Vantage 2019 Rankings: Underrated and Under Recruited (Part 2)
We’ve now had two years of high school and AAU basketball to break down the 2019 class, and things look much different then our first rankings of them two years ago. While rankings are always subject to change, especially with the reclass and transfer rate as it is, almost all of the players have improved whether they dropped or rose in our rankings.
When taking rankings into consideration, the Vantage Hoops team spends about a month contacting coaches and experts across the state to compile the list. There were over 250 kids we considered for the top 100, and the rankings reflect the next level potential of the prospects. Things taken into consideration include upside, high school production, head-to-head matchups, skill set on both sides of the ball and include intangibles such such as how recruitable a kid is based on grades, attitude and how coachable they are.
We will spend the next few weeks breaking down our new rankings from 2018 through 2020. Here’s a look at part two of our 2019 underrated and under recruited prospects. Enjoy, and stay tuned for more breakdowns moving forward!
Miles Jones | 6’5” F | Radford/Team Winston (#60 Overall)
Jones has followed the right path for recruits. After being a role player his freshman year when Radford won a state championship, he became a focal point last year as they repeated and showed this summer that he continues to improve in all facets. He’s a hybrid forward that can play and guard in the post but also runs the floor and can shoot the deep ball. He comes from a basketball family so he has a high IQ, he’s a vocal leader that has poise beyond his years and he’s a gym rat that is always working to get better.
Malachi Poindexter | 6’1” G | Louisa/VA Elite (#61 Overall)
A well rounded shot maker that is way under the radar, Poindexter has quietly been very productive in his first two years of both high school ball and AAU basketball. He’s a crafty player that is getting more explosive every day, and he’s been getting stronger in his upper body as well. He’s capable of making tough shots from all three levels, can create for himself and his teammates and if he can prove that he can be a true combo guard he should see his recruitment pick up moving forward.
Collin Harding | 6’1” G | Manchester/Dreamchasers 16U (#72 Overall)
Harding is a walking bucket that averaged over 20 points per game last year and that number should increase moving forward. He’s athletic and uses it well, showing good burst off the bounce that allows him to get to his spots to get his shot off. He scores it in bunches, meaning if he hits one you better believe he’s looking for his next shot and he’s going to keep coming at you. Much like Poindexter, his best attribute is that he’s a crafty shot maker that can score it from all over the court making him extremely tough to defend.
Antonio Pelham | 6’5” F | Fork Union/Team Loaded 434 (#76 Overall)
Pelham took big strides this summer and if he continues to produce at a high level he should shoot up the rankings. He’s the go-to guy at FUMA, and with his ability to shoot the basketball from deep he can score a lot of points quickly for his team. His ability to stretch the floor opens lanes for his guards to get to the basket and makes him great in pick-and-pop situations. He’s starting to be able to put it on the floor to create his own shot, and he’s been an above average rebounder when we’ve seen him too. His skill set is unique and with continued development he could be a division one prospect with time.
Asa Shannon | 6’4” WF | Episcopal (#85 Overall)
Shannon was one of the breakout performers at the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo in September and if he’s able to do what he did there for Episcopal he should be a breakout performer in the VISAA as well. He has good size as a wing and can guard multiple positions with his length and athleticism. He’s a very good shotmaker from the midrange, and he thrives in transition where he can finish at or above the rim and use his strength to score in traffic. Expect to hear more from Shannon moving forward.