Updated 2021 Rankings: New Faces (Part 1)
With the updating of our 2021 rankings for the first time since before the 2020 season started, we have tons of new players that have joined the rankings. With over 30 new players, we have broken them down into three…
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Continue ReadingWith the updating of our 2021 rankings for the first time since before the 2020 season started, we have tons of new players that have joined the rankings. With over 30 new players, we have broken them down into three parts for your viewing pleasure. Take a look and be on the look out for more rankings breakdowns as well.
#4 Gabe Wiznitzer Gabe Wiznitzer 7'0" | C Hargrave | 2021 VA | 7’0” C | Hargrave
Wiznitzer is a local of South Carolina that came to Hargrave and played up on the post grad team, playing against mostly people who should be in college right now. The 7’0” big showed great improvement in his strength and conditioning, and he has a skill set that’s inside-out with the ability to shoot it, attack off the bounce and make good passes as well. He’s already one of the top recruited big men in the country after announcing he’ll go in the 2021 class.
#5 Jalen Ricks Jalen Ricks 6'7" | SF Oak Hill Academy | 2021 State #149 Nation VA | 6’6” WF | Oak Hill Academy
Ricks didn’t get to show a ton of his offensive skill set on an Oak Hill team that featured one of the top scorers in the 2020 class in Cam Thomas Cam Thomas 6'4" | SG Oak Hill Academy | 2020 State #36 Nation VA and had eight seniors who are heading D1 and the team finished #6 in the country. If Ricks decides to come back he should have a great senior year, and he’s already getting recruited at a high level with offers from TCU, Arkansas and Oklahoma State. He has great positional size, is a versatile defender and a fluid athlete with a high ceiling.
#7 Mark Sears Mark Sears 6'1" | CG Hargrave | 2020 #220 Nation VA | 6’1” CG | Hargrave
Sears was another guy who started for Hargrave and was one of their most productive players on the team in a backcourt that included Georgia commit KD Johnson. Sears is a stocky and strong combo guard that can shoot it from the midrange, get downhill and use his size to finish at the basket or he can create for others with his feel and decision making. After deciding to come out in 2021 he’s receiving interest from Washington State, NC State and Virginia Tech.
#8 Markus Ilver Markus Ilver 6'7" | SF Massanutten | 2021 OH | 6’7” WF | Massanutten
A native of Estonia that has come to the states for basketball, Ilver is a guy who saw great success as an underclassman playing up with mostly post grad guys. He has great positional size at 6’7” on the wing, he’s a fluid athlete that can play well above the rim and he has a quick release and good looking stroke from deep that’s pretty consistent. What also stands out with Ilver is his willingness to make hustle plays on both ends and do what it takes to help his team win.
#18 Anouar Mellouk Anouar Mellouk 6'7" | SF Fork Union | 2021 State VA | 6’7” WF | Fork Union
A native of the Netherlands who played for FUMA’s post grad team, Mellouk is a high ceiling recruit who needs some fine tuning but has all the tools to be a three and d guy at the next level. He’s a rangy 6’7” wing that can play and guard multiple positions, he shot the three ball well the times I watched and he makes some very athletic plays on both ends others simply can’t make. He’s an under the radar guy who is only going to get much better moving forward.
#25 Kenard Richardson Kenard Richardson 6'3" | SG Life Christian | 2021 State VA | 6’3” WG | Life Christian
Richardson was a staple in the 2020 rankings since he was a freshman over at Varina, however he reclassified at LCA this past year and was named the VISAA D3 POY after leading them to the state championship. This year he played more on the ball than he did in the past and he showed surprisingly good feel and playmaking ability off the bounce. He’s grown and matured as an athlete and still plays with that same dog on both ends of the floor.
#28 Xzavier Long Xzavier Long 6'6" | PF VA Academy | 2021 State VA | 6’6” PF | Middleburg
Long was a part of a very successful Middleburg team this season even though they lost some very good players they thought they would have. The 6’6” hybrid forward brought versatility to the team as a guy who could play inside-out and had a nice blend of strength, athleticism and skill set. He’s a guy that maybe doesn’t pass the initial eye test but the more you watch him the more you like him.
#29 Ikechi Chantilou Ikechi Chantilou 6'3" | SF Life Christian | 2021 State VA | 6’4” WF | Life Christian
Like Richardson, Chantilou was a staple of the 2020 rankings since he was a freshman at George Wythe and decided to transfer to LCA and was named First Team All-State in doing so. The long and athletic wing is a guy who is a natural talent, is able to get to the rack in isolation situations and he just seems to float when he takes off and has great body control around the rim. He’s a two way impact guy that still has room to improve as well.
#33 Zion Russell Zion Russell 6'0" | PG Hargrave | 2022 VA | 6’0” PG | Hargrave
Russell transferred midseason to Hargrave from Georgetown Prep in Maryland and instantly became an impact player for their varsity team that was just one game away from the state semifinals. A 6’0” point guard with great quickness and bounce, he’s a guy who brings great energy on both ends and is able to make plays others simply aren’t able to despite his size. He’s also a knock down shooter from deep.
#35 Tyshun Bryant Tyshun Bryant 6'3" | CG Miller School | 2021 State VA | 6’3” CG | Miller School
The New York native had a rough season at Miller School after transferring from St. Thomas Moore in Connecticut as he dealt with lingering leg injuries all season limiting to just a handful of games. However, he still impressed both his staff and college coaches when they saw him with his mix of tenacity, competitiveness and feel for the game. He’s a basketball junkie that could have a big summer if he gets healthy.
#38 Kobe Jerome Kobe Jerome 6'3" | CG Blue Ridge | 2021 State VA | 6’3” CG | Blue Ridge
The brother of former UVA hero and current Phoenix Sun Ty Jerome, Kobe has some of the same nuances to his game as his bother does including incredible feel and a high IQ. He’s a terrific passer with good size that can sling it around with either hand, he competes on both ends of the floor and he can handle it in transition and execute the pick-and-roll. He’s also a very good shooter from deep like his brother.