2019 Rankings Breakdown: Bigs (Part 2)
It’s that time of the year again! With our new and updated comes new names, new recruitment and more! Over the next few weeks we’ll be breaking down all of our rankings, starting with part two of our bigs featuring eight of the best rising junior in the state. Stay tuned to Vantage Hoops for positional breakdowns across each class, and more content on our updated rankings!
Jaden Frazier | 6’8” | Blue Ridge/Team Loaded VA (#29 Overall)
Frazier continues to make the strides necessary since transferring to Blue Ridge two seasons ago. The 6’8” lefty has bulked up and gotten much tougher in the post, and that was the biggest thing he needed to do. He’s very skilled for his size, as he can shoot the jumper out to the three point line and can take his man off the bounce from the high post. He’ll have a host of division one coaches touting him if he ups his production over the next few years.
Chester Makoi | 6’9” | Williamsburg Christian/BWSL Chiz (#34 Overall)
He recently reclassified to the 2019 class, which should help him because he needs to put on weight and get tougher. With all that being said, Makoi is still an intriguing big man prospect with a lot of skill. He can shoot out to the three-point line, start the break or run the floor and finish in transition. If he can get stronger, tougher and increase his motor he’ll have a chance to be a highly recruited big man prospect.
Jonas Munson | 6’11” | West Potomac/VA Elite 17U (#43 Overall)
Munson has tons of potential moving forward, it all just has to click with him. He’s as close to 7’0” as you can get, and that in itself makes him an impact on the defensive end where he can contest shots without even leaving his feet. He has decent hands and feet, and if he just continues to improve with experience he’ll be just fine moving forward.
Jordan Hernandez | 6’7” | New Kent/VA Havoc (#49 Overall)
He sprouted up six inches since his freshman year at Varina, and he absolutely dominated at New Kent this season. Since he was a guard, he has really good feel at the high post where he’s able to deliver passes to cutters and hit the 15 footer. He’s also really long and athletic, so he’s able to run the floor and protect the rim with the best of them. Need to see more of him, but his improvement mixed with his growth spurt makes him very intriguing moving forward.
Detionne Leach | 6’4” | Phoebus/Team Loaded 757 (#51 Overall)
Leach is a hybrid forward that thrives in uptempo systems that allow him to run the floor and negate his size. He’s a good finisher in traffic, rebounds well on both ends for his size and is a mismatch problem on both ends with his athleticism and size. He needs to continue to fill out and work on his ballhandling to reach his maximum potential.
Isaiah Shearon | 6’8” | Henrico/Team Richmond-Garner Road (#54 Overall)
He still has a ways to go, but physically this kid looks impressive for his age. He’s huge at 6’8″ with incredibly long arms, and he moves well for a young big man. What he seems to lack is toughness in the paint however. When he develops and gets stronger, he should be a walking double-double with his skill set.
Dominique Finney | 6’5” | Armstrong/BWSL Dip (#57 Overall)
A big man with touch, Finney isn’t likely going to transition out to the wing, but he’s had a couple of good seasons for Armstrong that have raised the eyebrows of some coaches. He’s long and gets off his feet easily allowing him to kill the glass, and he can finish with both hands or above the rim on put backs. Has to continue to bulk up and extend his range.