VA Best Available Wings (Part 1)
It’s that time of the year where colleges of all levels are looking for players still available in the senior class. Luckily for them, Virginia is full of guys who can play at all of the levels and are balling…
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Continue ReadingIt’s that time of the year where colleges of all levels are looking for players still available in the senior class. Luckily for them, Virginia is full of guys who can play at all of the levels and are balling out their senior year. Over the next week or so, I’ll be doing best available lists for guards, wings and bigs. There’s a lot of names I want to get out there, so to make things easier I broke them up into different parts.
Here’s a look at the part one of the best available wings in VA.
Christian Brown | 6’6” | Oak Hill Academy
One of the best athletes in the country, Brown is sometimes overlooked at Oak Hill because he’s playing with two of the best guards in the country. He’s a two-way impact guy who can guard multiple positions, handle the ball in transition, make shots off the catch and rebound on both ends. His versatility allows him to play all over the floor and he should do so in college as well.
Jamon Battle | 6’5” | LC Bird
Now that he’s off the football field Battle has looked like one of the best available next level prospects in the state. He has a high major frame and high major athleticism, as he’s able to play way above the rim in transition and traffic, and he’s able to absorb contact and finish easily. He’s an underrated ball handler that can get in the lane in isolation situations, and with the right development he has room to grow in every area and could be a better college player than he is a high school player.
Mickey Pearson | 6’7” | Hargrave
Pearson is anther guy with a lot of room to grow at the next level and has a chance to be a high major player. He has great size to play on the wing and also can play some small ball four. He can catch-and-shoot from deep, scores well at all three levels and can defend almost every position on the floor.
DeArvae Heard | 6’3” | Miller School
The way I describe Heard’s game is like the old guy at the Y that busts you every day and it’s so frustrating. He has a big, solid frame, and while he doesn’t play way above the rim he still rebounds well and has a number of ways to score in the post. He has a great midrange game, can shoot it from deep and is a smart and versatile player.
Bryce Waterman | 6’5” | Virginia Episcopal School
One of the best shooters left in the state, it’s unbelievable to me this kid doesn’t have a division one offer yet. He’s improved his body tremendously since coming to VES, he’s a high academic and character kid and he can flat out let it fly and shoots the cover off the rock. He hit 11 three-pointers in a game last week, so that’s the type of shooter we’re talking about.
Asa Shannon | 6’4” | Episcopal School
Shannon checks the box as far as physical attributes go, and he’s a guy who has shown improvement over the years and likely still has more improvement left. He’s a smart guy with a good motor who plays hard on both ends, makes the right plays and is effective even when he isn’t scoring the basketball. He’s an immediate impact guy defensively and has room to grow offensively.
Khyree Temple | 6’5” | Phoebus
One of the most gifted kids in the state, Temple has been a force when he’s been on the court for Phoebus the past three seasons, but injuries and grades, among other things, have limited his time recently. At 6’5” he’s a freak athlete that plays way above the rim, can handle in transition and guard multiple positions. He has a solid skill set to go with his athleticism and he has a dog mentality on both ends.
Daryl Anderson | 6’6” | Miller School
Long, lanky and skilled, Anderson has quietly been one of the go-to guys at Miller so far this season. The lefty can catch and shoot with the best of them from deep, he can shoot the pull-up off a couple bounces and he knows the game pretty well. He uses his length off the ball to deny the basketball well, and as he fills out he should be able to guard in the post as well.