Vantage Hoops 2017 Rankings: Wings (Part 2)
The Vantage Hoops Virginia 2017 Top 150 Rankings were updated yesterday, and now it’s time to take a closer look. Below is part two of our breakdown of the top wings in the class. Stay tuned for more content, including additional position-by-position break-downs, biggest stock…
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Continue ReadingThe Vantage Hoops Virginia 2017 Top 150 Rankings were updated yesterday, and now it’s time to take a closer look. Below is part two of our breakdown of the top wings in the class. Stay tuned for more content, including additional position-by-position break-downs, biggest stock boosters, and more.
Jalen Ray | 6’0” | Hampton (#16 Overall)
After spending years in the shadows, Ray has established himself as one of the best shooting wings in the state. The Hofstra commit has a quick release off the catch, sets his feet well off of screens, has deep range and has a soft touch in the middle as well. He’s worked hard over the last couple of seasons on his ball handling, and this summer he showed that he’s capable of reading the pick-and-roll and making good decisions in transition. With his ability to light it up from deep, he can hang a lot of points on you quickly.
Matt Lewis | 6’4” | Bishop O’Connell (#20 Overall)
Lewis has really come on in the past couple of seasons, and the recent JMU commit has become one of the most under appreciated wings in the WCAC. At 6’4”, Lewis has good size to defend multiple positions, and he’s a good rebounder on both ends of the floor for a 3 man. He fills lanes well in transition, can make open shots at all three levels and is deadly off of one or two dribbles when he gets in the teeth of the defense. He may not be the biggest name on his Bishop O’Connell team, but he’s a very important player that does a lot of things that help his team win.
Marquis Godwin | 6’5” | Hampton (#21 Overall)
We talked about Ray being one of the best shooters in the state, his running mate on the wing is firmly in that discussion as well. Godwin, an ODU commit, is a legit 6’5” with lanky arms, and he has no conscious once he starts making shots. He has picture perfect form and in the gym range off the catch, and what’s best about him is that he continually is moving and looking for his shot. While he’s a designated shooter, he gives effort on both ends of the floor and helps on the glass, and even if he misses two or three in a row he never loses confidence. He’ll get a lot of open shots from deep for Hampton this season.
Darius George | 6’6” | R.E. Lee (Staunton) (#25 Overall)
Upside and high ceiling are the two words that best describe George, who is a freakishly long wing with good athleticism. Defensively, his length bothers guards and disrupts passes, but he also has good timing as a shot blocker whether it’s in help side in the half court or while chasing down a player in transition. He’s a force on the glass, has an improving jump shot from deep and he’s a good finisher in transition. He’ll take a prep year next season before attending Marshall in 2018, and it’s all a matter of getting things to click before he’s a two way beast.
Taqwain Drummond | 6’4” | Woodside (#31 Overall)
Drummond suffered a knee injury during his sophomore season that took aways some of his explosiveness, but it may have helped him as a player because it forced him to develop his perimeter game to what it is now. At 6’4”, he has great size to play either wing position, and now that he’s got his athleticism back he’s able to guard as well. He’s a good shooter that can be streaky at times, but he has good form and good lift on his jumper, and once he gets it going he’s capable of running off five or six straight from deep. He’ll be looked to play somewhat of a combo position this year at Woodside, but with a big senior year he could see his recruitment take off.
Tadas Nausedas | 6’5” | VA Academy (#34 Overall)
He was unconscious in the state tournament for VA Academy, and not much changed this summer with Uncommon Bulls. The Lithuanian native is a knock down shooter from deep, has good feel off the basketball and has great footwork coming off of screens. He’s also got great size that allows him to rebound well for his position, and he’s one of those players that always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Expect him to get a lot of open jumpers as teams battle to matchup with VA Academy’s big men.
Cameron Bacote | 6’2” | Bethel (#37 Overall)
A very high IQ wing, Bacote has been a staple in the Bethel lineup for the past three seasons, and he’ll be looked to provide a little bit of everything for the Bruins this year. He uses his IQ defensively, where he can guard players both bigger and quicker than him by staying one step ahead of them. Offensively, he’s best off the basketball where he moves well without it to get easy lay ups off of cuts or fade for corner three’s where he’s usually money. If he can stay aggressive and involved in the game, Bacote should see his recruitment pick up his senior year.
Marvin Trotman | 6’3” | Atlantic Shores (#39 Overall)
A pure scoring wing, Trotman can create and make shots from all over the court. He’s very good in the midrange off the dribble, where he can set his feet quickly and rise up over smaller defenders to get good looks. He’s a strong finisher around the basket, can hit the three ball off the catch and he’s a player that’s capable of getting points in bunches. He has good feel and vision with the ball in his hands, and if he can show that he can be a two-way impact player he should also see his recruitment pick up.