2020 Rankings Overview
It’s our first rankings for the freshman class of 2020 in Virginia, and early on this class is looking like one talented group. It’s hard to do rankings this early because we never know how certain players will grow and develop, and they’re sure to change plenty over the next three seasons. With that being said, here’s a quick overview of what you need to know about this talented freshman class.
Top 3 National Level Players
Jeremy Roach was electric in the WCAC as just a freshman.The first thing you see in the top three of our rankings are three players who already are getting national notice, even by their national teams. Isaiah Todd of John Marshall and Jeremy Roach of Paul VI both were part of a select group of rising freshmen that participated in USA Minicamp last summer in Colorado Springs, and they both showed why in their freshmen campaigns.
Todd came in with a ton of hype, and while it took him a little bit of time to get acclimated to the high school game he started to have some big games late in the season. As a true 6’10” wing, Todd is often in the conversation as the top player in the freshman class, and certainly has as much potential of any freshmen we’ve ever seen.
Roach dominated national camps as an eighth grader, and he played up on a talented Team Takeover 15 team last summer. He stepped into a Paul VI backcourt that featured two division one prospects and didn’t miss a beat, cracking the starting lineup early and never looking back. He’s dynamic, explosive and he’s a tough competitor that’s showing out on the top ranked 16U team in the country right now.
The one that many people don’t know about is sitting at #3, and he has pro potential as well. 6’7” Josh Hemmings is arguably the best Canadian born prospect in the 2020 class, and while he didn’t play much last season he learned a lot playing with one of the top teams in the country in Oak Hill. He has a point guard’s feel and vision in a big frame, and he’s getting very valuable experience playing on the EYBL with U Play 17U on the same team as the top 2019 prospect in the nation RJ Barrett.
Private Schools Showing Young Talent Early
Despite being one of the last states where the private school transfer phenomena came on, Virginia has dove all in now. It used to be that kids would go to a public school and be a standout as a young player, then would go to a private school for another year or to play better competition.
However, with conferences making stricter rules on reclassification and transferring from school-to-school, kids are now enrolling earlier in private schools, and that’s seen in this class.
Of the 55 players that we ranked, 31 of them attended a private school including 11 of the top 15 players. Whether it’s to play better competition, the thought of getting better coaching or for academic reasons, many kids in the state are being enrolled in either eighth or ninth grade in private schools, and that doesn’t seem like a trend that will end anytime soon.
Spring Standouts Make Late Push
Marcus Banks | 6’0” WG | Lafayette/BWSL Dip (#14 Overall)
Banks started getting it going for Lafayette late in the season as he got used to the pace of play, and now that he’s with kids his own age he’s torching them all. He’s averaging just over 20 points per game so far this summer, and has done it on a winning team with a lot of talent on it.
Elijah Seward | 6’0” PG | John Marshall/Team Loaded VA (#25 Overall)
Seward got off to a hot start at Park View where he was averaging 18 points per game through the first month of the season before an unfortunate brawl ended their season early. He transferred to John Marshall where he had to adjust to a whole new system, but early in the summer he’s been breaking out for Team Loaded VA’s 15U group.
Sincere Clark | 6’5” PF | LC Bird/Dreamchasers 16U (#31 Overall)
Clark probably would have played varsity for 90% of high schools in Virginia, but the state champion Skyhawks were so veteran that they elected to let him star on JV this season. This summer, playing up with Dreamchasers 16U, Clark has shown that he’s athletic, strong and competitive, which is a recipe for a prospect with a high ceiling.
Jarrett Hunter | 5’10” PG | Louisa County/VA Elite 16U (#32 Overall)
Hunter was another late bloomer in the high school season, and as his teammate Malachi Poindexter put it “Jarrett is probably the best guard in this area, period.” A true point with a high IQ and poise beyond his years, Hunter makes other players better, and he makes winning plays down the stretch against whoever the competition is.
Mitchell Burns | 6’6” PF | Patrick Henry/VA All-Stars (#42 Overall)
Burns didn’t see a ton of action for PH this season who had a veteran front line, but he’s going to be a big name guy in the Roanoke area moving forward. He has great touch for his size allowing him to step out and knock it down, but he also is physically strong for his age and he doesn’t mind banging in the post and on the glass.
Positional Breakdown
PG: 19
WG: 14
WF: 6
PF/C: 11
Still So Much to Learn!
Remember: We have so much more to see and learn about this class! Ranking kids in the 9th grade is so difficult to do because there’s so many variables that can change, and so will the rankings! Stay tuned!
Top 10
1) | Isaiah Todd | 6’10” WF | John Marshall/Team Loaded VA 16U |
2) | Jeremy Roach | 6’1″ PG | Paul VI/Team Takeover 16U |
3) | Josh Hemmings | 6’7″ WG | Oak Hill/U Play 17U |
4) | Cam Thomas | 6’2″ WG | Oscar Smith/Boo Williams 16U |
5) | Richard Amafuele | 6’7″ PF/WF | Blue Ridge/Team Loaded VA |
6) | Josiah Freeman | 6’5″ WF | Paul VI/Team Takeover 16U |
7) | Mark Williams | 6’10” C | Norfolk Academy/Team Loaded VA |
8) | Darrick Jones | 6’5″ WF | Millwood School/Team Loaded VA |
9) | Ikechi Chantilou | 6’2″ WG | George Wythe/BWSL Dip |
10) | Dowar Jioklu | 6’8″ PF | Flint Hill/DC Blue Devils |