Transfer News: VA 2022s (Part 1)

Although AAU was different this year, there seems to be a plan to play high school basketball this year in Virginia, even if it starts a little later than usual. There’s been plenty of news of transfers across the state, and we will take a look at a few of them. Here’s a look at eight transfers in the upcoming junior class that should make a big impact this season. [player_tooltip player_id="954219" first="Dior" last="Johnson"] | 6’2” PG | Oak Hill 2022 Possibly the best point guard in the country, Johnson decided to come back to the East Coast after two years in California and will head up one of Coach Smith’s youngest, but extremely talented, teams at Oak Hill. The 6’2” Syracuse commit is immensely talented at the point guard position where he’s an athletic and natural three level scorer off the bounce, he can make plays for others and he brings a toughness and competitive spirit to him that’s easy for others to feed off of. He’s a guy who should thrive with the development and structure that Smith is known to bring to talented lead guard dating back over 30 years now. MJ Rice | 6’6” WF | Oak Hill 2022 Another highly talented junior heading to Oak Hill, Rice is one of the most highly touted wing prospects in the country and should be a starter from day one for the Warriors. Rice has all of the tools to be a very good player at the highest level in college, from his prototypical frame to his ability to guard multiple positions and his ability to score it in multiple ways both on and off the basketball. Jamais Wertz | 6’6” PF | Life Christian 2022 Wertz is heading to LCA from Monacan where he’ll reclassify to the 2022 class and has a chance to impress coaches with his size and shooting touch from deep. The 6’6” forward has improved immensely over the past few years, and he brings a mix of power in the post and the ability to draw bigs out with his shooting from deep. He’s a guy who has gotten more and more aggressive and productive over the years, and is coming off a good summer where he played well against a number of teams. [player_tooltip player_id="962787" first="Kendon" last="Peebles"] | 6’4” WF | Catholic 2022 Peebles was a breakout guy at Hampton Christian last year and will head across the water to Catholic where he’ll likely be a go-to guy from day one. He has a game you have to love, as he’s long and athletic, plays hard and impacts the game on both ends and has a budding skill set that should continue to improve moving forward. Offensively, he’s a gifted scorer that’s an athletic finisher in transition, can shoot it from deep and can get to the rim, especially when he’s going left. [player_tooltip player_id="697146" first="Justyn" last="Fernandez"] | 6’4” CG | VES 2022 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Fernandez-Justyn.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1046401" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Fernandez-Justyn-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Fernandez is a late bloomer of a prospect who should get plenty of division one offers after reclassifying to the 2022 class at VES. At Monacan last year, Fernandez showed all of his potential as a 6’4” athletic combo guard with a great skill set that can be effective both on and off the basketball. He’s a guy who can create off the bounce with good wiggle, he can create space and make shots from deep and he has a good middle game as well. He’ll join a talented backcourt that should be able to spread the floor and have four guys who can create and make shots at a high clip. [player_tooltip player_id="962786" first="Christian" last="May"] | 6’5” WF | Bishop O’Connell 2022 Making one of the most bold transfers you can make in the WCAC, May will suit up for O’Connell next year after working his way into being a significant piece for Paul VI last year in their run to a VISAA D1 Championship. While it sounds bad from a team perspective, it makes since for May who would still be battling with some other guys for the position at PVI, but stands a good chance to be a hybrid forward for a young but talented O’Connell team. May is an intriguing prospect who is a big time athlete with a good frame, does the dirty work as far as defend and rebound for his team and will have a chance to show what he can do offensively more with this group. [player_tooltip player_id="815607" first="Cavan" last="Reilly"] | 6’2” WG | Bishop O’Connell 2022 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Reilly-Cavan-Top-250.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1046402" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Reilly-Cavan-Top-250-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a> Another transfer to a young but talented O’Connell team, Reilly heads to them after being a part of a very talented Middleburg team that made it to the VISAA D2 semifinals, but decided to disband the program among the Coronavirus pandemic. Reilly showed tons of flashes throughout the season despite not being a go-to guy on the team, and his high motor on both ends and sweet shooting ability will be welcomed into the WCAC with open arms. He’s a sniper from deep, he’s an underrated athlete and he’s a guy who makes smart plays on both ends of the floor including his ability to jump the passing lanes for steals. [player_tooltip player_id="798761" first="James" last="Patterson"] | 6’4” WF | Carmel School 2022 Patterson is a guy who I think may be the breakout guy in the Richmond area this year after showing a ton of potential at Meadowbrook last year. He heads to an up and coming program in Carmel who made it to the VISAA D3 semifinals last year, and he’ll slide in perfectly at the spot that All State wing [player_tooltip player_id="793117" first="Josh" last="Campbell"] is vacating this year. An athletic wing with a great frame and solid skill set, “Biggie” is a guy who can isolate his defender and get buckets, thrives in transition with his athleticism and strength and has shown a multitude of ways to score the basketball within the flow of the offense.