VA Top 250 Underclassman Standouts
FREDERICKSBURG, VA — With the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo officially in the books, the work begins for the staff. We will be providing comprehensive coverage from today’s event throughout the upcoming week. Today, we take a look at some…
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Continue ReadingFREDERICKSBURG, VA — With the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo officially in the books, the work begins for the staff. We will be providing comprehensive coverage from today’s event throughout the upcoming week. Today, we take a look at some of the top underclassmen from the event, with a look at seven guys that not only held their own against older competition but showed great potential moving forward as well.
James Bell III | 6’7” F | Goochland 2022
There were quite a few guys that I had never seen before that I came away excited about, and Bell is right there at the top of the list. He’s a big and athletic guy with a long frame that looks like it’s still growing, and once he puts on weight and grows into his body he should be a monster on the post. He has a unique game that’s ripe for improvement as he can run the floor, showed good footwork on the post and soft touch around the rim and he was able to shoot the midrange jumper as well. He had a good freshman year for a Goochland team that went to the Class 2 State Tournament, and if he can continue to develop and play with a high motor on both ends he’ll be a guy division one coaches will ask about here soon.
Michael Henderson Jr. | 5’6” PG | TC Williams 2022
While he was one of the smaller guys in attendance, Henderson did a great job running the show and making others better in a camp setting where many players are very selfish and look for their own. As a young lead guard he showed good poise and control of the game, he probed the defense regularly and made good reads both on drive and kicks and in pick-and-roll situations and he showed the ability to score when needed from multiple levels. He showed some toughness on both ends as well and embodied the idea of heart over height.
Nate Pabis | 6’3” F | Flint Hill 2022
Pabis is a tweener as he’s built like a power forward but plays like a guard, and he had moments where he showed a lot of potential moving forward. He’s a big bodied guy who should see his frame improve moving forward, and he can flat out shoot the basketball off the catch from deep and in the midrange. He competed on both ends of the floor, showed a good understanding of the game and consistently made shots throughout the event.
Christian Young | 6’4” PF | James Monroe 2022
When talking about potential, Young has a good amount in a big young body with good hands and good touch. He has the size to bully other guys in the post to score and grab rebounds, and he showed flashes when he played hard and got after it on both ends. Long term he could be a guy to keep an eye on.
Tre’Juan Calloway | 5’5” PG | Holy Cross 2022
When you first look at Calloway it’s easy to overlook him due to his height and stature, but it didn’t take long for him to show us that regardless of his size he can flat out play and plays the game the right way. He’s a strong kid who doesn’t back down from anyone, he can make plays for others and is unselfish but he’s also a crafty shot maker who can knock it down from deep off the catch and has an array of floaters and pull-ups in the lane as well. He isn’t afraid to stick his nose in defensively and he has a great mind for the game that allows him to make others better and run the show with the ball in his hands.
Etienne Strothers | 5’9” PG | Menchville 2023
The youngest Strothers whose father played in the NBA and brother is one of the top guards in the 2021 class, Etienne showed that he’s a talented young guard with a lot of potential as well. He’s not as tall or athletic as his brother which could change moving forward, but he’s very skilled and smart for his age and more than held his own against much older competition. He’s quick and can push and make plays in transition, he’s a very good shooter who can do it on and off the ball and he has crafty finishing and shot making ability.
Anthony Clark | 6’2” G | Menchville 2023
When it comes to potential, Clark showed it in flashes on Sunday with some good passing and finishing ability. He has a good frame with long arms and looks like he’s still growing, he can put it on the deck and get to the rim and he’s a capable playmaker with good vision and a little flare to his style. Along with Strothers and a few other freshman that showed flashes, Clark and this group are one to watch moving forward.