Northern Virginia’s Top-10 Ball-Handlers

<p>Many talented ball-handlers are playing high school basketball in Northern Virginia. The purpose of this article is to highlight some of the very best, regardless of class. Below you will find, in alphabetical order by last name, 10 of the top ball-handlers from Northern Virginia. This is the first part of a series that will aim to highlight players based on various superlatives.</p> <p><em>Note: these superlative lists will not be mutually exclusive. If someone can handle the ball and do something else (i.e. shoot) at a high level, they will be included in both lists. </em></p> <h5>John Awoke | Annandale ‘23</h5> <p>Awoke is one of the bigger guards on this list, standing well over 6-feet tall, but he keeps the ball on a string and can constantly survey the floor because he does not drop his head. He is an adept paint getter as a result and had no problem penetrating opposing defenses throughout his breakout freshman campaign.</p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="962809" first="Michael" last="Henderson"] | TC Williams ‘22</h5> <p>Henderson is not [player_tooltip player_id="964452" first="a" last="b"]ig guard, listed at 5-foot-7, but this list is simply not complete without him. He’s super quick and even quicker with the ball in his hands. Henderson gained valuable experience as the primary ball-handler for the Titans this season that should benefit him moving forward. </p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="697101" first="Darius" last="Johnson"] | Episcopal ‘21</h5> <p>Johnson is one of the most complete guards you will find, not just in Northern Virginia, but the entire DMV. His skillset is broad and quite frankly unparalleled. Johnson is known to have a strong work ethic and has developed superior ball-handling abilities as a result. </p> <h5>Dug McDaniel | Paul VI ‘22</h5> <p>Pictured above, McDaniel has taken the DMV by storm in his first two seasons with his electric handle and fast-paced style of play. The highly touted lead guard prospect has done nothing but improve since he first suited up for Paul VI. It will be fun to see what McDaniel has in store in the coming years. </p> <h5>Manny Ojo | Osbourn ‘21</h5> <p>For what he lacks in height, Ojo more than makes up for it with his skill and quickness. The 5-foot-5 point guard protects the ball well and can get to any spot on the court. Ojo is the unquestioned floor general and leader of a young but scrappy Osbourn team. Expect him to lead the Eagles, who had a down year, back to prominence next season.  </p> <h5>Jayden Ross | Osbourn Park ‘23</h5> <p>Ross is an exciting young guard prospect who boasts an intriguing array of skills, including a tight handle. He was eased into things this year, but don’t be surprised if he does damage once fully unleashed as a sophomore.</p> <h5>Tye Thompson | Bishop Ireton ‘21</h5> <p>A newcomer who played in Italy as a sophomore, Thompson arrived at Ireton and made his mark immediately as a junior. A downhill-type guard who exhibits a confident handle, he gets paint touches consistently which is non-negotiable for a starting point guard.</p> <h5>Mason So | Bishop O’Connell ‘23</h5> <p>So, a highly-skilled left-hander who is efficient with the ball and can put it on the deck equally well with both hands earned his stripes through trial by fire as a freshman. As O’Connell’s primary ball-handler, he contended with stingy defenses each time he hit the court but also held his own.</p> <h5>[player_tooltip player_id="815613" first="Saxby" last="Sunderland"] | Flint Hill ‘22</h5> <p>One of the taller guards on this list, Sunderland brings dynamic all-around talent to the lead guard spot along with a relentless work ethic. He does everything well on the court, with ball-handling being one of his biggest strengths. </p> <h5>Quincy Via | Lake Braddock ‘22</h5> <p>Via was the engine that propelled Lake Braddock’s up-tempo attack this past season. He is a speedster with the ball and lives in the paint. </p>