2021 Unranked Prospects I Missed (Part 2)
Doing prospect rankings is tough for a number of reasons, and one of the biggest reasons is that we just flat out forget some players. When you watch as many games as we do, no matter how organized we are…
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Continue ReadingDoing prospect rankings is tough for a number of reasons, and one of the biggest reasons is that we just flat out forget some players. When you watch as many games as we do, no matter how organized we are there are always going to be kids that we forget. While we did 125 prospects in the latest rankings (we plan to go up to 150 in the next ones), there were quite a few I realized I forgot as soon as they were done. Here’s a look at some of them.
Brandon Jenkins | 5’10” PG | Benedictine
Jenkins is one of the more under the radar lead guards in the Richmond area and I’m kicking myself that I forgot him because he played so well when I watched them play this year. He’s a guy who can score 8 points in a game but still be one of the most impactful players on the court with his ability to make others better and set the tone on both ends. He has great feel for the game and runs the show, he can thread the needle with his passing ability and when he needs to get a bucket he can create it and shoot it from deep.
Tazir Smith | 6’3” PG | Colgan
Smith isn’t that well known yet as he came to VA via New York but he was quietly one of the best players in Prince William County this season. A 6’2” lead guard with good size and feel for the game, he’s a dual threat guy that can make others better and score it at a high rate efficiently. He changes speeds and directions well, he can score it at the rim through contact and has a great middle game as well.
CJ Bailey | 6’1” G | Cape Henry
Bailey isn’t the most talked about guy on his Cape team but the 6’1” guard is one of the best glue guys in the 757. He’s a strong kid and has a blue collar mentality that leads to him being able to guard some of the best guys in the area and he makes all the dirty plays that helps his team win. He rebounds well for his size, he can play on and off the basketball and he scores it in spurts from multiple levels.
Zion Clark | 6’1” PG | Blue Ridge
Clark didn’t play a ton this year as he was on a state championship team with a lot of talented guards but he seems to be trending in the right direction moving forward and could have a breakout year next year. The Culpeper native is a great athlete who is dynamic around the rim and has good end-to-end speed with the ball in his hands. He’s a good on ball defender, he can make shots from deep when left open and
Trey Nelson | 5’10” PG | Patriot
Nelson led a good Patriot team that returns quite a few of their top players next year and should be a very good team in the 2020-2021 season. Nelson is a true point guard who runs the show and makes others better but he’s also a good shooter from deep who can score it in bunches. He’s a natural floor general who sets the tone on both ends and makes winning plays consistently.
Khalil Ward | 6’1” G | Richmond Christian
Ward is a prospect that is full of potential as he’s a natural athlete with good physical features including one arms and a strong upper body as well. He flies all over the place on both ends of the floor, using that athleticism to get above the rim for rebounds and finishes as well as his length and quickness to get steals as well. Offensively, he has a budding skill set that allows him to play both on and off the ball and he can score it in bunches while also making plays for others.
CJ Highsmith | 6’10” C | Richmond Christian
Highsmith isn’t a finished product, but he’s a project worth the work as he has great size and a good motor on both ends of the floor. He rebounds the ball extremely well as he puts himself in good position in the paint and he pursues the basketball well in and out of his area. He’s still a project offensively but he can create extra opportunities with his ability on the glass, he can finish in the paint and he finds his way to the free throw line where he’s a decent free throw shooter.
Maurice Vincent | 5’11” PG | Carmel School
Vincent is a guy I forgot because Carmel had a lot of new players this year that made a huge difference in their trip to the state semifinal this year, but Vincent was one of the most impactful lead guards in the Richmond area this year. He’s a savvy lead guard who can handle pressure, gets his team into sets and puts his teammates in situations to succeed and he can score it in bunches from multiple levels as well.