VA Live Period Shootout 1 Standouts (Part 2)
While the VHSL didn’t take advantage of the new live period rules in June, the VISAA did thanks in large part to Blue Ridge Head Coach Cade Lemcke who took it upon himself to host an event at Blue Ridge…
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Continue ReadingWhile the VHSL didn’t take advantage of the new live period rules in June, the VISAA did thanks in large part to Blue Ridge Head Coach Cade Lemcke who took it upon himself to host an event at Blue Ridge for VISAA schools and some others from outside of the area. The event featured 18 teams (Blue Ridge split into 2 groups) and had college coaches from all levels and all over the east coast come in town to see some of the top teams in the state dual it out. It was the perfect set up with plenty of opportunities to see numerous kids, and I took full advantage watching as many as I can and seeing a number of prospects worth mentioning. With that being said, here’s a look at part two of my standouts from the event.
Logan Washington | 6’6” PF | Life Christian Academy 2020
Washington is sometimes forgotten on this LCA group because they are so stacked with talent, but he’s the guy who does the dirty work for them and was a big part of their state championship this past season. He showed all of that this weekend with his play on both ends, but he really shined on the defensive end where he showed he’s one of the top rim protectors in the whole state. While he’s only 6’6” he has tremendous length and good bounce, he has great timing and is fearless challenging at the rim and he’s quick off his feet with his ability to challenge multiple shots back-to-back. He’s a rim runner and rim protector that doesn’t try to do things he can’t but thrives in the areas that he’s very good at.
Kenard Richardson | 6’3” W | Life Christian Academy 2020
Richardson was a part of the success Varina has had over the past few years as he’s been a starter since day one there, and playing with LCA this weekend he showed the toughness and aggressiveness on both ends that makes him an impact every time he’s on the floor. He’s intense and thrives when games get chippy as he’ll guard the best player on the other team and frustrate them the whole game, and offensively he’s able to attack in isolation situations where he can get to the rim but also showed a great middle game with a number of pull-ups and floaters. His body continues to improve and it’s showing with his improved explosiveness, and he’s looking every bit like a division one player that coaches need to get on now.
Christian McLeod | 6’2” G | Life Christian Academy 2020
McLeod is another guy that sometimes gets forgotten for this LCA team, but with the departure of Antonio Bridy he’s going to be the main ball handler and playmaker for them this year. He’s an explosive athlete who has good speed in the open court, is able to attack the rim and finish through contact and he rebounds well at the guard position. He showed improvement in his jump shot as he hit multiple threes both off the catch and off the bounce, he’s a good defender both on and off the basketball and he plays the game with great energy that infectious to his teammates.
Mike Gray | 6’2” G | Blue Ridge Blue 2021
One of the top guards in the 2021 class in Virginia, Gray showed his ability to play both on and off the basketball and create shots for both himself and others throughout the event. He played a lot of minutes with only six guys on his team, and while he plays off the ball a lot for them during the season he was on the basketball a lot this weekend showing his ability to get them into sets and handle pressure and make plays. His best attribute is his ability to shoot it from deep, as he has a quick release and is consistent when he gets good looks from deep. If he continues to develop as a true point guard he’ll be a guy who will be recruited by a lot of division one schools moving forward.
Houston Emory | 6’9” PF | Blue Ridge Blue 2021
Emory is set to explode this season with Blue Ridge with the departure of Jaden Frazier who is now a freshman at Tennessee Chattanooga. The 6’9” big man who’s originally from Pennsylvania is oozing with potential as he’s already a good athlete who can run the floor and protect the rim, finish above the rim in transition and on catch and finish situations and he plays with a toughness you can’t teach. He’s just now scratching the surface and will improve more as he gets stronger, and with the track record of the way they develop big men at Blue Ridge there’s a good chance that he takes a big jump and sees his recruitment pick up as well.
Derrick Jones | 6’5” W | Blue Ridge Blue 2021
A local kid who was All State at Albemarle last year, Jones will be transferring to Blue Ridge and reclassifying to the 2021 class, and what he showed at just this camp netted him offers from Stetson, ODU and Mount St. Mary’s from just this weekend. He has all of the tools to become a solid 3 and d guy as he showed the ability to make shots off the catch and he showed some serious athleticism with some big time finishes above the rim throughout the event. He needs to continue to fill out and work on putting the ball on the floor, but with him reclassifying he’ll have time to round out his game and he should become a big time division one recruit.
Maliq Brown | 6’8” PF | Blue Ridge Blue 2022
The youngest of the Blue Ridge guys on this list, Brown is another guy who is oozing with potential and is already looking like one of the best players in the 2022 class moving forward. He has a nice frame and he’s a good athlete who can run the floor, he plays with physicality in the paint and isn’t afraid to bang with people and he isn’t a big man who is trying to be a wing or a guard by any means. He has good hands and soft touch and he has plenty of room to grow as a player moving forward.
Ben Li | 6’6” F | Middleburg Academy 2020
I’m just going to say this once even though I said it all weekend, Lehigh got a steal with their early commitment from Li. A stocky 6’6” forward who can play inside-out, Li is surprisingly explosive as he’s able to finish way above the rim when he gets downhill, and he’s a physical guy who isn’t afraid to use his frame to find contact and finish through traffic. He can play in the post or on the perimeter where he’s a good shooter, he plays with a good motor and hits the glass on both ends and he doesn’t need the ball in his hands for a long time to score it. He’ll be an absolute stud who will make an immediate impact in the Patriot League next year.
Jaden House | 6’3” WG | Middleburg Academy 2021
House on left.The former Henrico star announced that he will reclassify to the 2021 class and attend Middleburg, and coaches already are taking notice as he picked up offers from Stetson and ODU after his play this weekend. He has a good frame that is both strong and athletic, he can play on and off the basketball and scores it well in both situations and he’s a true three level scorer with the total package as far as scoring. He’s a competitor who showed solid ability defensively when things got serious, and they played some very good competition where he showed he can compete with the best. He’s going to continue to trend upwards if he continues to get his body right and round out his game so he can impact it even when he isn’t scoring the rock.
Isaiah Folkes | 6’1” PG | Middleburg Academy 2021
Folkes on right.The other big transfer that Middleburg got from in state, Folkes took the same path as House after he was an absolute stud at Stonewall Jackson last year, and in his first live period as a 2021 he also picked up offers from Stetson and ODU. He played mostly at the point guard spot and while he needs to continue to improve his handle he’s a strong, quick and explosive guy who can beat his man in isolation situations and he has great hang time and strength around the basket where he can absorb contact and finish through traffic. He’s able to use his athleticism on the defensive end and on the glass, and as he continues to improve his skill set he’ll be a guy that D1s should absolutely keep on their radar moving forward.
Jakari Wilkins | 5’9” PG | Williamsburg Christian 2021
A transfer from Denbigh who will reclassify to the 2021 class, Wilkins was by far the best player for WCA and showed that despite his size he’s a guy who can create for himself and others with the ball in his hands. He’s lightning quick with his first step and a blur in transition, he’s able to create space and make shots off the bounce and he lives in the lane where he can finish with an array of floaters and pull-ups. He’s going to be an under the radar guy who could be a steal now with an extra year to continue to develop.