2023 Watch List Breakdown: Bigs (Part 2)
We will take an in depth look at the guys we included in the 2023 watch list and why we included them. We will continue by taking a look at part two of the bigs list, looking at five guys…
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Continue ReadingWe will take an in depth look at the guys we included in the 2023 watch list and why we included them. We will continue by taking a look at part two of the bigs list, looking at five guys we think you should keep an eye on moving forward.
Isaiah Shaw Isaiah Shaw 6'5" | PF Bishop O'Connell | 2023 State VA | 6’5” PF | North Stafford
Shaw is one of the top underclassmen in the Fredericksburg area and had a good freshman year as a role guy off the bench for North Stafford and shows promise moving forward. He’s from an athletic family and has a great frame for his age that will likely grow and he’ll become even more athletic when he’s finished growing. He’s strong and mobile, he can play in the midrange and in the post and shows potential guarding multiple positions.
Kaiden Swortzel Kaiden Swortzel 6'5" | PF Floyd County | 2023 State VA | 6’3” PF | Floyd County
Swortzel is a guy that will be hard to project at this point because it’s going to depend on if he grows, but he had a terrific freshman year at Floyd, bringing it in some big games and making winning plays on both ends. He’s one of the craftiest guys in the state around the rim as he uses an array of fakes and moves to score over taller guys and he always gets his guy in foul trouble whether it’s on the offensive end or taking charges on the defensive end. He can finish with both hands around the rim and shows touch out to the midrange, and he plays with a terrific motor the whole time he’s on the floor.
Josh Sime Josh Sime 6'8" | PF Western Albemarle | 2023 State VA | 6’6” PF | Western Albemarle
Western has produced quite a few college big men in the past few years and has been one of the most successful programs in the Charlottesville area, and the duo of rising junior Henry Sullivan Henry Sullivan 6'6" | PF Western Albemarle | 2022 State VA and Sime will be tough to deal with next season for other teams. Sime may have the most potential of the bigs they’ve had recently, as he may be the most advanced on both ends of the floor at this stage in his career. He’s very fundamentally sound with good back to the basket moves, good touch with both hands and he plays with a good motor on both ends as well.
Patrick O’Brien Patrick O’Brien 6'8" | C Bishop O'Connell | 2023 State VA | 6’8” C | Highland School
O’Brien is a project and played sparingly for Highland School but he’s got a chance with development to be very good and could possibly top out at taller than he is already. His height and length make him an impact on the defensive end just by being on the floor because he can challenge shots and hold teams to one possession, and he moves his feet pretty well too. He showed some touch around the basket and needs to develop offensively but as he grows into his body he could be very good moving forward.
Peter Quaye Peter Quaye 6'8" | PF Bethel Academy | 2024 VA | 6’6” C | John Marshall
Quaye played spot minutes for a very talented JM team this past season on the way to their Class 2 state championship, and he’s a kid who could improve a lot over time with his size and mobility. He’s built like a defensive end or an offensive tackle, but he has good quickness in the post and moves his feet well on both ends of the floor. With some work on his weight and his game he could be one that emerges in the Richmond area over the next few years.