757 Breakout Player Candidates
With the summer coming to an end and we start to look forward to the next high school season, we’ll be doing way too early preview content based on what we’ve seen over the summer. This series will take a…
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Continue ReadingWith the summer coming to an end and we start to look forward to the next high school season, we’ll be doing way too early preview content based on what we’ve seen over the summer. This series will take a look at some juniors and sophomores that could be breakout players in the different areas of the state.
Today, we take a look at six players in the 757 that could take the biggest leaps in production and be considered among the top players in the area.
Ben Nacey | 6’7” C | Cox 2024
Nacey really started to come on late last season for Cox, and the way he played this summer with Wave Basketball Club he has to be considered one of the favorites for Beach District Player of the Year as he will be a walking double-double with few bigs in the district to matchup with him. He has great hands and feet in the paint and buries guys deep to get good position, he has soft touch around the rim and he cleans up on the glass on both ends of the floor.
Paul Jones | 6’2” WG | Churchland 2024
Jones is already known as one of the top players in the Portsmouth area and he’ll have an opportunity to be the go-to guy this year at Churchland and can impact the game in a number of different ways. He’s long and smooth athlete and can defend and rebounds well for his position, he can stick it from deep consistently and works well off of screens and he can create shots for himself and others off the bounce.
Isaiah Fuhrmann | 6’5” WF | Nansemond-Suffolk 2024
Fuhrmann is coming off of a big summer with Team Push 16U and his continued evolvement as a player gives him a good chance to really come on and have a productive junior season at NSA.The 6’5” wing has great size and athleticism to make an impact on both ends of the floor, he has shown he ability to be a very good shooter from deep and he can attack downhill and finish above the rim and he’s a mismatch at the high school level that can play multiple positions.
Zekhi Darden | 6’5” F | King’s Fork 2024
Darden has been a part of the King’s Fork rotation the past couple of years, but the reason I think he can have a big breakout junior year is because he’s going to slide into the spot of Norfolk State freshman George Beale who was one of the most productive players in the 757 and in the state as a whole last year. Darden’s a versatile and athletic forward who can play above the rim and plays with a good motor, he can guard almost every position on the floor and he has a budding skill set that includes the ability to knock down shots and attack the rim or clean up on the glass.
Kareem Stagg | 6’7” PF | Oscar Smith 2025
Stagg started as a freshman at Oscar Smith and played very well showing he’s one of the elite rim protectors I’ve seen at his age and this summer he showed he’s adding to his game offensively and has grown as well. The 6’7” forward moves extremely well as he’s fluid athlete with a good vertical and he’s quick off his feet, he has shown improved touch out to the midrange and has added to his post skillset, he’s a menace in transition who can run with guards and wings and he’s a big time help side defender and rebounder as well.
Sebastian Whitfield | 6’5” WF | Cape Henry 2025
Whitfield got some time off the bench for Cape Henry last season but they were a super senior ladened group, and now with their top scorers leaving Whitfield has shown this summer he’s a guy who could slide in and become a go-to scoring option for them. At 6’5” he has an advanced body and athleticism for his age, he can knock down shots from deep consistently and continues to improve in his ability to create off the bounce and when he needs to go score the ball he can do it in a number of different ways.