2020-2021 Breakout Candidates in Richmond
We prepare for the high school season (hopefully) by taking a look at some of the breakout candidates in different areas in the state. We will start in the capital city of Richmond and the surrounding areas, as we look…
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Continue ReadingWe prepare for the high school season (hopefully) by taking a look at some of the breakout candidates in different areas in the state. We will start in the capital city of Richmond and the surrounding areas, as we look at ten guys to keep an eye on to make a name for themselves this year.
Neil Hill Neil Hill 6'6" | SG James River | 2021 State VA | 6’5” WF | James River 2021
Hill is one of the most underrated guys in the Richmond area and it wouldn’t surprise me if he led James River to another state tournament appearance. The 6’6” forward had a big summer with VA Premier where he picked up quite a few D2 offers, and it’s easy to see why as he impacts the game in so many ways. He plays much bigger than he is and plays with a terrific motor and a blue collar mentality, and he’s a guy who can score at multiple levels and make others better too.
DeVawn White | 6’5” WF | Carmel School 2021
White had a great start at Carmel last year before some injuries slowed him down, but he was still a big part of their trip to the VISAA D3 Semifinals. With the departure of seniors Josh Campbell Josh Campbell 6'2" | SG Carmel School | 2020 State VA and Elijah Roye, White should be in a good spot to pick up and be a go-to guy for them this year. He’s a big and athletic wing that plays with a good motor and thrives in transition where he can get downhill and use his size at the rim.
Davin Cosby Jr Davin Cosby Jr 6'5" | CG Word of God | 2023 #111 Nation NC | 6’3” WG | Benedictine 2022
Cosby came onto the scene last year as a sophomore at Benedictine where he showed he’s one of the top shooters in Richmond, and with a few transfers and graduates he should be Benedictine’s top scoring threat next year. The 6’3” off guard is a smooth athlete that never seems to get tired, he works tirelessly off the basketball and he can flat out stroke it from deep when he gets open. He’s a guy who can get hot quickly and take over games with his shooting ability.
Wendell Tomlin Wendell Tomlin 6'6" | PF Church Hill Academy | 2022 State VA | 6’7” F | Church Hill Academy 2022
One of the transfers from Benedictine who should have a big year this year, Tomlin never seemed to get in a rhythm and wasn’t given a ton of opportunities last year, and at Church Hill he provide much needed size for a team that plays hard and plays fast. He’ll fit that system perfectly as he’s a hybrid forward who can run the floor, guard multiple positions and make shots from deep. His blend of size and skill set means he has a high ceiling and just needs some opportunities to show what he can do on the floor.
Keyontae Lewis Keyontae Lewis 6'7" | PF LC Bird | 2022 State VA | 6’8” C | LC Bird 2022
Lewis showed a lot of promise last year on a Bird team that was very young and with another year of experience both Lewis and Bird have a chance to be very good this year. A kid who is still growing into his body, Lewis is a mix of old school and new school as a big man as he’s someone with good hands and feet in the post, he can finish through traffic and rebounds well in the paint and he’s a load that can clear out space offensively and clog the lane defensively. What’s underrated about him is his ability to step out and make shots out to the three-point line where he showed good touch on the jumper as well.
James Patterson James Patterson 6'2" | SG Meadowbrook | 2021 VA | 6’5” WF | Carmel School 2022
If White (mentioned above) isn’t the breakout guy for Carmel this year, my money is on Patterson who is transferring in from Meadowbrook and reclassifying to the 2022 class. Patterson has both grown into his body and improved immensely in the past few years, and now he’s a wing with prototypical size for the next level and a high motor and good athleticism as well. He’s a guy who can score in a number of ways, shows promise on the defensive end and should thrive in their uptempo system because of it.
Curtis Blair III Curtis Blair III 6'6" | SF Steward School | 2023 State #211 Nation VA | 6’7” F | Steward School 2023
Blair played a big role for one of Steward’s best teams in recent memory last year, but with the departure of nationally ranked Efton Reid Efton Reid 7'0" | C The Steward School | 2021 #27 Nation FL who is heading to IMG to play on the postgrad team, he’ll have some big shoes to fill this year and he looks ready to do so. He’s a long and nimble forward that is still growing and has a blend of size, athleticism and skill set that already has him receiving high major offers. He’s a mismatch guy who can shoot it from deep, can score inside-out and plays above the rim as well.
Steven Stinson Steven Stinson 6'5" | SF John Marshall | 2023 State VA | 6’5” WF | Trinity Episcopal 2023
Stinson was a guy who got better and better throughout the year with Trinity and became a big part of their run to the state semifinals, and this year there will be plenty of opportunities to show what he can moving forward. With the departure of Henry Coleman Henry Coleman 6'8" | PF Trinity Episcopal | 2020 State #35 Nation VA (Duke), Burke Smith Burke Smith 6'10" | PF Trinity Episcopal | 2020 State #240 Nation VA (Boise State) and AJ Williams AJ Williams 6'1" | SG Oak Hill Academy | 2021 State VA (Oak Hill), Stinson will be the go-to guy this year for the Titans and he has a ton of tools to take over that role. He’s a big and athletic wing that can create off the bounce, catch-and-shoot from deep when open and he can play way above the rim as well.
Luke Smith Luke Smith 6'9" | C Collegiate | 2023 State VA | 6’8” F | Collegiate 2023
Smith will head to Collegiate this year after playing at Trinity last year and will reclassify to the 2023 class, and he brings some much needed size and scoring ability to Collegiate. While senior Mac MacDonald Mac MacDonald 6'3" | SG Collegiate | 2021 State VA will be the go-to guy, Smith will provide a great second option with his blend of size and versatility on the offensive end. He’s a guy you can run the offense through with is passing ability, he’s a mismatch on the perimeter as a guy who can put it on the deck and shoot it and he’s still just scratching the surface with how good he can be.
Logan Rhoades Logan Rhoades 6'2" | CG Mills Godwin | 2023 State VA | 6’1″ WG | Mills Godwin 2023
The son of VCU Head Coach Mike Rhoades, it’s safe to say that basketball is in Logan’s blood and he shows it with a terrific skill set and high IQ for someone so young. The 6’1″ off guard is an absolute sniper from deep who moves well off the basketball, has terrific footwork coming off of screens and is extremely consistent from deep. He’s in a spot at Godwin where they will need his scoring and after a solid freshman year I expect him to really improve moving forward.