ODAC Recruiting Recap: Shenandoah University
As the recruiting season for many colleges has come to a close, we want to take a look back at the local division three schools and how they recruited Virginia. With the ODAC and CAC heavily represented in the state,…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAs the recruiting season for many colleges has come to a close, we want to take a look back at the local division three schools and how they recruited Virginia. With the ODAC and CAC heavily represented in the state, two of the conferences many consider among the best in division three, the state of VA is heavily recruited by a number of schools. Many of the kids who are playing division three in VA were recruited by multiple schools in these conferences, and all of them landed some kind of gem in the process. Today, we take a look at Shenandoah’s class as a new coaching staff looks to get their own recruits in to start building.
Record Last Season: 6-20
Incoming VA Recruits: Jalyn Jarrett (Dinwiddie), Aygei Edwards (Middleburg Academy), Gus Gonzalez (Wakefield), Logan Lokie (Nansemond-Suffolk), Matt Jackson (Davis & Elkins/Heritage Academy), Alan Dabney (Hanover)
In the midst of a coaching and program upheaval, Shenandoah struggled with a young team that the coaching staff didn’t recruit. However, they jumped on it big, getting five kids in the state of Virginia, including an All State point guard and division two transfer.
The coaching staff went the under the radar way, and landed a lot of productive kids who fell through the cracks for numerous reasons. In the backcourt, they landed a Second Team All State point guard in 5’7” Jalyn Jarrett from Dinwiddie. Despite his size, Jarrett is a smart and tough lead guard that can score it at all three levels and never backs down from anyone. They also landed an athletic combo guard in 5’10” Aygei Edwards from Middleburg. He played in a crowded backcourt at Middleburg, but Edwards is a strong and explosive guard who plays hard on both ends and is tough to stay in front of off the bounce.
The coaching staff also landed a couple of sleepers on the wing in 6’3” Alan Dabney of Hanover and 6’4” Gus Gonzalez of Wakefield. Dabney was part of one of the highest scoring duos in the state with junior Jason Wade at Hanover. He showed a high motor and hard nosed approach, creating second chance points and finding ways to get a lot of points at the free throw line. Gonzalez was a role player in the balanced attack for Wakefield, but he showed a soft touch and a lot of versatility, playing whatever position they needed him to to help them win.
Possibly their biggest get however is 6’8” Matt Jackson, a transfer from division two Davis & Elkins. The former Heritage Academy star gives Shenandoah a go-to scorer in the post who’s also capable of stepping out and stretching the defense. At 6’8”, he’ll be a real mismatch problem for almost everyone they match up with.
Expect Shenandoah to have a solid turn around season as they look to build on a good group of kids from throughout the state.