Bouncy Guards/Wings: Central/Western VA Edition (Part 1)
As we continue to look at some lists of the best in the state, we head over to central and western VA to look at some off the most athletic guards and wings in the smaller markets. While this area…
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Continue ReadingAs we continue to look at some lists of the best in the state, we head over to central and western VA to look at some off the most athletic guards and wings in the smaller markets. While this area doesn’t have the major metropolitans of other areas, it’s a vast area covering the 434, 540 and 276 area codes that include some of the top prep schools, boarding schools and also have some talented public schools as well. With such a large area, we have broken it up into three parts. Here’s a look at 7 seniors from across that area that will put defenders on a poster easily.
Darrick Jones Jr | 6’5” WF | Oak Hill 2020
The Towson commit has been making highlight worthy plays around the rim since he was an eighth grader at Millwood School in Chesterfield, and nothing has changed in that aspect at all. He has improved in a number of ways especially in his set shooting and defense, but the thing you have to know when playing him is that you have to find him transition and when shots go up or he will put you on a poster with ease. If you’re ever bored and want to watch some sick dunks, feel free to look up his highlight reel.
Jamari Sibley | 6’7” WF | Oak Hill 2020
The Georgetown commit will come into the Big East ready to contribute from both a physical and athletic standpoint, and the mix of the two allow him to make some crazy plays above the rim. He’s a walking mismatch who can make shots off the catch, and he’s very dangerous when he gets downhill and is able to takeoff and show explosion, power and creativity around the rim. It will be some fun in practice dunk contests between Mac McClung and him next year.
Evan Johnson | 6’1” G | Oak Hill 2020
Johnson is overlooked in a number of ways because he’s on one of the most talented teams in the country, but the available combo guard is an explosive guy that can use his athleticism on both ends of the floor. He probably doesn’t have a ton of in game dunk highlights, but if you watch him in warm ups and you watch the way he can explode to the rim off the bounce you’ll realize quickly that he’s a next level athlete. He’s a guy more colleges should be vying for, considering he’s competed against some of the best talent in the country the last three years.
Aviwe Mahlong | 6’2” WG | Eastern Mennonite 2020
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The recent Millersville commit is in the running for VISAA D3 POY, and his athleticism and high motor allows him to play all over the floor at this level despite him being a wing at the next level. The native of South Africa is a natural athlete who makes some dunks and blocks look too easy which will fool you into thinking he isn’t that athletic, until he turns it over and dunks on someone much bigger than him. The fact that he plays with a great motor makes his athleticism even more dangerous and impactful.
Zae Baines | 6’3” WF | North Cross 2020
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It goes without saying that you need to be a high level athlete to play high major football at the next level, and Baines has it both on the field and on the court. Over the past few years I’ve seen the Temple football commit multiple times and each time it seems like he does something that makes me jump out of my seat. Whether it’s catching an alley-oop or a put back out of nowhere in transition, skying to block someone much bigger or simply catching a pass that no one else could, it is not an insult to call this young man a “freak.”
Jordan Wooden | 6’3” WG | Northside 2020
The younger brother of JMU freshman Julien Wooden who has made a few highlight worthy plays in the CAA this year, the younger Wooden has caught several bodies that have had twitter buzzing this year as well. The Concord commit isn’t quite as tall as his brother but he’s an effortless leaper who isn’t afraid to take off in traffic or in transition and challenge you at the rim. He’s so smooth you may not expect it from him, but when he takes off he just seems to glide to the basket and it’s tough to stop him once he does.
Robert Smith | 6’3” WG | Spotswood 2020
Smith has quietly been one of the best players in the Harrisonburg area this year and has Spotswood looking like a sleeper in Class 3 with the state playoffs coming around. Unlike some of the guys I mentioned that may not look like crazy athletes, Smith looks like one from the moment you see him on the court. He’s a big and strong guy who has explosive strides when running and explodes toward the hoop for dunks and rebounds, and he is not a guy you want to challenge at the rim.