Top 5 Returning Scorers Class AA Division

With many local basketball camps and early practices still on delay until further notice due to Covid-19, we look back on some of the top scorers from last season who will be returning this upcoming year. This list comprises some of the most impressive and multifaceted scorers from WV Class AA last year who we expect will certainly be putting up even bigger numbers whenever play begins for the 20-21 season. This list includes a trio of impressive sophomores and two juniors who all are looking to take the next step in developing their game and showing they have the skills to compete at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id="977586" first="Kolton" last="Painter"] - 6’1 PG - Nitro - ’22 Painter is a whole lot of fun to watch on film. This kid is truly a fearless shooter and once he’s a few feet past half-court, he is capable of launching it and with good effect. As a sophomore last season, he led all of Class AA with 22.2 PPG, which earned him 3rd team all-state honors. Although his team finished with a 5-18 record, they had 8 seniors graduate before this past season and Painter has shown that he is more than ready to take this team to new heights. Kolton displays an impressive array of tools to maximize his scoring prowess. His ability to diversify his attack makes him a threat at every level on offense. Painter finished the year with 61 three-pointers made with a 36% mark on the year and 45% on his two-point attempts. He is most dominant in pick & roll scenarios, where he cuts tight around the screen and from there the defender has little hope of stopping him. He also shows great vision from the pick and roll, and if defenders leave any gap between he and the roll man, he can hit that space with on point passes. His ability to stop on a dime is incredible, and opens up space for mid-range or wide open threes. On isolation possessions, Kolton has a solid jab step/hesitation combo that causes defenders to over-defend in one direction or freeze up entirely, opening up lanes to the hoop. His footwork when working around defenders is polished. Kolton has also shown the ability to open up space with jab step fakes and combos this with a step back jumper, making it near impossible for the defender to close out on him. His body control is impressive, as he is able to score on off-balanced shots and finish in the paint with remarkable hand-changeability mid flight. However, his high octane offensive approach has led to some inefficient games, but he has shown consistently to have all the tools to dominate on the offensive end. With still two more seasons left in his high school career, [player_tooltip player_id="977586" first="Kolton" last="Painter"] has plenty of room to grow with an already dominant offensive game.   [player_tooltip player_id="977592" first="Austin" last="Ball"] - 6’5 F/C - Man High School ’22 Another 3rd team all-state recipient, [player_tooltip player_id="977592" first="Austin" last="Ball"] is an all-around complete baller in the making with solid numbers last season, finishing with 19.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG and 2 BPG. He is a long bodied athlete with a great wingspan. He has all the intangibles and a diverse two-way game that will put him on a major program at the collegiate level. He is a do it all player, but most of all works hard in the paint, bumping around and getting gritty, which often ends up with him finishing strong over the defense. However, he isn’t afraid to pull up from three, hitting at a solid 31% but on pretty low overall attempts for the season, although is overall shooting efficiency is impressive at 55%. He has a fluid shooting motion with a quick release on his shot. Ball is great at utilizing moves in the post, rolling off with the fade-away or using his steady footwork to get under and past the defender. He shows off an impressively quick change of direction when attacking the basket or faking in the post. He has an incredibly soft touch that allows him to finish even over multiple defenders. His long reach allows him to cover the paint with ease on the defensive end. He’s a quick-footed wing/big man that can cover 2-5 at this level. In recent AAU play, Ball showed he is improving upon all of these skills with solid scoring ability all over the court. Expect [player_tooltip player_id="977592" first="Austin" last="Ball"] to take Man basketball to the next level this season along with a stuffed stat sheet every game.   [player_tooltip player_id="977605" first="Shad" last="Sauvage"] - SG - James Monroe ’22 Unfortunately, with little going on with WV basketball at the moment and little available tape from this past season, it was difficult to fully analyze Shad’s game, but from what little I saw and read, this kid is a pure sniper on the court. Another 3rd team all-state recipient, Shad finished with 17.5 PPG last season. He has an ultra quick shooting motion that gives a little insight into why his three-point numbers are so good even with opposing defenses knowing what’s coming. In both of his seasons, he has made 69 three-pointers, and finished at 36% this year from three on 191 attempts. He also holds the record for career 3PM for James Monroe. Sauvage’s game is long-range first and foremost, as he has finished with more made and attempted threes than twos in both of his seasons. However, his game isn’t so one-dimensional, as he also averaged 4.4 rebounds per game and 2.8 steals, showing he has the quick hands on the defensive end too. He also has a leadership mentality at a young age, becoming the captain of the team as a sophomore. He’s a workhorse who has averaged over 30 minutes per game in both of his seasons. Hopefully with basketball resuming in the near future, there will be plenty of opportunities to get a firsthand look at the scoring prowess of [player_tooltip player_id="977605" first="Shad" last="Sauvage"], but from what is known thus far, he is a long range force to be reckoned with who will be raining down points on the opposition all next season.   [player_tooltip player_id="977540" first="John" last="Blankenship"] - 6’5 F - Lincoln County (Hamlin) ’21 A long, lanky athlete, [player_tooltip player_id="977540" first="John" last="Blankenship"] is similar in some ways to [player_tooltip player_id="977592" first="Austin" last="Ball"]. However, although he lacks some of the light-footed ability shown by Ball, Blankenship is capable of utilizing his massive reach with devastating effect in all facets of his game. Averaging 16 PPG last season, Blankenship showed a multifaceted offensive game that most defenders are helpless against. He has an awkward release on his jumper, somewhat prolonged in the motion but don’t let that fool you into thinking he isn’t deadly all over the court. He shows great confidence from outside, attempting 107 threes last year, although he finished with a decent 29%. But, his mid range game and post moves show that he has the skills and technique to build upon that will certainly see his numbers rise. He also maximizes his reach in his shooting motions, high-pointing the ball to where there is simply nothing the defender can do. His body control is impressive in his ability to free up space in the post. He has great vision and uses his height to see over the defense, often hitting the open man cutting through the lane for an easy basket. His long reach allows for imposing coverage of the painted area, as well as preventing the opponent from getting past him, leading to a solid 2.1 SPG and 0.8 BPG last season. His smooth touch on shots inside combined with his body control and superb reach create an almost unstoppable weapon. This player has a unique combination of intangibles and skills that will make him a major threat at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id="977515" first="Bryson" last="Lucas"] - 6’5 F - Robert C. Byrd (Clarksburg) ’21 Bryson is a player that brings it all to the table when you observe his game and last season that earned him Big Ten Conference Player of the Year. It also showed on the stat sheet, as he led his team in every major statistical category. He is a long-bodied, super athletic wing whose game is most dominant attacking the paint. Lucas delivered several highlight dunks throughout last season, as he routinely flies right past defenders or finishes right over them. He showed off incredible hands with great alley-oop finishes and full-court catches on the fast break. Although he will most often dominate in the paint, he does not shy away from the jump shot anywhere on offense. While his three-point percentage wasn’t spectacular, finishing the year at 29%, his jumper is silky smooth with a solid, consistent follow-through that in time will bring those numbers up. His lengthy reach allows him to have a high release point where the defender can do little to affect his shot. His ability to post up or pop up in the mid-range is a testament to this, as he finished with a whopping 59% on two-point shots this season. Even with his size he has a great handle on the ball, utilizing an extremely fast first step to speed past defenders, or employing a tight crossover to create space and then dip into his assorted bag of moves to finish. Lucas has great full court speed and is a major threat in transition, either beating the defense down the court for the pass or dribbling through them for the dunk. His off-ball offense creates mayhem for opposing defenses also, as he can pop out of screens for the jumper, or slice right through the defense for a strong finish that most defenders have no chance of stopping. As versatile as he is on offense, Lucas brings just as much dominance to the defensive end. He uses his length effectively, and combined with a solid quick bounce, he can easily swat away jumpers and makes finishing in the paint an extremely difficult task. His on-ball defense is impressive, often using lightning quick hands to poke the ball loose, which led to an impressive 2.8 steals-per-game. He has shown the ability to use his length and athleticism and at this level can effectively guard 2-5. With all the uncertainty going into what will happen this coming season, one thing to be certain about is if basketball happens, [player_tooltip player_id="977515" first="Bryson" last="Lucas"] will be putting on a show.