Updated 2021 Rankings: Guards Rankings (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 guards in the updated class of 2021 rankings in the state of VA.</p> <p><strong>5) [player_tooltip player_id="798680" first="Allen" last="Strothers"] | 6’2” | Menchville (#10 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Strothers-Allen-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1061577" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Strothers-Allen-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Strothers was one of the guys who was likely going to have a big summer in recruitment on the EYBL before it was shut down, but he took full advantage of the CBG Fall Series where he picked up offers almost in almost every session and eventually chose to commit to East Tennessee State. When it comes to playmaking guards, there aren’t many better than Strothers in the state as he has natural feel and vision, good burst that allows him to get in the lane and he can really pass the rock and knows where all of his teammates are at all times. He’s also long and athletic and can play above the rim, he’s improved as a shooter and will likely continue to improve moving forward as he has tons he can still get better at.</p> <p><strong>4) [player_tooltip player_id="957888" first="Mike" last="Gray"] | 6’1” | Blue Ridge (#9 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Gray-Mike-MVP.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1015651" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Gray-Mike-MVP-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>One of the best scoring guards in the state over the past few years, Gray was named the VISAA D2 Player of the Year last year after helping Blue Ridge to a second straight state championship and has already gotten off to a terrific start this year for the Barons who are already playing. Gray has a unique type of game where he plays very loose and free and is extremely shifty off the bounce making him very difficult to stay in front of, and he’s also adept at creating space off the bounce and has a quick release that allows him to take and make contested shots. He gets hot quickly and can score it from all over the floor, and he also brings toughness as a rebounder and a defender in the backcourt as well. He committed to George Mason of the A10 earlier this season.</p> <p><strong>3) [player_tooltip player_id="1091480" first="Camryn" last="Carter"] | 6’2” | Oak Hill Academy (#6 Overall)</strong></p> <p>Every year Oak Hill Academy brings in some nationally ranked players, but they also tend to bring in some under the radar guys who fit their style well and that’s exactly what Carter has looked like early in this season for them. The 6’2” combo guard holds a slew of offers from division one programs in multiple conferences, and he’s been one of their most consistent guards so far this season as both a scoring threat and distributor as well. He has a great frame and is a guy who can play on or off the basketball, he shoots it at a very high clip and with consistency from deep and he makes everything look so effortless on the court as well.</p> <p><strong>2) [player_tooltip player_id="697101" first="Darius" last="Johnson"] | 6’0” | Episcopal (#5 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Johnson-Darius-Head-Shot.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1078369" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Johnson-Darius-Head-Shot-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Johnson has been one of our top rated guards over the past few years, and I’m not going to lie our job isn’t that hard when you see a talent and you just know that he’s going to be a baller moving forward. The Episcopal guard has done a ton for the program the past few years leading them to multiple Final Four appearances, and the way that he plays just gives me goosebumps if I was a coach trying to to game-plan for him. He’s a stocky and strong guard that has a quick first step and good wiggle off the bounce, he has deep range as a shooter and he is a capable and adept finisher through contact around the rim. UCF got a steal in my opinion and I think a lot of schools will be upset they slept on him for his size throughout the process.</p> <p><strong>1) [player_tooltip player_id="697111" first="Angelo" last="Brizzi"] | 6’3” | Highland School (#4 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Brizzi-Angelo.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1024719" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Brizzi-Angelo-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>The Villanova commit did a little bit of everything last year to show that he deserved to be recruited at that level, and the fit couldn’t be better as he shows flashes of Ryan Arcidiacano and Collin Gillespie all mixed into one. The Highland School lead guard has always been talented, but in his run to the state semifinals he showed that he’s as skilled a guard as any that you will see with his ability to fill it up and his gutsy qualities that make him a natural born leader. Brizzi is a guy that will wow the average fan with his deep range and ability to get hot quickly, but he will also show the basketball purists that he is a tough minded two way guy that will do whatever it takes to help his team win when it matters.</p>