Prep Hoops 2K21 VA Standouts (Part 1)

<p>The Prep Circuit’s final live period event took place in Indianapolis this weekend and I was there to help cover the event. The Prep Hoops 2K21 had some of the top teams from across the country, and one of them in attendance were all 3 Team Loaded VA groups. They went undefeated across the board and being one of the best programs there we had to break the standouts up into two parts. Here’s part one of the standouts.</p> <p><strong>Jayden Epps | 6’1” PG | Team Loaded VA ’22</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Epps-Jayden-2K21.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1246132" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Epps-Jayden-2K21-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Epps, who recently committed to Illinois, had himself a great weekend leading Loaded to a 5-0 record and putting on a show in multiple games. In one game against Team Teague he was matched up with another Illinois guard commit in Reggie Bass, and he won the matchup easily going for 26 points and holding Bass to just 9 in the win. He shot the basketball well from deep and in the midrange, he made plays for others and ran the show and competed on both ends of the floor.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="815588" first="Alphonzo" last="Billups"] | 6’7” WF | Team Loaded VA ’22</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Billups-Alphonzo-2K21.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1246133" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Billups-Alphonzo-2K21-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Billups had one of his best weekends of the summer in the final weekend, and he had coaches from all over following him throughout the weekend. The 6’7” wing showed his versatility as he was making plays for others off the bounce, he was aggressive offensively showing the total package and he competed on the defensive end and was great in the press. He says he’s going to announce his list of top schools here soon and he’s going to make someone very happy over the next few years.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="815577" first="Maliq" last="Brown"] | 6’8” PF | Team Loaded VA ’22</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Brown-Maliq.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1201730" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Brown-Maliq-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Brown also played his best basketball of the summer this weekend as he was active and got touches on the offensive end and showed his ability to finish in traffic and above the rim consistently. He’s mobile and athletic and runs the floor hard, he has great hands and good feet in the post and he’s unselfish and makes the right play even when he hasn’t got shots for a while. He’s a versatile defender and a high motor guy at all times too and he can play in multiple systems moving forward.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="815590" first="Kenyon" last="Giles"] | 5’9” PG | Team Loaded VA ’22</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Giles-Kenyon-Loaded.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1172949" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Giles-Kenyon-Loaded-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Giles got more time this weekend than he did over the past few weekends as Loaded didn’t have his whole team, and while he’s the smallest guy on the team he can hoop with the best of them. He’s a dynamic guard that can create space off the bounce, he’s good in pick-and-roll scenarios and he can make shots from all over off the bounce. He has great fundamentals and brings it on both ends and wherever he ends up in college he will score a lot of points for that program.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="999617" first="Carter" last="Lang"] | 6’9” C | Team Loaded VA ’23</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Lang-Carter-Loaded.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1236766" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/Lang-Carter-Loaded-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Lang finishes his already solid summer with a bang in the 2K21 as he was his usual walking double-double and impressed coaches with his strong frame and production level. He’s a big target on the block that finishes well around the rim, he showed his ability to step out and make shots and he’s an excellent passer in transition, out of the post and in high-lows. His constant motor and how hard he works on his game makes it hard to not love him as a prospect moving forward.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="992530" first="Trevor" last="Smith"] | 5’11” PG | Team Loaded VA ’23</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Smith-Trevor.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1187190" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Smith-Trevor-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Smith brought it from day one for the Loaded 16U group as he excelled both as a shot maker and a playmaker off the bounce showing what makes him one of the best guards in VA in the 2023 class. He can play on the ball and is quick off the bounce allowing him to get in the lane, and he can play off the ball because he’s a knock down shooter on the catch and on the move. He competes on both ends and made hustle and winning plays for his group all weekend long.</p>