Vantage Hoops Top 250 Expo: 2018 Standouts (Part 1)
The 2018 Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo at Randolph Macon College last Saturday was a huge success, bringing over 120 high school players from the Virginia area and beyond to compete in front of scouts and college coaches. The atmosphere was great with skill development drills and intensely competitive games as kids pushed each other during the final exposure event before the high school season began.
Throughout the next week or so, we will be breaking down some of the best performers of the event in a number of ways. We will be doing class breakdowns of top performers and top breakout performers, along with specialized lists that include top shooters, top defenders and others across the board.
We will get started with part one of the 2018 standouts, featuring five of the top senior performers at the event.
Jason Wade | 6’5” CG | Trinity Episcopal
The most recognizable name of the event did not disappoint as Wade was an impact guy on both ends of the floor throughout the event. The midmajor recruit who holds over 15 offers right now didn’t have to be at the event, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t give it his all, which says something about the kid. Defensively is where he shines, and even in a camp setting he was great on that end. He has a natural knack for helping when needed, jumping passing lanes and he can keep guards in front of him. Offensively, he showed his tremendous athleticism in transition with some huge dunks, showed good vision and feel with the ball in his hands and showed improvements in his jump shot. His willingness to play and dominate on both ends is what makes him so highly recruited, and he showed that on Saturday in his final camp event of his high school career.
DeAndre Anderson | 6’6” F | Rock Creek Christian (MD)
Anderson impressed early and often with his unique skill set as a power forward. He has a strong build that allows him to bang in the post and on the glass, and he showed good footwork on the block and a soft touch over both shoulders. What separated him however was his ability to play on the perimeter and in transition with his size. He handled the ball on the break and he has deep range with his jump shot as he knocked down a lot of threes showing he’s a pick-and-pop option. His mix of size, athleticism and skill set turned the heads of coaches and scouts, and he was one of the most productive offensive guys throughout the camp.
Ricky Council III | 6’0” G | Northern Durham (NC)
Both Ricky III and his brother Ricky IV came all the way from Durham ready to show that they could play. The older of the two doesn’t have the size that his younger brother has, but he made up for it with great play at both guard positions and a scrappy attitude that you don’t see from many in a camp setting. He has good range on his jump shot off the catch and off the dribble, and his form showed a quick release and good footwork. He has a quick first step, is shifty off the bounce, moves well without the ball and has great body control finishing around the rim in traffic. On top of his tremendous skill set, he showed great hustle on both ends, getting on the floor when needed and keeping plays alive to win 50-50 balls. He may still be growing, as his both his brothers are around 6’4”, and with his high IQ and deep range he should see a lot of recruitment coming his way his senior season.
Zamir Cheek | 6’6” F | Osbourn Park
Cheek really showed a lot of versatility in drill stations and it translated well to games where the long 6’6” forward turned heads with his length, skill set and athleticism. He looks like a power forward with his build but he has a hybrid forwards game. He can play on the perimeter, as he shot it well from deep off the catch, ran the floor and finished above the rim in transition and created mismatch problems with his face up game. Defensively he was able to protect the rim and alter shots both in transition and the half court set, and he showed the ability to switch and stay in front of guards too. His mobility and skill set at his size are things you don’t find every day.
Dominic Peterson | 6’0” G | Loudoun Valley
You have to love a kid who knows his role and does it well, and that’s what Peterson does in every setting that he plays whether it’s high school, AAU or even in a camp setting like this. A three-and-d guy to the tee, Peterson has deep range off the catch and he’ll make you pay if you leave him alone. He showed the ability to knock down shots and score in bunches, attacked closeouts well and made good decisions on the break with the ball in his hands. Defensively he’s a smart help side defender and in your face kind of on ball defender that doesn’t give his opponent any room to breathe. He also comes from a winning program that won the 4A State Championship last year and have only lost two games in the past two seasons.