Summer Stock Boosters: 2019 Wings (Part 2)
With the final live periods coming to a close a couple weeks ago, it’s now time to take an in depth look at some of the biggest stock boosters in Virginia throughout the entire AAU season. The lists compiled will…
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Continue ReadingWith the final live periods coming to a close a couple weeks ago, it’s now time to take an in depth look at some of the biggest stock boosters in Virginia throughout the entire AAU season. The lists compiled will be organized based on year and position, and will only include players that have open recruitments and have yet to make a verbal commitment. It’s impossible for us to mention every kid that boosted their stock throughout the summer, but we’ve narrowed down some of the players that took the biggest jumps in improvement and interest from colleges. Here’s part two of the 2019 wings.
Jalen Henderson | 6’3” | Ridgeview Christian/Team Loaded 434
Vantage Hoops Ranking: #25
One of the kids we had never heard about before the summer started, Henderson showed tremendous upside with his mix of length, athleticism and his ability to create his own shot on the wing. While most athletic wings his age are raw, Henderson can score it from all three levels off the bounce and he’s a versatile defender that can guard the best player on the other team or use his length to disrupt passing lanes in zones. He has to fill out, but it will be interesting to see him develop more moving forward.
DeMarr McRae | 6’3” | John Marshall/Team Loaded VA
New Offers: JMU
Vantage Hoops Ranking: #26
Intensity is hard to find in a young player, especially on the defensive end, but that’s what made McRae so successful as a freshman for John Marshall last season. A very good athlete, he has no problem picking up the best player full court and denying him the basketball while letting him know that he isn’t going to score. He provides energy for his team, can shoot it from deep off the catch and is good for at least one or two highlight reel dunks a game. He has to work on his ball handling, but his energy on both ends makes him a player that you simply can’t take off the floor.
Jamon Battle | 6’4” | Meadowbrook/River City Reign
Vantage Hoops Ranking: #29
Battle is another one of these wings that has a high ceiling which he showed early on at Meadowbrook as he started almost every game as a freshman for the Monarchs. He’s a streaky shooter from deep, but showed that he can hit from there when he hit six three’s against Osbourn Park early in the season. Over the summer, he was effective as a slashing wing that ran the floor and finished in transition. He has good size and athleticism for his age, and while he has some fine tuning to do on both ends he’s certainly shown a lot of potential early in his career.
Jarec Brown | 6’2” | Huguenot/BWSL Berry
Vantage Hoops Ranking: #47
Brown is more of a combo forward right now, as he was able to use his big upper body to clear out space in the paint for rebounds and easy baskets. However, when he isn’t playing strictly against kids his own age he’ll have to move out to the wing, which shouldn’t be hard because he’s mobile enough to guard players on the wing now. He has to work on his outside shooting, but he has a chance to be a productive player next season for Huguenot, and with steady improvement should be a scholarship player down the line.
Jakari Taylor | 6’0” | Colonial Forge/Team Richmond Garner Road
Vantage Hoops Ranking: #59
Watching Taylor he shows a lot of positive things moving forward, but also needs to work on some things that young players simply struggle with such as situational awareness. However, he’s a talented guard that plays hard, is athletic and can score it from a number of places on the floor. He can play with the ball in his hands or on the wing, has a solid jumper from deep and he exerts as much energy to make plays defensively and on the glass as he does on the offensive end. It will be interesting to see if he grows into a true wing, or will continue to take more of a combo guard role like he has now.