Vantage Updated 2019 Rankings Breakdown: Bigs (Part 2)
We’ve now had two years of high school and AAU basketball to break down the 2019 class, and things look much different then our first rankings of them two years ago. While rankings are always subject to change, especially with the reclass and transfer rate as it is, almost all of the players have improved whether they dropped or rose in our rankings.
When taking rankings into consideration, the Vantage Hoops team spends about a month contacting coaches and experts across the state to compile the list. There were over 250 kids we considered for the top 100, and the rankings reflect the next level potential of the prospects. Things taken into consideration include upside, high school production, head-to-head matchups, skill set on both sides of the ball and include intangibles such such as how recruitable a kid is based on grades, attitude and how coachable they are.
We will spend the next few weeks breaking down our new rankings from 2018 through 2020. Here’s a look at part two of our 2019 big men prospects. Enjoy, and stay tuned for more breakdowns moving forward!
Tariq Balogun | 6’9” | Miller School/BWSL Chiz 16U (#16 Overall)
After a solid summer with BWSL’s 16U group, Balogun transferred from Walsingham and will be suiting up for Miller School outside of Charlottesville this year. He’s a very interesting prospect to keep an eye on, and it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to say he’s a midmajor plus kid moving forward. At 6’9”, he has an intriguing skill set offensively as he can shoot the midrange, score with his back to the basket and in face up situations and he’s nimble enough to run the floor and finish in transition. His best asset right now is the fact that he has both a high motor and a high IQ of the game. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time. His addition is much needed for a Miller squad that made the VISAA Division Two Championship game and return their top four guards who led the team in scoring throughout the year.
Charles Thompson | 6’8” | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes/Team Takeover (#18 Overall)
Thompson flew up the rankings this past summer with his big improvements and is seeing serious division one interest. His level is still undetermined, but his upside is unbelievable and he’s starting to get there. He has a great frame for a young big, has strong hands and good feet and his offensive game continues to get better every time we see him. He’s active on both ends of the floor, can finish through traffic and has got more nimble and more athletic with time. He’s set to have a breakout season at SSSAS and should be in consideration for one of the top bigs in the Northern VA area.
Josh Oduro | 6’7” | Paul VI/Higher Level Premier 17U (#20 Overall)
Oduro missed much of the summer with a foot injury, but now that he’s healthy he’ll be heading to the WCAC to play with Paul VI who needs size so it seems like a great fit. A very skilled big, Oduro can play in the post and on the perimeter which fits the Panthers’ style very well. He can dribble, shoot, pass and rebound, and his unselfish style makes others around him better. He plays with a good motor and a high IQ, and his all around skill set makes him a tough matchup. If he can remain healthy moving forward he could potentially blow up this season.
Jonas Munson | 6’11” | West Potomac/VA Elite 17U (#25 Overall)
Munson’s intrigue is in his upside, and he continues to progress to get to that level that many schools are hoping for. You can’t teach 6’11”, so he’s going to make an impact when he’s on the floor whether it’s on the glass on both ends, altering shots defensively and simply being a presence in the paint that you have to account for. What’s really intriguing is his ability to stretch the defense. He doesn’t try to do too much, but he’s shown soft touch and the ability to hit shots from 18-20 feet when set. He’s good off of one dribble in the post, and as he continues to improve he should see some of the heavy interest he has turn into offers.
Jaden Frazier | 6’8” | Blue Ridge/Team Loaded VA (#29 Overall)
Improvement, improvement, improvement. When Frazier transferred from Pulaski County to Blue Ridge as a freshman he was an intriguing big man with good hands and feet and a soft touch. Now he’s starting to turn the corner and add production into that realm as well. At 6’8”, he has a good frame, gets off his feet well and has a nice stroke as a lefty from 18 feet and in. He’s aggressive on the glass, can score it over both shoulders on the block and plays with good energy on both ends of the court. With the departure of Aamir Simms to Clemson, this will be a big season for Frazier as the Barons will need him to step up and provide some production in the paint if they’re going to make another run at the state championship after winning two of the last three.
Izeah Parker | 6’7” | Hopewell/Team Loaded 757 (#44 Overall)
Another guy who is showing improvement, Parker picked up two offers from Hampton and Campbell this summer while running with Loaded 757. His upside is through the roof, and he showed flashes of the production level he may be able to reach moving forward. He’s super long and bouncy, allowing him to make plays in the paint defensively and keep plays alive on the glass. He can run the floor and finish above the rim, he has a soft touch from 15 feet and in and he’s an unselfish big man that will help others get easy shots as well. He needs to fill out and continue to work on his game overall, but he’ll be one to watch moving forward on a talented Hopewell team.