Updated 2023 Rankings: Bigs Rankings (15-6)

The updated 2023 class rankings in VA came out last week, and with that will come a lot of content in the next week or so! Today, we take a look at part 2 of the power forwards and centers, ranking numbers 15-6. Check out the full rankings <a href="https://prephoops.com/virginia/rankings/2023-rankings/">here</a>, and stay tuned for more content and class rankings updates! 15) [player_tooltip player_id="999660" first="Dylan" last="Saunders"] | 6’8” C | Cave Spring (#60 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Saunders-Dylan.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1161642" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Saunders-Dylan-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Saunders was a big reason for Cave Spring’s run to yet another state championship in the VHSL Class 3 classification, and his versatility at his size is something you don’t often find in the Roanoke area. At 6’8”, he has good touch around the rim and out to the three-point line, he’s patient in the post and a good passer and is unselfish and he’s a very good rebounder and shot blocker as well. 14) [player_tooltip player_id="1403924" first="Efe" last="Sekeroglu"] | 6’10” | VES (#57 Overeall) Sekeroglu transferred to VES as one of their international transfers, and while it took him a little while to get used to the speed and style of the game here he shows a lot of potential moving forward with his inside-out style of play. He can post and has good footwork and post moves, he can play on the perimeter where he can make shots and is a good passer and he has great length allowing him to finish and protect the rim. 13) [player_tooltip player_id="999635" first="Josh" last="Sime"] | 6’8” | Western Albemarle (#46 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/Sime-Josh.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1136764" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/Sime-Josh-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Sime is one of the top public school players in the Charlottesville area, and he has shown a lot of improvement as well as played well against some very good competition over his career. At 6’8” he has good bounce around the rim and can finish above the rim and protect the rim defensively, he runs the floor well and is mobile and he has the ability to step out and face up in the midrange as well as knock down the three ball. 12) [player_tooltip player_id="1241925" first="Paul" last="Williams"] | 6’9” | Walsingham (#45 Overall) Williams had a monster year at Walsingham putting up huge numbers in the TCIS and is a very intriguing prospect for high academic schools as he’s on track to be valedictorian at one of the top academic schools in the 757. He’s a good athlete who also is a star baseball player and he uses that athleticism to block shots and play above the rim, he plays with a good motor and with his massive size he’s an intimidating presence in the paint. 11) [player_tooltip player_id="1403921" first="Carter" last="Lawrence"] | 6’7” | Potomac School (#40 Overall) Lawrence transferred to Potomac School where he reclassified and had a monster junior season helping them to the state tournament and getting a few wins as well. The 6’7” forward is extremely versatile as he can play on the perimeter and in the midrange where he can knock down shots and make good passes, he can put it on the deck and is an athletic finisher around the rim and he has a mix of toughness and savvy you don’t find in many players. 10) [player_tooltip player_id="1107851" first="Owen" last="Gray"] | 6’9” | Steward School (#39 Overall) Gray is as intriguing as they come as he isn’t as known as some of the other prospects on this list but he has a lot of potential moving forward with his size, athleticism and skill set. At 6’9” he runs like a gazelle and gets up and down the floor and can finish above the rim with ease, he can knock down shots from the midrange and can put it on the deck and attack the rim from the high post, he’s a good rebounder and he plays with great energy on both ends of the floor. 9) [player_tooltip player_id="815581" first="David" last="Solomon"] | 6’8” | VA Academy (#35 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/David-Solomon.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1029188" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/David-Solomon-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Solomon transfered to VA Academy and reclassified to the 2023 class, and he’s one of the most physically dominant bigs you’ll come across in the state. At 6’8” he’s built like an NFL lineman and has great strength in the paint and can create space to finish through contact, he’s surprisingly mobile for his size as he can run the floor and has good quickness in the paint, he has good hands and feet in the paint and he brings good toughness and physicality to his team. 8) [player_tooltip player_id="999645" first="Patrick" last="O’Brien"] | 6’9” | Highland School (#26 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/OBrien-Patrick.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1341064" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/OBrien-Patrick-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> O’Brien is a part of a young Highland front line that is chock full of potential and helped his team to the state championship game before falling to Blue Ridge, and the steady improvement he’s shown over the past few years is very encouraging moving forward. He’s always been very tall and he’s starting to fill out and become stronger, he has good touch both in the paint and out to the three-point line, he gets off of the floor well and can play above the rim and he continues to become more fluid and improve in his timing as well. 7) [player_tooltip player_id="999623" first="Luke" last="Smith"] | 6’8” | Collegiate (#22 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Smith-Luke-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1308360" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Smith-Luke-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Smith is perhaps the most skilled big on this list, as he has some guard skills in his size but also is able to go in the paint and score it with his back to the basket as well. He has gotten a lot stronger to bang in the post and he has great footwork and touch with both hands in the paint,;he can play on the perimeter as he shoot, pass and put it on the deck to get to spots; and he’s a very smart player who puts himself in positions to get it done on both ends of the floor. 6) [player_tooltip player_id="1159838" first="Evan" last="Ramsey"] | 7’0” | Abingdon (#21 Overall) <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Ramsey-Evan-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1302370" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Ramsey-Evan-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Ramsey isn’t from a big market as he’s from the southwest corner of the state, but he’s chock full of potential at his size with a good skill set and when he keeps putting it all together he’s going to be very good. He has good strength in the paint and he can bang in the post and protect the rim, he has soft touch around the rim with both hands and is efficient in the paint, he can step out and knock down shots and has improved in that a lot and once he grows into his body and becomes more mobile he’ll be able to get a lot of things done on the court.