Updated 2022 Rankings: Bigs Rankings (5-1)

The updated 2022 class rankings in VA came out yesterday, and with that will come a lot of content in the next week or so! Today, we take a look at the third part of our positional bigs rankings, looking at the top five power forwards and centers. Check out the full rankings <a style="background-color: #edeef0; font-size: 1rem;" href="https://prephoops.com/virginia/rankings/2022-rankings/">here</a>, and stay tuned for more content and class rankings updates! 5) [player_tooltip player_id="1387955" first="Jaden" last="Daughtry"] | 6’6” | Benedictine (#17 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Daughtry-Jaden-Ben.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1307736" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Daughtry-Jaden-Ben-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Daughtry came back to Benedictine after a brief stint at Arizona Compass, and he’s playing his best basketball of his life for this Cadets team that has had a good turn around under first year head coach Matt Muerer. The 6’6” forward is far from a traditional big but he plays the power forward for this team, and his versatility and size at his position is what makes him so productive and effective for his team. He’s a well built forward with good strength and athleticism when he gets downhill and can finish at and above the rim through contact, he’s become a much more consistent shooter from deep and he plays with a good motor as a rebounder and when running in transition. 4) [player_tooltip player_id="798689" first="Houston" last="Emory"] | 6’10” | Blue Ridge (#15 Overall) <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> Emory is starting to get the offers and recognition he deserves after he’s dealt with some injuries over the past few years, and he’s a very intriguing prospect at his size with his mix of athleticism and skillset. He’s a defensive minded kid who likes defense and brings it in the paint as he has excellent timing and good length as a shot blocker, and he has a lot more toughness than he’s given credit for a lot. Offensively, he has good mobility and runs the floor hard., he can get out and finish above the rim or he can hit the deep ball on the trail in transition and he has good hands and good touch both in the paint and when stepping out. 3) [player_tooltip player_id="1387025" first="Elijah" last="Gray"] | 6’8” | Hargrave (#12 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/Gray-Elijah.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1380163" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/Gray-Elijah-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Gray is playing on the Hargrave post grad team despite being a senior who could still be in high school, and he’s steadily become one of their best players and showed his great versatility at the four spot as he can do a little bit of everything for his team. At 6’8” he has a strong frame and he is athletic for his size and frame, but it’s his perimeter skillset that separates him as he can step out and knock down shots, he can put it on the deck and get to the rim and all while he can bang in the paint and rebound and guard multiple positions. He’s starting to pick up offers and will be looked at heavily when they head to the National Tournament in Connecticut March 8-11. 2) [player_tooltip player_id="1387024" first="Christian" last="Reeves"] | 7’0” | Oak Hill Academy (#9 Overall) One of the most improved players in the country over the past few years, Reeves came to Oak Hill with a handful of mid major offers and now has committed to Duke as part of the top recruiting class in the country and is very intriguing long term. Standing a legitimate 7’0”, Reeves has intimidating size in the paint and good mobility to go along with it, as well as a developing skillset that should continue to get better moving forward. He’s a natural rim protector and rebounder in the paint, he has good hands and feet in the post and can score over the shoulder and step out to the elbows and he plays with a good motor on both ends of the floor. 1) [player_tooltip player_id="815577" first="Maliq" last="Brown"] | 6’8” | Blue Ridge (#4 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Brown-Maliq-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1149220" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Brown-Maliq-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Brown, who recently surpassed the 1,000 point mark despite not being known as a scorer, is one of the most versatile bigs you’ll come across on both ends of the floor and is what a lot of people believe the new age big man should play like. At 6’8”, he doesn’t move like a big man as he’s a fluid athlete who can run the floor with guards and wings, switch onto pretty much anyone and move his feet and uses his length well to defend and can catch on the perimeter and rip and go. He’s highly efficient on the offensive end as he finishes everything in the paint and picks his spots, he’s an excellent help side defender who can block shots and takes charges regularly and he’s very active and plays with a good motor on both ends of the floor. He’ll be heading to Syracuse where he should develop nicely and continue fight for early playing time with his defensive ability.