Updated 2019 Vantage Hoops Rankings Overview

At this point for rising juniors, we typically start to see the cream rise to the top as far as prospects go. While we are seeing some of that early in the summer, we're also realizing that this 2019 class has the opportunity to be as deep as the 2016 class that saw over 50 kids from the Commonwealth sign division one scholarships. While it's still too early to say definitively whether or not this group will turn out as projected, but there are some things we're learning more about, and our rankings surely reflect that. 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 220 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. Here's a broad overview of our rankings, taking a look at some of the trends we've seen so far. Stay tuned for more in depth breakdowns of the 2019 class, and the first ever 2020 VA rankings on Vantage Hoops! Shakeups in the Top 5 While the 2018 class saw some of their best players leave the state in Keldon Johnson, Rasir Bolton and Keyontae Johnson, it seems to be the opposite for 2019 as high major talent continues to transfer into the state from across the country. After 6'6” Aundre Hyatt transferred into Miller School from NY last season, we saw him have a brief stint at #1 as blue bloods including Duke and UNC are actively recruiting him. While he had a great year, and a great start to the EYBL, he slides to four, through no fault of his own. The hometown Richmond kid Armando Bacot resurfaces as the number one player in the class, and as he told us “I needed that motivation.” He was phenomenal this season, and has really worked to get his body right and is widely considered one of the top three big men in the country for this class. The newcomers to the top 3 are two dynamic guards that play AAU together for GAME Elite on the Adidas Gauntlet. 6'3” Ashton Hagans and 6'4” Josh Nickelberry announced that they have enrolled at national powerhouse Oak Hill Academy for the next season, and just in time as they graduate four guards who are heading to high major programs. With these two coming in, and young point forward Josh Hemmings returning, expect Oak Hill to still have one of the top backcourts in the country with a whole new cast next season. Positionless Players Trending Across the Top 20 It seems to be that every young forward's goal is to transition to being a full time wing, and while that makes sense because it will likely translate better for them, the trend in basketball going toward positionless guys means that coaches are looking for guys that can play multiple positions. Here's a few guys that have fit that mold so far. #9 Khyree Temple | 6'5 WF/PF | Phoebus/BWSL Chiz #11 Mike Christmas | 6'5” WF/PF | Landstown/BWSL Chiz #12 Dajour Rucker | 6'5” WF/PF | Cape Henry/Team Loaded VA #17 Marchelus Avery | 6'6” WF/PF | Armstrong/BWSL Dip #20 Charles Thompson | 6'8” PF/WF | St. Stephen's St. Agnes/Team Takeover Stock Rising Guards Continue to Improve While there are some familiar names at the top of the board when it comes to guards, there are plenty that are building toward making a big jump in both the rankings and their recruitment if they have a good summer. Here's five guards who impressed in the first live periods. #24 Antonio Bridy | 6'0” | George Wythe (Richmond)/BWSL Dip Bridy really came into his own late for George Wythe as he led a young team to the state semifinals, and he seems to be continuing to improve moving into the summer. He's built for AAU basketball, where he can get up and down the floor, create in isolation situations and use his natural instincts to make plays. #38 Ashley James | 6'2” | Green Run/Team Loaded 757 17U James is starting to solidify himself as a surefire division one guard, and possibly one of the best on ball defenders in this class. He has a good frame at 6'2”, and his athleticism and tenacity on the defensive end shows as he's not only willing to, but wants to, shut down the best player on the other team. #44 Antwan Epps | 5'11” | Granby/BWSL Dip Epps has been very productive in his first two seasons at Granby, and he's considered one of the best young shooters in the area. What's been impressive is that despite playing in the same backcourt as Bridy and a couple other point guards, he's showing the ability to play on the basketball as well and create shots for himself and others. #86 Xavier Kane | 6'1” | Blue Ridge/Team Loaded 434 He's a two sport star, so despite showing promise as a freshman at Christiansburg he was thought to have transferred to Blue Ridge for football. However, you have to play two sports at Blue Ridge, and whether basketball is his future or not he's looking like a much more complete point guard. He's a good athlete, he's a playmaker with vision and he's a competitor on both ends. #94 Loginn Norton | 5'10” | James River/River City Reign Norton can flat out score the basketball, and he was a huge reason for James River's resurgence this year after transferring from Millwood before the season. He creates space well off the bounce, has a number of floaters and finishes and he can really shoot the deep ball off the bounce. If he fills out and continues to improve as a point guard his stock could shoot up. Positional Breakdown PG: 30 WG/CG: 30 WF/PF: 15 PF/C: 25 Top 10

1) Armando Bacot	6'10" PF	Trinity Episcopal	Team Loaded VA 17U
2) Ashton Hagans	6'2" PG	Oak Hill Academy	GAME Elite 17U
3) Josh Nickelberry	6'4" WG	Oak Hill Academy	GAME Elite 17U
4) Aundre Hyatt	6'6" WF	Miller School	Boo Williams EYBL 17U
5) Qudus Wahab	6'10" PF/C	Virginia Academy	Boo Williams EYBL 17U
6) Anthony Harris	6'3" WG/PG	Paul VI	Team Takeover EYBL 17U
7) Oscar Tshiewebe	6'8" PF	Mount Mission	Louisville Magic 17U
8) Jay Heath	6'3" WG/PG	Bishop O'Connell	Team Durant
9) Khyree Temple	6'5" PF/WF	Phoebus	Boo Williams Chiz 16U
10) Zac Ervin	6'5" WF	Gate City	Team Loaded VA