VA Gatorade POTY Candidate: Cam Thomas
Taking a note from fellow contributor Adam Ayalew’s “All-Met Candidate” series, we’re going to take a look at 11 guys across the state of Virginia who should compete for the coveted Gatorade State Player of the Year. While taking everything into consideration, we’re going to be looking at three categories in particular: individual production, team performance and the competition level that the programs play. We will release each candidate in alphabetical order over the next few weeks.
To get it started, we look at Oak Hill junior and nationally ranked scoring guard Cam Thomas.
PRODUCTION
If I had to put anyone on this list that’s going to put up unbelievable numbers this year, it’s Thomas from a scoring standpoint. In his first five games with Oak Hill, Thomas has scored 25, 31, 33, 35 and 30 points. That’s absurd. After being a top ten scorer in the EYBL as an underclassman, many wondered how Thomas would fit in with this talented group, but Head Coach Steve Smith is sold on him as one of the top scorers in the country and he’s showing that. He shoots it at a high clip off the catch, he can create space off the bounce and has terrific footwork to get his shot off. He can score from all three levels, and they have given him the green light so he’s going to be one of the top scorers on one of the best teams in the country.
PERFORMANCE
It’s national championship or bust for Oak Hill, so for Thomas, Cole Anthony and Kofi Cockburn, winning the national championship would go a long way toward their quest for a state player of the year. Thomas will have the advantage in the fact that he’ll likely be the high scorer on the team, so if the Warriors can accomplish their goals of going undefeated and winning a Geico National Championship it would bold well for Thomas.
COMPETITION
There is no schedule in the state, maybe even the country, that has the strength of Oak Hill’s. Year in and year out they don’t worry about local talent or anything, they travel across the country to some of the toughest events and play some of the best teams across the USA. On top of that they play more games than college teams do. There’s a reason Oak Hill isn’t a part of any conference or division in any of the Virginia High School leagues, and that’s because their eyes are set on something much bigger.