Vantage Hoops Top 250 Expo: 2018 Standouts (Part 2)
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 continue with part two of the 2018 standouts, featuring five of the top senior performers at the event.
David Ware | 6’4” WG/WF | Caroline
Ware is making a case for being the sleeper of the 2018 class in the 804 area after a good summer and a great showing at the Top 250 Expo. He has great size for a wing, and uses it to his advantage as he’s a good rebounder and finisher in traffic. He has three level scoring ability, can create his own shot off the bounce and finishes above the rim in transition. He had some eye opening athletic plays, including a couple of big dunks off alley-oops and shifty moves off the bounce in transition. He’s unselfish too, as he showed he can create opportunities for his teammates just as well as he can for himself. He plays in a smaller market in Caroline, but he has all of the ability, size and athleticism to be a scholarship level wing that can do a little bit of everything for his team.
Kevin Rosser | 6’2” WG | Heritage (Lynchburg)
We’re expecting a big year from Rosser, who was the third option on a Heritage team that made the 4A State Quarterfinals last year, and with Jordan Hamlette and Caleb Snead graduating he should step into the go-to role. The best thing about Rosser is that he has all the tools to be a go-to scorer. He can shoot it from deep off the catch, is decisive and takes up space with limited dribbles and makes contested shots from both the midrange and around the basket. He’s a streaky shooter at times, but once he gets it going he can really score it. He’s a good athlete and should be one of the top scorers in the Lynchburg area this year.
Adam Horton | 6’6” PF | Carroll County
Horton’s a big body post player who’s surprisingly nimble and athletic for his size. He moves well without the ball, always seeming to be in the right place at the right time, and he had a soft touch with both hands around the basket. He uses his intelligence to his advantage on both ends of the floor, being in help side defensively and using his big body to draw contact on the offensive end. He can score with ease from 15 feet and in, has a good motor and controls the glass on both ends of the floor. He should be someone that smaller schools take a look at for sure because he could be a steal from a smaller market.
Zumar Smith | 6’1” G | Amelia Academy
A breakout candidate in the 804 area, Smith made a big impact for Amelia Academy as a newcomer on an experienced roster that went all the way to the VISAA Division 3 State Championship game before losing to Williamsburg Christian. He has a lightning quick first step, plays really well in transition where he can use his athleticism and strong frame to finish and while he’s a streaky shooter, he can make tough shots once he gets it going. Defensively is a place that he’s underrated, as he can guard both perimeter positions, is very active in help side and is a good rebounder for a guard. Expect him to have an even bigger role this year with Amelia graduating three of their top players from last year.
Carlith Hamlin | 5’7” PG | IC Norcom
Hamlin was the forgotten guy on Norcom’s state championship team last year, but his impact shouldn’t be minimized and he showed that on Saturday. Despite his diminutive size, Hamlin is a tough and quick guard who has a knack for big plays on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he handles pressure well, controls tempo and can make shots from all three levels off the catch and off the bounce. Defensively, he negates his size by getting under ball handlers and making them uncomfortable the length of the floor. He has all the tools of a successful small guard, including toughness, a high IQ and good shot making ability.