Updated 2022 Rankings: Bigs (5-1)

<p>One of the coolest things about the new Prep Hoops rankings is that it automatically ranks players by position, allowing you to see the rankings among PGs, CGs, SGs, SFs, PFs and Cs. However, new school guys like me who believe in relatively positionless basketball, as the game trends that way, believes that you can simplify the game to just three positions in guards, wings and bigs.</p> <p>So, I took the time to breakdown the rankings into the three positions, and have ranked the top 25 in each position. Here’s a look at some of the top power forwards and centers, looking at numbers 5-1 in the new rankings.</p> <p><strong>5) [player_tooltip player_id="1107823" first="Miles" last="Webb"] | 6’7” | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes (#17 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_0766.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1058779" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/IMG_0766-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Webb is an intriguing prospect who played a big role in SSSAS making the state championship last year, and with the departure of a lot of their production from the last two years he’s set to be a breakout guy in the NOVA area this year. He reclassified to the 2022 class and will see his stock increase because of that, and he’s still growing and adding to his game every time I see him. A long 6’7” forward that can play inside-out, Webb is a versatile guy that can guard multiple positions and is a mismatch offensively as he can step out to 18 feet and make shots or go by guys, and he’s a big time rebounder on both ends of the floor. He’s a guy who just needs to get seen by more coaches for him to see his stock take off.</p> <p><strong>4) [player_tooltip player_id="798689" first="Houston" last="Emory"] | 6’10” | Blue Ridge (#16 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Emory-Houston2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1025491" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Emory-Houston2-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Emory is a guy who unfortunately missed last season due to a back injury, but he showed in the year before at Blue Ridge flashes of brilliance and has already shown some dominance in the early season for Blue Ridge so far. At 6’10”, Emory has been gifted with great size and length, and he’s very mobile at that size as well as he can run the floor and is an explosive finisher above the rim as well. He’s a good shot blocker and rebounder, he’s filled out nicely and gotten much stronger and he’s a blue collar type of guy who can impact the game in a number of ways across the board. He holds a few offers now but will see that list grow as more teams get to see him.</p> <p><strong>3) [player_tooltip player_id="815586" first="Greg" last="Melvin"] | 6’7” | Cape Henry (#11 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Melvin-Greg-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1082831" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Melvin-Greg-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Melvin is a very intriguing prospect who continues to improve on his perimeter skill set and has the size, athleticism and motor to make an impact in a number of ways on both ends of the floor. He has a great frame with good length and strength, he’s a monster on the glass on both ends of the floor and his most intriguing aspect is the way that he can guard multiple positions and protect the rim come help side; He’s improved in his ability to handle and shoot the basketball on the perimeter, he is a natural athlete and plays with a good motor and he’s still oozing with potential and the ability to get better moving forward.</p> <p><strong>2) [player_tooltip player_id="815577" first="Maliq" last="Brown"] | 6’8” | Blue Ridge (#5 Overall)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/Maliq.png"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1012358" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/Maliq-300x197.png" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <p>On a national scale, there may not be anyone more under the radar than Brown who would have had a huge summer if he was able to play, but has already had some huge games for Blue Ridge early in this season. He isn’t a guy who will wow you with flash or a crazy skill set at his size, instead he’s a smooth big man that is a great athlete and knows exactly how to be the most productive player he can be. The 6’8” big is very mobile and runs the floor hard, he has terrific hands and can catch very tough passes and he’s a terrific finisher through contact and through traffic. He’s a two way impact guy that rebounds on both ends and defends well, and he’s highly efficient and productive every time he steps on the floor.</p> <p><strong>1) [player_tooltip player_id="1107821" first="Jalen" last="Reed"] | 6’8” | Oak Hill Academy (#2 Overall)</strong></p> <p>Reed is another guy who is underrated by the national services in my opinion, but with him going to Oak Hill and the way he’s played so far this season that shouldn’t continue for too much longer. At 6’8”, Reed is more of a “hybrid forward” than a true big man, as he’s a walking mismatch at his size that can guard pretty much any position on the floor and is a highly skilled offensive player that can score it from all three levels. He’s long and lean and a natural athlete that’s very mobile and explosive, he is great on the glass on both ends and is always around the basketball and he is much stronger in the paint than he looks. He’s a high major prospect that is likely to blow up as he continues to showcase his game on a national level, and he still has tons of room to get better as well.</p>