Updated 2021 Rankings: Bigs (5-1)

<p>One of the coolest things about the new Prep Hoops Rankings is that they automatically rank the players by positions as well. Within the rankings you can see the rankings for point guards, combo guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards and centers. However, I have a different way of thinking of the game now, and believe the positions in basketball are now just guards, wings and bigs.</p> <p>So we’ll be breaking down the top 25 of each in those positions. Here’s a look at the top 5 ranked bigs in the updated class of 2021 rankings in the state of VA.</p> <p><strong>5) [player_tooltip player_id="957890" first="Xzavier" last="Long"] | 6’5” | VA Academy (#15 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/Long-Xzavier.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1099735" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/Long-Xzavier-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Long’s a new school big man who you think coaches would be all over the trend going toward small ball and mismatch guys, but he’s still very under the radar despite having success at multiple levels over the past few years. He’s a Draymond type of guy who has the size and strength of a power forward or center but is a little on the short side, but his versatility on both ends of the floor makes him extremely impactful in ways that do and don’t show up on the stat sheet. He’s a guy who is more athletic than he looks and can play above the rim, he can bang in the paint with bigs, he can step out where he can handle and shoot the rock and he’s an excellent passer at his position as well. All of that together makes him a very tough guy to matchup with, and gives your team an advantage as well.</p> <p><strong>4) [player_tooltip player_id="798692" first="IJ" last="Ezuma"] | 6’8” | Hargrave (#13 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/Ezuma-IJ.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1104968" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/Ezuma-IJ-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>A guy that has just worked and worked and worked to get better over the past three years, Ezuma went from a physically gifted but very raw big with potential to a two way impact guy that will do the dirty work and man the middle against the best of them. He already has a college ready frame and is the type of strong that you don’t want to mess with, and he’s not planted to the ground either as he can get up and block shots and pursue the basketball on both ends. He’s one of the best rebounders in the state, and offensively he’s improved as he can score on the drop step, off spin moves and can face guys up and rip and go. He’s a blue collar type of big that you have to love, and he still has tons of room to develop at the next level.</p> <p><strong>3) [player_tooltip player_id="798686" first="Clarence" last="Rupert"] | 6’7” | Miller School (#8 Overall)</strong></p> <p>Rupert has been as productive as anyone in the state over the past two years, as he won a state championship and was named state player of the year at Maury two seasons ago before transferring to Miller School where he reclassified and was the Mavs best player last year, earning All State honors. A mismatch style big, Rupert is the definition of someone who can play inside out as he has a bruising style in the paint with moves over both shoulders and counters, and he’s a big time rebounder who will just outwork and outmuscle taller guys by just being in the right place at the right time. He’s also a guy who can step out on the perimeter where he can shoot it and handle it in isolation situations, and he’s a good passer too.</p> <p><strong>2) [player_tooltip player_id="798695" first="Bryson" last="Spell"] | 6’8” | Cape Henry (#7 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Spell-Bryson-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1072280" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Spell-Bryson-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Spell is one of the top available and most sought after big men in the state if not on the east coast, as he has offers from schools in multiple levels including the ACC, Pac 12, AAC, A10 and more. He’s been very intriguing for years now, however the way that he’s filled out over the past few years and his improvement in his confidence and game is very promising moving forward. He’s the classic stretch four type that is a consistent shooter from deep, is a good passer from both the perimeter and in the post and he’s able to attack closeouts and put it on the deck and get to the rim. He’s a guy who can score it inside-out and has massive potential moving forward.</p> <p><strong>1) [player_tooltip player_id="543842" first="Roosevelt" last="Wheeler"] | 6’10” | John Marshall (#2 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Wheeler-Roosevelt-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1061582" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Wheeler-Roosevelt-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Easily the best big man in the state and a consensus top 100 prospect in the country, Wheeler is the type of big many people are looking for now-a-days and has a ton of potential moving forward to get even better. He’s a very mobile and athletic 6’10” that plays with a good motor and is the classic rim runner and rim protector type of guy. He’s a terrific shot blocker with good timing and the ability to contest vertically without fouling, he runs the floor hard and is naturally mobile and athletic and he’s a big time finisher above the rim when he gets anywhere around the basket. He’s a guy who can shoot the jump hook well in post ups and can step out to the free throw line extended to make shots, and he’s always a threat to score on put backs and rebounds well on both ends. He committed to Louisville this fall, and while he won’t be able to play this season due to an injury the Cardinals staff is still very excited about having him and the way he fits in their system.</p>