Vantage Hoops Top 250 Expo: 2019 Breakouts
The 2018 Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo at Randolph Macon College last Saturday was a huge success, bringing over 120 high school players from the Virginia area and beyond to compete in front of scouts and college coaches. The atmosphere was great with skill development drills and intensely competitive games as kids pushed each other during the final exposure event before the high school season began.
Throughout the next week or so, we will be breaking down some of the best performers of the event in a number of ways. We will be doing class breakdowns of top performers and top breakout performers, along with specialized lists that include top shooters, top defenders and others across the board.
We continue with our look at some of the breakout players of the 2019 class, guys who took the opportunity to make a name for themselves!
Corbin Skaff | 6’4” F | Battlefield
An inside-out threat, Skaff was one of the more consistent scorers throughout the event. He showed the ability to knock down the open jumper from deep, handled the basketball well in transition and attacked the glass at both ends. His versatility on the offensive end was great, as he posted smaller players and showed an array of scoring moves in the paint, but also showed he can take slower players outside and score it. He has a good feel and IQ as well, and was an unselfish and good teammates as well.
Jalen Hargrove | 6’5” F | Matoaca
Hargrove’s energy and high motor made him an impact on both ends of the floor even when he wasn’t touching the ball. In a camp setting where many players think that having the ball in their hands is the only way to make a name for themselves, he did so by hitting the glass, defending and running the floor. He has a good frame for his age, uses his athleticism on both ends of the floor and is great when attacking in straight lines. He thrives in uptempo systems where he can run the floor, get downhill and make plays around the basket.
Jared Perry | 5’10” PG | Saint John Paul the Great
A defensive minded point guard with good feel and vision, Perry showed great leadership and intangibles in the way he ran a team. He made everyone around him better, communicated well defensively and made great decisions with the ball in his hands. His pass-first mentality makes guys want to play with him, and his ability to push and run in transition makes him a lot of fun to watch.
Brandon Crane | 6’2” PG | Glen Allen
Crane may not be the most athletic or quickest guard out there, but he showed a lot of craftiness on the offensive end. He can shoot it from deep, put it on the deck and attack and his feel for the game is tremendous. He played both on and off the ball efficiently, and when he got in the lane he used various fakes, good footwork and a soft touch to be able to score it over bigger players. If he can read the pick-and-roll and knock down shots from all three levels the way he did at the camp he’ll be poised for a big junior season.
Perry Warner | 6’2” PG | Jefferson Forest
Warner has some flash to his game that sometimes is a little too much, but he has a great skill set that makes him effective in a number of ways. Defensively he has quick hands and great instincts, being able to beat his man to spots and make passes tough for ball handlers. He’s shifty off the bounce, has good vision when attacking the lane and uses great body control to finish in traffic over bigger players. He’s a dual threat guy that can create for himself and for others, and if he can find the right mix of substance with his flare and swagger he’ll be a tough guard for any body.