2022 Updated Rankings: New Faces (Part 1)
With the updated 2022 rankings, we added close to 30 new names to the list. With more surely coming, we take this time to take a look at some of the new players in our rankings and why we ranked…
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Continue ReadingWith the updated 2022 rankings, we added close to 30 new names to the list. With more surely coming, we take this time to take a look at some of the new players in our rankings and why we ranked them.
#15 Houston Emory Houston Emory 6'10" | C Blue Ridge | 2022 State VA | 6’10” C | Blue Ridge
Emory joins this list after deciding to reclassify to the 2022 class, but he had a back injury that held him out for almost the entire season for Blue Ridge. The Pennsylvania native was coming off of a great summer where he showed good athleticism and grit in the paint as a rim runner and rim protector and once healthy he should impressive with his blue collar style of play.
#22 Christian May Christian May 6'6" | SF Bishop O'Connell | 2022 State VA | 6’4” WF | Paul VI
May broke into the rotation at PVI late in the year and if there’s one thing this kid has it’s a lot of upside. He looks the part with a great frame and he continues to grow and fill out, he’s a natural athlete with good bounce and length that he uses around the rim and he has all of the tools to be an excellent and versatile defender moving forward.
#24 Kendon Peebles Kendon Peebles 6'4" | SF Catholic | 2022 State VA | 6’4” WF | Hampton Christian
One of the breakout guys on the peninsula this year, Peebles came back from injury for a terrific sophomore season where he was second in the Metro Conference POY voting. The 6’4” Peebles is a kid who has a mix of size, athleticism and a solid skill set on the offensive end, but it’s his motor on both ends that really separates him from other good players.
#27 Kyrese Mullens | 6’6” PF | Massanutten
Mullens headed to Massanutten where he reclassified, but he actually played up with guys much older than him on their national post grad team. He looked good when I saw him and in tape as he looks like he’s lost a good amount of weight, he’s extended his game to the perimeter where he’s shown improved range on his jump shot and he’s still a load in the paint where he’s deceptively quick and very strong.
#28 Christian Carden Christian Carden 6'4" | PF Varina | 2022 State VA | 6’4” PF | Varina
Carden was a breakout guy in the Richmond area as he helped a Varina team that was supposed to be rebuilding make it back to the state tournament. The 6’4” hybrid forward was a walking mismatch at his size as he showed he can put it on the deck, he shot it extremely consistently from the midrange area and showed great passing and playmaking ability averaging over 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists per game this year.
#31 Jaeden Freeman Jaeden Freeman 6'4" | SF Nansemond Suffolk | 2022 State VA | 6’4” WF | Nansemond-Suffolk
Freeman joins the 2022 class after an injury kept him out all season and it should help the two sport athlete in his recruitment for whichever sport he chooses to play. Freeman’s an elite glue guy who can catch and shoot with great consistency, is a good rebounder and defender and doesn’t need the ball in his hands much to be effective.
#32 Davin Cosby Jr Davin Cosby Jr 6'5" | CG Word of God | 2023 #111 Nation NC | 6’3” WG | Benedictine
Cosby was a huge reason for Benedictine’s turn around this season and he just seemed to get better and better every time you watched them play. The 6’3” lefty has extremely long arms and plays with great energy, but what he brings to the table is necessary in all levels of basketball as he’s a knock down shooter from deep with a quick release and deep range, and it doesn’t take much for him to get hot quickly.
#33 James Bell, III James Bell, III 6'7" | PF Collegiate School | 2022 State VA | 6’7” PF | Goochland
Bell is a sleeper in a small town outside of Richmond that isn’t known too much for their basketball, but he’s a guy who’s tracking to be a no brainer scholarship level kid moving forward. A lean big man who thrives in transition and can stretch the floor, Bell has soft touch out to the threes-point line, he’s an athletic finisher and plays with a good motor, and once he fills out he’s going to be an inside-out nightmare to match up with.
#43 Elliott Black Elliott Black 6'6" | PF St. Stephen's & St. Agnes | 2022 State VA | 6’5” PF | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes
Black didn’t play a whole lot for a very experienced SSSAS team that made it back to the state championship game, but his time is coming and he’s shown great potential when he has played. He’s a strong forward that can guard multiple positions, he gets out in transition and he pursues the basketball very well in and out of his area.
#44 Bravion Campbell | 6’6” PF | King’s Fork
Campbell got off to a great start for KF before he got injured, but him returning to a lineup that loses only one key contributor that won the state championship this year is a scary thought for their opponents next year. He’s a blue collar big who protects the rim, does the dirty work and gets his buckets mostly in transition and on put backs, but as he continues to develop I expect him to become more polished offensively.