2020 Rankings Breakdown: Point Guards
It’s that time of the year again! With our new and updated Vantage Hoops 2020 Top 150 Rankings 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 feature on the best rising sophomore point guards in the state. Stay tuned to Vantage Hoops for positional breakdowns across each class, and more content on our updated rankings!
Jeremy Roach | 6’1” | Paul VI/Team Takeover 16U (#2 Overall)
Roach has everything that you look for in a young, star guard, and it all starts up top. He has a tremendous feel and understanding for the game, and knows when to substitute flash for substance to get the job done. He plays with poise, he’s strong with the ball in his hands and when finishing around the rim, and he has the fundamental ability to make the easy and correct play, whether it’s making others better or taking over when he needs to. He’s also a big time defender, and will likely be one of the most recruited players in the WCAC when his senior year comes around.
Zae Baines | 6’2” | North Cross/VA All-Stars (#12 Overall)
An enormously talented young player, Baines is much longer and athletic than most point guards his age. He looks smooth on the court, and when he’s engaged he can be a big time playmaker defensively with his quickness, length and nose for the ball. He has good burst and excels in transition where he can get downhill and finish at the basket. He has to refine his game more in the half court, where he often settles for deep jumpers when the defense gives it to him, but his potential is as high as anyone outside of the top three or four guys in this class.
Joe Bamisile | 6’2” | St. Christopher’s/Team Loaded VA (#13 Overall)
Unfortunately Bamisile’s freshman season didn’t go as expected for St. Chris as he dealt with a nagging growth plate injury in his knee. However, he still showed flashes of his ability to score even though he wasn’t at 100%. Off the bounce he changes speeds well, gets to his spots and is able to hit tough shots from all three levels. He can play both uptempo and in the half court, and when he gets it going he has the ability to torch you all night long. He came into his freshman year with an offer from Richmond, and with a big July he could put his name on recruiting boards for his sophomore season.
Aamir Nesbitt | 5’11” | Bishop Sullivan/BWSL Pope (#16 Overall)
Arguably the best shooting point guard in the class, Nesbitt torched the TCIS all season long after the transfer of Rasir Bolton. Nesbitt showed promise his first year at Sullivan, and after reclassifying he was the top freshman scorer in the conference. He has effortless range off the bounce, heats up quickly and isn’t afraid to shoot it from deep. He needs to continue to improve making others’ better, but being a young PG that can shoot isn’t easy to find in this state.
Marcus Dockery | 6’1” | Bishop Ireton/DC Blue Devils (#20 Overall)
Dockery is a lefty with good size that can play both on and off the ball. He has a good middle game and can stretch the floor from deep, and he can also get his teammates involved when on the ball because he has good vision and makes good decisions. He steadily improved throughout the WCAC season and has had a good start to the summer with the DC Blue Devils, and if he continues to improve on both ends of the floor he should become a very good point guard in a league full of them.
Elijah Seward | 6’0” | John Marshall/Team Loaded VA (#25 Overall)
Seward started the season averaging 18 points through the first month of the high school season at Park View before the team forfeited the season after a brawl. He transferred to John Marshall where he struggled to fit in and get consistent minutes, but there’s no doubt that he’s going to be an impact guy moving forward. He’s super bouncy both off one and two feet, and he can change pace both in transition and in the half court to get by and finish at the rim. The lefty has a nice stroke coming along as well, and if he can be a dog on the ball defensively he’ll have a chance to blow up in no time.
Javon Swinton | 6’1” | North Stafford/BWSL Pope (#27 Overall)
A two sport star that already has an ACC offer from UVA, Swinton can be a stud on the basketball court too if he chose to focus on that. He’s lightning quick off the bounce with a first step that leaves defenders in the dust, and when he goes to the rack he’s able to bully through defenders even if they’re older than him. His natural athletic ability is easy to see, and if he continues to work as a PG he’ll be pretty good moving forward.
Christian McLeod | 5’11” | Millwood School (#28 Overall)
McLeod wasn’t the biggest named freshman in the Richmond area, but his toughness and production level were surprisingly good for a talented Millwood group. He’s a strong guard that plays at his own pace, takes care of the ball and can score it from all three levels. He’s a substance over flash kind of kid, and while he may not be the best for a mixtape he’s a solid prospect moving forward.