Recruiting Report: VJ Wilmington (2018)
A stock-riser from Iowa’s eastern end, 6-foot-2 Davenport North guard VJ Wilmington seems poised for a big-time junior season with the Wildcats.
And after spending his spring and summer playing with Wisconsin-based Playground Elite and Quad City Elite, the junior has seen some subtle interest come in from a Division II and a Division I program.
“There’s one other school that has been reaching out to me and has sent me a couple letters and that’s American University. And Sioux Falls wants me to come on a visit sometime soon,” said Wilmington, who is hoping for a breakout season this winter.
“Obviously I want to get more looks because it’s getting closer and time is getting limited,” he said. “I’ve been getting up every morning trying to get up 500 shots before school. I’m just trying to have a breakout season that leads me into next summer.”
A slashing guard, Wilmington says his game predicates on his aggressiveness. He defined his playing style in detail to PHIA.
“I like to get to the midrange that’s where I’m most successful, and I’m more of an aggressive guard, I like to get to the paint. I’ve been working more on being a tight perimeter defender, and trying to create more fastbreak opportunities for my team,” he said.
“Right now I’m more comfortable playing point guard, and at the next level I think I’ll be a point guard. Most off-guards in college are like 6’4, and I don’t think I’ll reach that height. But I’m a decent-sized point guard.”
After a productive 16U summer with two high profile grassroots squads, Wilmington is now ready to shift his focus to his junior season at Davenport North.
Last season as a sophomore he averaged 13.5 points points per game, but shot just 38 percent from the floor.
“I’ll have to be more of a scoring point guard this year and my assists will need to go up, so I’m focusing on that. My coach wants me to get my teammates involved but also score a lot to, and really he wants me to be more efficient, said Wilmington. “Last season my shooting percentage was horrible, and this year I’m working on being more efficient, and getting my teammates involved.”