Breakout 2022 Players: RVA Edition
The 2022 class is starting to take shape, and across the board we are seeing some very talented players, and many of them are having big breakout years this season. There’s been plenty that we have recognized over the season…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 2022 class is starting to take shape, and across the board we are seeing some very talented players, and many of them are having big breakout years this season. There’s been plenty that we have recognized over the season on Prep Hoops, but now we’re going to take a look at the guys who are having a breakout sophomore campaign, starting with 8 from the Richmond area.
Alphonzo Billups | 6’5” WG | Varina
Billups has broken out as one of the top young prospects in the Richmond area from both a production and a ceiling standpoint. The 6’5” guard has a great skill set on the perimeter that includes the ability to make shots from deep and create off the bounce, he’s a bouncy and long finisher that will play above the rim in transition and he’s a good rebounder at the position as well. While he’s still young he shows all of the tools to possibly play at the highest level in college, depending on how he continues to develop.
Christian Carden | 6’4” F | Varina
The longer the season has gone on, the more impressive Carden has looked. As part of a Varina team that is chock full of sophomore impact players, Carden has been the second most consistent on the offensive end next to Billups, and his versatility at his size is what makes him very tough to guard at this level. The 6’4” forward has an inside-out game where he can score in the paint, he handles it pretty well and has a nice step-back and he shoots the midrange very well and stretches the floor as well. He’s starting to put it all together right now and he’s going to be fun to watch develop over the next few years.
Jaden Daughtry | 6’6” F | Benedictine
Daughtry has dealt with some injuries over the past few years but when he’s been on the floor he’s shown that he’s one of the most versatile prospects in the Richmond area. The 6’6” forward has the ability to play inside-out, he’s a strong finisher with good touch in the paint and he can stretch the floor and put it on the deck as well. He’s got plenty of potential and a base skill set that should make him a solid prospect moving forward.
Davin Cosby | 6’3” WG | Benedictine
One of the best breakout shooters in the area, Cosby has been lighting it up for a revamped Benedictine team that has beat some very good teams this year. He has good length at 6’3”, he has no conscious as a shooter as he has deep range, stays ready to let it fly and when he gets hot he can fill it up in bunches. He’s an under the radar guy who should get much better moving forward.
Brycen Blaine | 6’4” WG | LC Bird
Blaine has been part of a young LC Bird group that includes quite a few breakout guys, but he’s been one of the more consistent with his play on the perimeter. He’s got the size to be a college prospect already and is still growing, he can catch and shoot from deep and he attacks closeouts well and uses his size to finish around the rim. He’s a big guard that can make plays on both ends of the floor and should continue to improve moving forward.
Keyontae Lewis | 6’7” PF | LC Bird
Lewis is nowhere near a finished product as he continues to grow into his body and shed his baby fat, but he’s used that size and some soft touch in the paint to dominate in the post at times this year. He moves surprisingly well for his size, he’s great at sealing in the post and finishing with either hand and he’s even shown touch out to the elbows. He rebounds well on both ends and as he continues to grow he’ll catch the eye of college coaches for sure.
DeShawn Goodwyn | 6’3” WG | George Wythe
Goodwyn is the future of George Wythe basketball and they have wasted no time allowing him to be the go-to guy and giving him the green light so far this year. The 6’3” guard is a shooting specialist who has in the gym range and has no qualms about getting them up, but for good reason as he’s one of the best shooters in the area. He has good size and good form on his shot, he moves well without the basketball to get open and once he gets it going it’s tough for teams to stop him.
Quanye Veney | 5’9” PG | Highland Springs
Veney, like his brother LaQuane, is a two sport star that also excels on the football field, but if he were to choose basketball there’s a chance he could be a scholarship level player in that as well. He’s not the biggest guy but he’s a natural athlete on both ends of the floor, he’s able to get in the paint and make plays for others and he’s a great on ball defender that can hound ball handlers the length of the floor. He still has some fine tuning to do as a point guard but he has plenty of tools to work with, and it’s no surprise the way that he plays that he’s also a big time football player.