Washington’s Class of 2021: The Class of BIGS
Washington has not been known as a hotbed for bigs in recent years. Being completely honest, there hasn’t been a lot of depth of bigs in general for a decade. Many of our shoe-sponsored travel teams have struggled for years…
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Continue ReadingWashington has not been known as a hotbed for bigs in recent years. Being completely honest, there hasn’t been a lot of depth of bigs in general for a decade. Many of our shoe-sponsored travel teams have struggled for years due to a complete lack of size when competing on the circuit. While we have continued to produce pro guards/wings in the 6’5-6’7 range, bigs are much harder to come by in the pacific northwest. Washington’s class of 2021 is here to change that, at least for a single year. Some of the bigs featured are not even done growing yet too, which makes it even more exciting to see how these guys develop over the course of the next couple years.
The Bigs List:
2021 Paolo Banchero, 6’9, PF, O’Dea HS- The diamond of the entire sophomore class in Washington has recently shown even more growth in his game as of late. Paolo has always had versatility and skill, but he has taken it to another level. Spin moves, step backs and one footed, off-balance shots are all falling for the 5-star recruit. He is becoming more comfortable 20 feet from the basket, which makes him an absolute matchup nightmare at 6’9.
2021 Kaden Perry, 6’9, PF, Battle Ground HS- Kaden is the most athletic big on this list. He gets off the ground very quick and has a quick second jump as well. His shot blocking timing is advanced for his age and he has good natural instincts. His game consists of a lot of dunks, put-backs and athletic plays right now, but his skill is developing. As his all around skill set catches up to his athleticism, he will be about as good as any player in the state. He is a legitimate Division 1 recruit right now.
2021 Jackson Grant, 6’9, PF, Olympia HS- Jackson is a 6’9 stretch-4 that can impact the game all over the floor. He is a fundamental player, but he has the athleticism to throw down reverse dunks in games with ease. The thing that separates Jackson is his true ability to shoot the 3-ball at a high rate. He is very comfortable in pick and pop situations, which will suit him well at the next level. He is no brainier Division 1 prospect.
2021 David Pickles, 6’9, C, Mercer Island HS- David is a fundamental post player with a very solid frame at 240 pounds. He has a soft shooting touch that is not seen very often for someone his size. David is still growing into his body, but he is an impact player at Mercer Island and in line to be the next great big to come out of Mercer Island. David is also a high academic kid that will excel in most academic institutions.
2021 Gavin Gilstrap, 6’9, C, Central Valley HS- Gavin is a big-bodied 6’9 center that automatically catches your attention when he walks into the gym. He is around 230-plus pounds and rebounds the ball well. He is another prospect that is still growing into his body, but he has tools to work with that will make him a legit college prospect. His level of recruitment is still to be determined at this time.
2021 Liam Hanenburg, 6’10, Lynden HS- Liam is a newly found prospect by prep hoops, but one to keep an eye on moving forward. He weighs in at 230 pounds and he impacts the game most through his rebounding and shot blocking at this time. He is coming off the bench for Lynden’s high powered squad, but he will only get better with time. Liam is an unfinished product, but his size and ability to alter shots is undeniable.
It is also worth noting that there is a handful of sophomores in the 6’6-6’7 range that are more perimeter oriented players. See our Class of 2021 rankings for more size to put on your recruiting lists! https://prephoops.com/washington/rankings/2021-rankings/