.
Dima Zdor | 6’7” | Mountain Mission | #10 Overall
Somewhat of a mystery because we’ve only seen him once, but Zdor showed tremendous versatility at the VA Top 80 as he played and guarded multiple positions in the post and on the perimeter. With good size at 6’7”, Zdor can shoot the deep ball, attack out of the triple threat and bang down low to help on the glass. He showed good quickness off of his feet, and always seems to be in a position to make plays. On a deep and talented Mount Mission team, Zdor could prove to be a matchup problem that gets easy shots for others on his team.
Seneca Louis | 6’5” | Benedictine | #14 Overall
Louis has shown flashes of what makes him such a valued prospect, and he has turned that into multiple offers from Georgia and JMU. However, his inconsistency has raised questions about whether he’ll meet that ceiling or not. Still, Louis has shown that he can be a two-way impact player when he’s engaged. An athletic freak at 6’5”, he’s capable of switching and guarding almost any position on the floor. He has a high motor, gets after it on the glass and is a good decision maker and sees the floor when handling it in transition. If he can continue to work at his game and improve on his outside jump shot he has a chance to make a lot of noise at the next level.
DMarco Baucum | 6’7” | Bishop O’Connell | #17 Overall
Baucum has been on the radar since he was in middle school, and he’s starting to make the transition out to the wing that we were waiting on. While he used to be an undersized four man, Baucum has worked on his perimeter skills so that he can step out and become a mismatch problem for defenses. He’s still built like a four, so when he attacks smaller defenders he’s able to bully his way into the paint and muscle shots in through contact. With big men, he can take them out to where they don’t feel as comfortable and work them out there. He has to improve his consistency on his jumper and his lateral quickness defensively, but Baucum is coming along nicely as a prospect.
Brayden Gault | 6’3” | Battlefield | #21 Overall
A very intelligent wing, both of Gault’s parents played high major college basketball, and the patience and understanding in his game make that easy to believe. Gault has a simple and almost easy approach to the game, where he finds ways to make his impact without necessarily exerting a lot of energy. While he isn’t the best athlete, he uses his intelligence defensively to always be in the right spot in help side to take a charge or force an errant pass. Offensively, he has a smooth stroke off the catch, and he makes the right plays in transition and when attacking the basket to avoid a charge or find a way to the free throw line. He’ll have to get better when handling the basketball against pressure, but his mix of size, skill and intelligence makes him a winning player.
Jalen Jordan | 6’3” | Lake Taylor | #26 Overall
One of the fastest stock risers in the state, Jordan has a tremendous amount of upside as he continues to grow into his body physically and athletically. He has a good frame at about 6’3”, and his biggest asset is his ability to shoot it from deep. The lefty has a quick release and great footwork on his shot, and he isn’t afraid to let it fly in transition if you get to the paint and forget to pick him up. He’s also a good rebounder for his position and he shows great energy on the defensive end. As he works to improve his handle, expect to see Jordan become a scoring two guard that can fill it up in bunches when he gets it going.
Mike Cunningham | 6’2” | Park View | #31 Overall
One of the most deadly shooters we’ve seen in the class, Cunningham stepped up big for Park View when Keldon Johnson was out with an ankle injury early in the season. He has a lightning quick first step, which is enhanced by the fact that he can ring off three straight triples and defenders have to close out hard on him. He can play on or off the basketball, and as he continues to grow and get stronger he’ll be a dynamic two-way player that will get more collegiate attention with time.
Chandler Brooks | 6’3” | John Woods | #33 Overall
Brooks has come onto the scene the last two seasons as one of the most formidable wings in the Winchester area. He has good feel, a strong frame and good athleticism in transition allowing him to find contact and create scoring chances at the line. He’s also has a tough midrange game and knows how to create space for his shot. We have to see more of him, but Brooks will certainly make some noise on the recruiting trail soon.
Dereon Seabron | 6’5” | Lake Taylor | #34 Overall
A long attacking wing that has a solid middle game, Seabron is a mismatch nightmare because he’s tall enough to shoot over guards that can stay in front of him. He’s a streaky scorer, but tends to do most of his best work in the second half, and is capable of giving you 15-20 in a half when he’s aggressive. He has to develop more consistency on his outside shooting, but when he’s in attack mode he can fill it up at a high rate.