Updated 2023 Rankings: Bigs Rankings (25-16)

<p>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!</p> <p>Today, we take a look at part 1 of the power forwards and small centers, ranking numbers 25-16.</p> <p>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!</p> <p><strong><span class="s2">25) [player_tooltip player_id="1403959" first="Josiah" last="Banks"] | 6’4” | Ronaoke Catholic (#96 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Banks-Josiah.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1018991" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Banks-Josiah-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Banks transferred to Catholic from Floyd County and reclassified, and was a big reason for them to make the VISAA D3 state semifinals for the first time. The 6’4” forward is versatile and has a lot of potential as he can play inside-out, he can score it from deep and put it on the deck and is an athletic finisher, he can guard and play multiple positions and he can impact the game in many different ways on both ends of the floor.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">24) [player_tooltip player_id="962810" first="Gibraltar" last="Coleman"] | 6’6” | Flint Hill (#88 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Coleman was a new addition after transferring to Flint Hill and reclassifying, and he is very intriguing as he is a versatile scorer at his size and is a tough matchup for anyone. He’s a strong big man who can create space in the paint and rebound and finish through traffic, he can step out and face up and play out to the three-point line and with the skill set it’s very tough to find someone to guard him with his inside-out ability.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">23) [player_tooltip player_id="999634" first="Kaiden" last="Swortzel"] | 6’5” | Floyd County (#86 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Swortzel-Kaiden-CHMF.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1364060" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Swortzel-Kaiden-CHMF-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">While Swortzel is a little undersized as a big man, he’s incredibly productive and plays within his game all the time and always brings it against the best of the best. The 6’5” forward is a strong and high motor kid who knows how to create space in the paint and is able to finish at the rim and through contact, he has great hands and footwork in the paint and finishes everything when he has position, he rebounds well and he’s an excellent help side defender who takes charges and challenges shots.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s2">22) Darrell Johnson | 6’6” | Fairfax Christian (#81 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Johnson-Darryl.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1316245" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Johnson-Darryl-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Johnson is another very versatile big man who has a mix of strength, athleticism and skill set that makes him hard to match up with and allows him to impact the game in a number of different ways. He can post up and score in the paint over the shoulder, he can put it on the deck and drive in straight lines, he can knock down the midrange jumper and he rebounds and defends against players much bigger than him too.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">21) [player_tooltip player_id="1241884" first="Elijah" last="Mitchell"] | 6’5” | William Fleming (#77 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Elijah-Mitchell12-1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1209038" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Elijah-Mitchell12-1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Mitchell is one of the most productive players in the Roanoke area and is a big reason that Fleming has become a formidable contender in the state. While he’s more of a big because of his skill set and the position he plays, he’s a pretty positionless guy as he can guard multiple positions, he’s very athletic and strong and plays in transition and can step out and play on the perimeter and he has this toughness and high motor that makes him very productive in a number of ways.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">20) [player_tooltip player_id="979321" first="Ethan" last="Ward"] | 6’6” | Landstown (#72 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">When it comes to high motor players who play hard on both ends of the floor, there may not be a player in the state who can match Ward with his energy in every way when he’s on the floor. He’s always running the floor and sprinting in transition or back on defense, he’s a strong player who rebounds and plays through contact, he’s improved his hands and touch and is very good from the free throw line and he makes an impact every time he’s on the floor in ways that show up and don’t show up on the stat sheet.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">19) [player_tooltip player_id="1241881" first="Brett" last="Dent"] | 6’8” | LC Bird (#68 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Dent is a player who could have a breakout summer and shoot up this list, as he’s continuously improved for the Skyhawks and was a big reason they were so successful this season as their big off the bench. The 6’8” big is still growing into his body but he has a great frame and good mobility to go along with it, he rebounds and defends the paint well and he does all the little stuff to help his team win on both ends of the floor.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">18) [player_tooltip player_id="1241879" first="Christian" last="Greenlaw"] | 6’6” | Woodside (#65 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Greenlaw may be a little undersized for a 4-5 man, but he’s extremely explosive and makes big plays on both ends fo the floor using his strength and athleticism. The 6’6” big is very strong and isn’t afraid to be physical in the paint, he’s very athletic off of two feet as he can catch or rebound in the paint and explode off two feet to finish above the rim and as he continues to learn how to play he has a lot of tools to improve moving froward.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">17) [player_tooltip player_id="1241878" first="Will" last="Bonde"] | 6’7” | Miller School (#64 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Bonde is the typical stretch four man, as the 6’7” forward is more comfortable playing on the perimeter than in the paint but it makes him a tough matchup for teams when game planning for the Mavs this year. He’s a knock down shooter with great size on the perimeter to get looks and knock it down, he has a good IQ and takes good shots and makes the right play consistently and he can make plays for others as well.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">16) [player_tooltip player_id="1117680" first="Josh" last="Hughes"] | 6’6” | Benedictine (#61 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Hughes is a young big man that has grown both physically and within his game, and it looks like he’s starting to put it all together as he’s becoming a good all-around big. He has good hands and feet in the post and back-to-the-basket moves, he plays with a good motor and uses his physicality and he’s a good athlete who can protect the rim and run the floor as well.</span></p>