Updated 2022 Rankings: New Faces (Part 1)

As we updated our new junior class rankings, we added over 40 new names to the list. There were quite a few reasons for the influx of new names, the biggest one being that we extended the rankings from 75 to 125 prospects, but we also had guys transfer in, guys transfer out, new names emerge and as always, we also just flat out forgot some guys which I’m sure we did in this one as well. Regardless, we will take a look at the new names in our rankings, starting with part one featuring 9 guys we have added from the last rankings. [player_tooltip player_id="1107820" first="MJ" last="Rice"] | 6’6” SF | Oak Hill Academy (#1 Overall) Rice transferred to Oak Hill from Raleigh, NC and has already made a huge impact for the nationally ranked team as he has assumed the role as the go-to guy and leader as just a junior. A consensus top 20 prospect nationally, Rice has a mix of skill, size and IQ to the game that makes him very tough to guard, along with his above average athleticism as well. He’s a three-level scorer that can work off the ball to get open or create space in isolation situations, he can make plays for others with his vision and unselfishness and he’s a good rebounder at his position as well. [player_tooltip player_id="1107821" first="Jalen" last="Reed"] | 6’8” PF | Oak Hill Academy (#2 Overall) Reed is another big time transfer to Oak Hill that has shown he deserves to be in the conversation for the national rankings as well. A versatile 6’8” forward, Reed is the perfect new age big man that is long and athletic enough to play around the basketball but is nimble and skilled enough to play on the perimeter on both ends as well. He has good touch out to the three-point line and can face up and put it on the deck, he can guard multiple positions and he’s very athletic and has a ton of upside [player_tooltip player_id="1107822" first="Justyn" last="Fernandez"] | 6’4” CG | Virginia Episcopal School (#15 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Fernandez-Justyn.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1025482" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Fernandez-Justyn-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Fernandez joins the 2022 rankings after announcing he would transfer from Monacan in Chesterfield to VES in Lynchburg and reclassify to the 2022 class. He’s a late bloomer who showed potential as a young player, but has grown into his body and developed his game nicely to where he’s caught the eye of division one coaches, and should blow up now that he’s taking another year to develop. He has great size as a combo guard and is shifty off the bounce, he’s able to score off the bounce at multiple levels and create for himself and others in isolation situations and he’s an athletic finisher that can play above the rim as well. [player_tooltip player_id="1107823" first="Miles" last="Webb"] | 6’7” PF | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes (#17 Overall) <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> Webb is another guy who reclassified to the 2022 class and he had a terrific summer and fall that has his stock ready to explode moving forward. While he played sparingly for a team that won the state championship two years ago and lost in the state championship last year, the long 6’7” forward should get more opportunities to show what he can do moving forward, and his versatility makes him very intriguing. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions on the perimeter and in the paint and he can challenge shots at the rim, he has good feel on both ends, plays with a high motor and has a budding skillset that allows him to be a mismatch with his ability to do a lot of things all over the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="1107824" first="James" last="Patterson"] | 6’5” SG | Carmel School (#22 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Patterson-James-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1082505" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Patterson-James-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Patterson is another reclass kid who is set to see his stock take off, as he is my choice for breakout player in the Richmond area this year and has already got off to a fantastic start at Carmel School. The 6’5” wing has prototypical size on the perimeter, he’s able to handle it and create shots and he’s an athletic and strong finisher around the rim. He can knock down shots from deep with consistency, he’s a good defender and rebounder and he brings it on both ends every time he steps on the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="1107825" first="Carmelo" last="Pacheco"] | 6’4” SG | Spotswood (#24 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/0-1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1071064" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/0-1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Pacheco is a guy who was left out because we simply hadn’t seen him, but after he was the only sophomore to earn All State honors in Class 3 last year it was obvious we needed to take a look at him. Pacheco is extremely intriguing with his size and ability to shoot it from deep at a high clip, but it’s the way he’s improved defensively and in his ball handling that has me thinking he’s going to continue to get better moving forward. He’s a high IQ and hard working kid with a frame that should fill out nicely, and the fact that he’s a dead eye shooter will have a lot of coaches loving him. [player_tooltip player_id="1107826" first="Cole" last="Webster"] | 6’7” PF | Smith Mountain Lake Christian (#30 Overall) A new name for the Virginia scene, Webster transferred to the small school outside of Lynchburg from California and made a big splash in the fall in numerous events. A highly skilled 6’7” forward that can play inside-out, Webster is a walking mismatch that can handle it and make shots from deep and is athletic and long enough to rebound and bang in the post. He’s someone we need to watch more of but he’s clearly very talented and has a great frame that should fill out nicely. [player_tooltip player_id="1107827" first="Devin" last="Caesar"] | 6’0” CG | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes (#31 Overall) Caesar joins an SSSAS that has had a lot of success in the past few years but needs to replace a lot of talent that left, and he’s a guy who should come in and make an immediate impact at the guard position. The 6’0” combo is a dynamic scoring guard that has a mix of athleticism and skill set that offsets his size and allows him to score it in bunches. He can shoot it from deep with consistency, he’s a competitor that brings it on both ends and he’s so tough to contain off the bounce he’s able to break down defenses with ease. [player_tooltip player_id="1107828" first="Zion" last="Russell"] | 6’0” CG | Hargrave (#32 Overall) Russell announced he was going to reclassify after he transferred to Hargrave from Georgetown Prep last year, and will have a chance to play on the post grad team next year. An hyper athletic combo guard that plays way above the rim at just 6’0”, he’s an explosive guy with a quick first step and can use his athleticism to make energy plays on both ends of the floor. He’s someone who can work off the basketball as well as he shoots the basketball at a high clip from deep, and he still has plenty of room to grow moving forward.