We refused to be stopped here at Prep Hoops as we all continuously progress through this ongoing pandemic. For this week’s roundtable and going forward, our Prep Hoops Virginia scout, Jack Herron, will join in on the action to make…
We refused to be stopped here at Prep Hoops as we all continuously progress through this ongoing pandemic. For this week’s roundtable and going forward, our Prep Hoops Virginia scout, Jack Herron, will join in on the action to make this a true DMV roundtable discussion. Let’s get into it!
1. We are in the days where college coaches have nothing but time and film to evaluate prospects. Give a name or two in the 2022 class you think deserves more attention.
Giacubeno: It’s shocking to me that Gilman lead guard Christian WinborneChristianWinborne
6'2" | CG Gilman | 2022State#199NationMD
doesn’t have more offers. He holds on from Loyola (MD), but would’ve likely added a significant amount of schools with a spring travel season. At 6-foot-2, he took over as the floor general following Jalen Rucker’s (Army) reign. I think I speak for most when I say Winborne exceeded expectations from every aspect of playing the position. He was an efficient scorer, a sound decision maker with the ball and steadily learned how to control the pace of a game. His leadership and competitive nature bled through his teammates and it was obvious as the Hounds finished at the top of their division in the MIAA A Conference. There are plenty of local players with a list of offers, but teams looking for a true lead guard who takes care of business both on and off the floor should invest time in Winborne.
Ayalew:Darren Buchanan Jr.DarrenBuchanan Jr.
6'7" | PF Woodrow Wilson | 2022State#101NationMD He’s ranked as the top 2022 prospect in Maryland and DC but is still flying under the radar on the national scale. The reigning DCIAA Player of the Year is still only 15 years old and scratching the surface of his potential. It’s only a matter of time before his stock begins to skyrocket.
Wilson:This AAU season would have been very valuable to Christian WatsonChristianWatson
6'6" | SF St. John's | 2022State#121NationMD
who is currently enrolled at St. John’s. The first thing that jumps out when watching Watson is his size standing at 6’5 and with good length. Watson is a versatile player that can score the ball multiple ways on offense and can also defend opposing high level athletes. Watson will have a more meaningful role next year during high school and it is a shame that college coaches couldn’t get a preview of that this spring during aau.
Herron: On the high major end, I believe that Tyler NickelTylerNickel
6'8" | SF East Rockingham | 2022State#85NationVA
is a guy who deserves more national attention. The 6’6″ wing from East Rockingham has scored more points through two years than any player in VHSL history, and while he pulled a recent offer from Penn State he’s a guy who was set to make his name this summer as he was going to play up with Team Loaded VA 17U from what I had been told. He has the size, the athleticism and the total package as a scorer, and this summer was going to be his time to prove he can do it against the best.
A kid I expect to start getting division one interest in the 2022 class is Judah EgboJudahEgbo
6'7" | C Life Christian Academy | 2023StateVA
from Jamestown HS in Williamsburg. A raw 6’7″ big man who has steadily improved and had a surprise year as a sophomore, he’s a guy who steadily gaining confidence and getting better every time you see him. He has the physical tools and he’ll become a more fluid athlete as he grows into his body, and he’s already a good rim runner and rim protector with a budding skill set offensively.
2. The 2021 class was dealt a rough hand with no spring live sessions and if all continues suit, there may not be a summer travel season either. If that is the case, who are players of this class that you think could turn the most heads in the early goings of their senior season?
Giacubeno: If there is no travel season at all, it’ll be intriguing to see how players return back to school conditioning wise. This time will really separate the players who want it. With that being said, there are two players that come to mind: Jared BillupsJaredBillups
6'5" | SF McDonogh | 2021StateMD
(McDonogh) and D’Angelo StinesD’AngeloStines
6'2" | CG Mount St. Joseph | 2021StateMD
(Mount St. Joseph). Two players that we have covered extensively, Billups and Stines both have tremendous work ethics and tools that college coaches are attracted to. Billups is a do-it-all wing at 6-foot-6 and entered his junior season looking like a grown man. As Patriot League teams continue to track and offer Billups, I won’t be shocked if other conferences such as the CAA get involved.
Stines hit a hot streak late in the season when his team needed it most. He generated that streak into two offers from Howard and Mount St. Mary’s. I’d expect for Patriot League schools specifically to get involved with Stines as takes on a bigger scoring responsibility as a senior in head coach Pat Clatchey’s system.
Ayalew:Greg Spurlock from Rock Ridge. The 6-foot-4 lead guard is coming off a breakout junior season in which he led his team in virtually every statistical category. Spurlock is one of the best-kept secrets in the DMV and is on the verge of a breakout.
Another 2021 prospect to watch next season is Jack Taylor from Marshall High School. The 6-foot-4 swingman is a lights-out shooter with unlimited range, a good athlete, and a sneaky-good playmaker. It wouldn’t surprise me if Taylor averaged 30 or more points per game next season.
Wilson: Mike MyrieMikeMyrie
6'2" | CG Magruder | 2021NC
has become one of the most improved players in the area over the past year. He is still vastly underrated and he could enter his senior season with a major chip on his shoulder because of the lack of attention he gets. Myrie is one of the most athletic players in Prince George County and can do a lot of good things with the basketball in his hands. If people do not know about him now, let’s see how all that could change 6 months from now.
I am interested to see what Thomas WhitleyThomasWhitley
6'6" | PF Eleanor Roosevelt | 2021StateMD
can do during his senior season at Eleanor Roosevelt. ER is always one of the top public schools in the state and as a senior Whitley can continue that trend by doing what he does which is play great defense. This past season he saw his offensive game improve which made his overall game become that much better. Whitley will be one to watch moving forward as he will be one of the true leaders for the ER program next season.
Herron:Allen StrothersAllenStrothers
6'2" | PG Menchville | 2021StateVA
of Menchville comes to mind as a kid I thought more and more coaches would love this summer. In the AAU scene he’s always played up and played with very talented guys where he didn’t get all the recognition he deserved, and even this high school season he played with a group of very talented seniors. Next year will be his chance to show that he can be the guy and run the team, and with his physical and athletic traits at the lead guard position I believe he’s going to be one guy who will be even better in college than he is in high school.
Dominic StanfordDominicStanford
6'4" | SG Kempsville | 2021StateVA
of Kempsville in Virginia Beach has quietly turned himself into one of the best division one prospects in the 757, but he’s still without an offer and this summer was going to be his chance to break out. At 6’4″ with wide shoulders and good length, he has the prototypical body of a division one two guard, and he showed great improvement in his confidence and consistency as a scorer this past year. He can shoot it from deep, he rebounds well for his position and he can make shots from multiple levels too.
Mac MacDonaldMacMacDonald
6'3" | SG Collegiate | 2021StateVA
of Collegiate School in Richmond is a name that has already found its way around the high academic coaching circle, and I thought this summer he would have quite a few coaches watching him. He led the Prep League in scoring this season, and that league has multiple high major commits and recruits as well. He would have brought the coaches to see Team Richmond, and I think his teammate Caleb KenneyCalebKenney
6'6" | PF Douglas Freeman | 2021StateVA
of Douglas Freeman would have benefited greatly as well. A high academic and character kid that is 6’6″ with long arms and a hybrid inside-out game, he’s a sleeper coaches should be on early next season.
3. As we put a bow on the 2020 class, which player(s) will have the most productive career going forward when it’s all said and done?
Giacubeno: A couple of guys come to mind with this question. My instinct is to go with DeMatha’s Earl TimberlakeEarlTimberlake
6'6" | SF DeMatha | 2020State#29NationMD
. Headed to Miami next season, the 6-foot-6 southpaw is already physically built to play in the ACC. We saw once again this season his versatility on both ends and ability to fill up every box on the stat sheet. DeMatha players are always prepared to play in college, no matter the level. Which brings me to the other DeMatha standout in Hunter DickinsonHunterDickinson
7'2" | C DeMatha | 2020State#50NationMD
. Dickinson will take his 7-foot-2 frame to Michigan and be coached by Juwan Howard. His size alone makes him an instant impact, but I believe with Howard’s wisdom, Dickinson could turn into a nightmare in the Big 10 Conference for years to come.
The decision from Brandon MurrayBrandonMurray
6'5" | SG IMG Academy | 2021#220NationFL
to do a post-grad prep year at IMG made many scratch their head, but I’m still on the wagon of if he lands in the right spot for college, he could take off. Continued development is crucial for Murray this next calendar year. He’s equipped with elite athleticism and elite long-range shooting. Further polishing of his overall game could bolster him into a new category and become a national name.
Ayalew: I think Ace Baldwin is going to be highly productive and blossom into a fan-favorite at VCU. The 2nd ranked prospect in our 2020 class has been a consistent clutch performer who makes everyone around him better. Look for Baldwin to assert himself from day 1 at the next level.
Wilson:I think Earl TimberlakeEarlTimberlake
6'6" | SF DeMatha | 2020State#29NationMD
has a chance to become the next one and done candidate from the University of Miami and if he doesn’t jump ship to the NBA after his first year, he will most likely have a strong chance after his second year for the Hurricanes. Timberlake has excelled all during his high school and aau career and has made an impact for every team he has played for because of his size, versatility, offensive capabilities, ability to play high level defense and his extremely high motor that he brings whenever he steps foot on the court.
Herron:When it comes to the 2020 class, there are a lot of talented guys moving forward but also some question marks with how they’ll do.
To start, all time leading scorer at Oak Hill Cam ThomasCamThomas
6'4" | SG Oak Hill Academy | 2020State#36NationVA
will head to LSU, where on paper he seems like a good fit for Will Wade who lets his guards go. Thomas is a scoring machine and while most of his teammates I’ve talked to agree he’s one of the best pure scorers they’ve played with, he’ll have to earn his stripes at the next level.
A sleeper guy that I think will surprise people in the ACC is Monacan’s Joe BamisileJoeBamisile
6'4" | SG Monacan | 2020State#74NationVA
if he can stay healthy. The Virginia Tech commit blew up last summer, but after a leg injury occurred in preseason him and his family decided to shut it down and he didn’t play in the Richmond area his senior year. He’s long, athletic and scores it in bunches, and he could be an early guy who steps up for a VT team that’s going to need an alpha scorer.
A guy I think at a midmajor that is in a great position to succeed early is Xavier LipscombXavierLipscomb
6'3" | PG St. Stephen's-St. Agnes | 2020State#449NationVA
of St. Stephen’s St. Agnes. The 6’3″ lead guard is heading to Radford who had their top four guards either graduate or transfer, including Big South POY Carlik Jones. There are other guys and the position isn’t just going to be given to him, but he has a chance to make an impact early.