Prospect Power Rankings: RVA (15-6)
With no live periods or AAU so far this season, we decided to take our content a different way and do power rankings for each metropolitan area in the city. These rankings include all classes between 2021, 2022 and 2023…
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Continue ReadingWith no live periods or AAU so far this season, we decided to take our content a different way and do power rankings for each metropolitan area in the city. These rankings include all classes between 2021, 2022 and 2023 and are based on how good we think the prospects will be at the next level. This is one of the hardest things to do because it encompasses all classes, but should be great for debates throughout the cities.
With no further ado, here’s a look at 15-6 for the Richmond area.
15) Elvin Edmonds Elvin Edmonds 6'2" | CG Hopewell | 2021 State VA | 6’2” CG | Hopewell 2021
Edmonds is arguably the most under recruited kid in the 2021 class in Richmond as he’s had a terrific career at Hopewell and has averaged over 20 points per game in all three years he’s been there. A terrific student with a 4.4 GPA, he’s a guy who high academics should love with his ability to play on and off the basketball and shoot it at a high clip from deep. He’s heady, tough and extremely productive, and while he isn’t a big “rah-rah” kid who an explosive athlete he seems to get it done no matter who’s put in front of him.
14) Yuri Manns | 6’3” WG | LC Bird 2023
Manns had somewhat of an up-and-down year at Bird but that’s what you expect from a freshman, however he showed flashes of being a very good player moving forward. At 6’3” he’s still growing into his body, and once he gets there he’s going to be much smoother of an athlete moving forward. He’s a good catch-and-shoot guy from deep, his handle has improved to where he can handle pressure and get in the lane to make plays and he’s just scratching the surface with how good he can be.
13) Steven Stinson | 6’4” WF | Trinity Episcopal 2023
Stinson is a guy who could move up this list as time goes on and he continues to improve, as he showed flashes of brilliance down the stretch for TES and played well beyond his years as he got comfortable. He has great physical and athletic tools and can finish above the rim, he’s a guy who showed he can make shots from deep and attack the rim off the bounce and he plays great in transition. He’ll get an opportunity to be a more focal part of the offense next year and if he can produce at a high rate he’s got a chance to catch the eyes of college coaches early in his career.
12) William Henderson William Henderson 6'7" | PF Life Christian | 2021 PA | 6’9” PF | Life Christian 2021
Henderson is a guy that will likely shoot up my rankings and has college coaches drooling after a growth spurt has him sitting at 6’9” with great perimeter ball skills. He was raised as a guard so he can shoot it from deep and put it on the deck, and he’s also an excellent athlete at his size that can run the floor and is quick off his feet to rebound, finish and block shots. He recently picked up an offer from Southern Utah and if he can put all of those tools to use and become more consistently productive he should see many more suitors come his way.
11) AJ Williams AJ Williams 6'1" | SG Oak Hill Academy | 2021 State VA | 6’1” WG | Trinity Episcopal 2021
Williams has one of the best resumes for high school prospects in the Richmond area and already holds offers from a number of mid major programs including his latest from George Washington after his terrific showing in the state playoffs. A sniper from deep, Williams is able to make shots from deep in a number of ways including on the move, off the catch and off the bounce, and he’s shown great range and the knack for making big shots. He’s a guy who steps up big against the best of the best and should be highly coveted this summer.
10) Ikechi Chantilou Ikechi Chantilou 6'3" | SF Life Christian | 2021 State VA | 6’4” WF | Life Christian 2021
Chantilou surprised many as he committed early to Rick Pitino at Iona along with teammate Kenard Richardson Kenard Richardson 6'3" | SG Life Christian | 2021 State VA (below). After reclassifying this year and having a successful year leading LCA to another state championship and being named First Team All VISAA, the surprise of the commitment was short lived as you notice that Chantilou should fit right into the uptempo system Pitino likes to play. He’s a wiry strong slasher that has great athleticism and hang time along with the ability to finish through traffic, and he’s hectic on both ends where he can plays in a number of ways.
9) Kenard Richardson Kenard Richardson 6'3" | SG Life Christian | 2021 State VA | 6’3” CG | Life Christian 2021
Richardson also committed to Pitino, and after reclassifying and being named VISAA D3 Player of the Year he looks like he’s ready to head to the division one level and compete early for minutes. He took a big jump in improvement as he showed he can play on the ball and make plays for others, he toned up his body and got more explosive as a result and his jump shot has improved immensely from when he first started playing high school ball. Where he really stands out is through his toughness, as he’s a guy who will come at you every play and he’s willing and able to guard the best player on the other team as well.
8) Jason Nelson Jason Nelson 5'8" | PG John Marshall | 2021 State VA | 5’10” PG | John Marshall 2021
Nelson is the premier floor general in the RVA area and despite not being the biggest guy he holds a host of offers from mid major programs and more and boasts one of the best resumes in the entire state. The two time state champion notched his second last year and was named the Class 2 Player of the Year, and while his 17.3 points, 5.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game were impressive, the numbers only tell part of what makes him so good. He controls the game so well and makes everyone on the floor better, he knows how to control the tempo and set the tone on both ends and he knows when to take over and score it when his team needs it.
7) Keyontae Lewis Keyontae Lewis 6'7" | PF LC Bird | 2022 State VA | 6’8” PF | LC Bird 2022
While Lewis may not have the resume of some of the guys on this list or be as well known as some, he’s a guy that has a chance to be real special if he continues down the right path and gives me some vibes of former King’s Fork and Marquette star DeVante Gardner. Let’s start with the physical aspects. Lewis stands about 6’8” right now and has steadily been growing, he weighs around 250 lbs. which is down about 15 or 20 from when he entered high school and he wears a size 18 shoe which most of the time is an indicator that a young man is still growing. Lewis is surprisingly mobile for his size and seems to be getting in better shape, he has great touch and can shoot out to the three-point line and he’s able to use his footwork and strength in the post to get the best of other bigs.
6) Jaden Daughtry Jaden Daughtry 6'6" | SF Benedictine College Prep | 2022 VA | 6’6” F | Benedictine 2022
Another guy whose ceiling is very high if he can ever get there, Daughtry was one of the most impressive sophomores in the Richmond area this year and his physical tools are well beyond his years right now. He’s built like a linebacker with broad shoulders, he’s a naturally smooth athlete that can get up and down the floor well and he can play above the rim and he plays with a great motor on both ends of the floor making him very productive. His base skill set is impressive as the lefty can put it on the deck in transition and isolation situations and he’s shown that he can make shots when left open as well. If he can continue to hone his perimeter skill set transitioning to the wing is a possibility or you’re looking at a small ball mismatch four, and the fact that he may still grow isn’t out of the realm of possibility either.