Top Ball Handlers in RVA

<p>We continue to find ways to highlight players for what they do during this time of no games, and we continue our lists of top guys in different aspects of the game. Today, we take a look at some of the best ball handlers in the Richmond area. These aren't rankings in any way, but instead a simple list of some, not all, of the best handles in RVA.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="798691" first="Jason" last="Nelson"] | 5'10” PG | John Marshall 2021</strong></p> <p></p> <p>Nelson is arguably the best point guard in Richmond and one of the top in the state, and he recently narrowed his list to Richmond and Vanderbilt as the two schools he'll choose from. Nelson is a guy who has it on a string but the best part of his handle is the way he handles pressure and changes speeds and directions with the ball in his hands. He's able to break guys down and get in the lane with ease where he can make plays for others or finish in the midrange as well.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="798716" first="Isaiah" last="Simmons"] | 5'7” PG | Steward School 2021</strong></p> <p></p> <p>Simmons is another smaller guard who is dynamic off the bounce and able to make plays with the ball in his hands both in transition and in the half court. He stays low with the rock and has a great first step, he can create space and get himself shots at multiple levels and gets to the line often as well. He's a steady ball handler with some shift to him as well.</p> <p><strong>Brandon Jenkins | 5'10” PG | Benedictine 2021</strong></p> <p></p> <p>Jenkins was quietly one of the best point guards in the area this year and was a big reason that Benedictine made a resurgence this season. He's a true floor general who's a one man press break, is shifty off the bounce and able to get in the lane when things break down and knows when to push the tempo and when to slow it down. He's also a great decision maker who can thread the needle and put his teammates in situations to succeed.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="798757" first="Christian" last="Wilson"] | 5'10” PG | Church Hill Academy 2021</strong></p> <p>Wilson has been on the Richmond scene for years now when he started as a freshman at Highland Springs to his time now at Church Hill. He's a guy who thrives in transition where he's extremely fast with the ball in his hands and is able to handle pressure and put pressure on the defense with his handle too. He's shifty and has a lightning quick first step that gets him past defenders easily.</p> <p><strong>Zakari McQueen | 6'1” G | Matoaca 2021</strong></p> <p>One of the most underrated guys in the Richmond area, McQueen had a breakout year for Matoaca and should be one of the top scoring guards in the area next year. He has good size but his handle is much like smaller guards where he's shifty side-to-side, has a killer cross-over and has counters to his moves off the bounce. He's able to score it extremely well off the bounce from multiple levels and can get downhill with the ball in his hands too.</p> <p><strong>Omari DeVeaux | 5'8” PG | Douglas Freeman 2021</strong></p> <p>DeVeaux isn't the biggest guy on this list or the biggest name, but he's steadily come into his own as a floor general and ball handler at Freeman. His size allows him to stay low with his dribble and he's fundamental with his ability to get out of traps and handle pressure, he can pat it going both ways and is a guy who can break down good defenders and make plays for others as well.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="815610" first="Quanye" last="Veney"] | 5'9” PG | Highland Springs 2022</strong></p> <p>A two sport star that's a natural athlete on the football field and on the basketball court, Veney is as shifty as they come and has the toughness you love out of a lead guard. He changes directions extremely well and can attack going either way, he can size guys up and blow by them and he takes great care of the ball. He's also a pest defensively that can kill opposing ball handlers with his high IQ.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="815588" first="Alphonzo" last="Billups"] | 6'5” WF | Varina 2022</strong></p> <p></p> <p>Billups isn't a point guard but he's a wing that can play with the ball in his hands and create shots for himself and others off the bounce. Whether it's in transition or in the half court he's able to handle pressure, get downhill and he reads the defense well with the ball in his hands. He still has to sure up his handle to make it lethal but he's got the tools to do so.</p> <p><strong>Dennis Parker Jr. | 6'6” WF | John Marshall 2023</strong></p> <p></p> <p>Another guy that isn't a point guard but can handle the basketball extremely well, Parker is a guy who can play multiple positions and initiate the offense with the ball in his hands. He's able to create out of isolation situations and his size allows him to see over guys to make passes as well. The fact that at his size he can dribble, shoot and pass is one of the reasons he's likely going to be a nationally ranked prospect in the 2023 class.</p>