Vantage Hoops 2018 Rankings: Bigs (Part 1)
The Vantage Hoops Virginia 2018 Top 100 Rankings were updated earlier this week, and now it’s time to take a closer look. Below is part one of our breakdown of the best big men in the class. Stay tuned for more content, including…
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Continue ReadingThe Vantage Hoops Virginia 2018 Top 100 Rankings were updated earlier this week, and now it’s time to take a closer look. Below is part one of our breakdown of the best big men in the class. Stay tuned for more content, including additional position-by-position break-downs, biggest stock boosters, and more.
David McCormack | 6’10” | Oak Hill Academy (#1 Overall)
It’s not everyday you find a kid with as much hype and promise as McCormack who also is the hardest working player on the floor every game. The 6’10”, 280 lbs. behemoth of a big man has already made his presence felt in a big way at Oak Hill in just a couple of months there, and things aren’t going to change anytime soon. He’s powerful, but deceptively quick on the block and explosive for his size, making the easiest comparison of him to a young Shaq. While his power and motor are what make him such a dominating presence in the post, it will be important for McCormack to learn some kind of finesse and understanding on both ends, because if he just tries to run over everyone refs are going to call things against him for the simple fact that he’s so massive. Still, the 20+ schools that have offered him, including many high majors, understand that it isn’t everyday you see that talent in a kid that big.
Kenneth Nwuba | 6’10” | Oak Hill Academy (#6 Overall)
As if guarding McCormack wasn’t hard enough, if you happen to get him into foul trouble Oak Hill can simply bring another athletic 6’10” big off the bench. Nwuba is still raw on the offensive end, but seems to be taking strides in the right direction since we saw him last at the NBPA Top 100 over the summer. Defensively, he’s already an impact player as a paint and rim protector with great timing as a shot blocker and unreal length that allows him alter shots even if he can’t block them. He has good hands, finishes paint touches with authoritative flushes and can run the floor with Oak Hill’s talented guards. We’re hoping this will be the year that he takes the leap necessary to become an elite prospect.
Florent Thamba | 6’8” | Mount Mission (#7 Overall)
Speaking of taking a leap, we’ve been waiting for sometime now for Thamba to take one for Mount Mission, and while we haven’t seen it yet it isn’t far away. Physically, Thamba may be the most impressive player in the state of Virginia. He’s a couple inches shorter than Nwuba and McCormack, however he has broad shoulders, long arms and his frame and muscle definition are well beyond his years. He rebounds well on both ends, can finish bunnies around the rim and protects the paint defensively, it just isn’t consistent enough yet. If he can stay engaged and learn that he has to dominate players that aren’t his size, Thamba could be a high major project without doubt.
Tyrek Williams | 6’7” | LC Bird (#22 Overall)
Williams did take the leap this summer, despite missing his entire sophomore season and the April live period with a broken bone in his leg. However, when he came back it was as if he never missed a beat. He grew to a legit 6’7”, and now that he’s back in basketball shape he looks much more explosive and quick in the post. Even when he was a little sluggish after his return, he showed tremendous patience and fundamentals on the offensive end. He can score it on the block with both hands, sees and feels double teams in the post and makes good decisions, and he can shoot the midrange out to about 15 feet. He’s a good rebounder that boxes out and finishes on the offensive end, and if he can stay healthy he has a chance to be one of the premier power forwards in the state for Bird.
Trey King | 6’8” | Hargrave Academy (#25 Overall)
The transfer from Kentucky may not be a household name yet, but it shouldn’t take much time for that to change. King is a versatile four man that can guard multiple positions, is comfortable on the perimeter and is a true competitor at it’s truest form. He still has to fill out but he’s wiry strong, has tremendous length and doesn’t shy away from contact in the post. He can score with his back to the basket or in face up situations, and he’s a big time rebounder on both ends of the floor. He’s part of a very talented front line for Hargrave’s varsity team, and it’s only a matter of time before college coaches start to take notice of this young man’s talent.