NOVA Breakout Player Candidates
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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 Northern VA that could take the biggest leaps in production and be considered among the top players in the area.
Miles Franklin Miles Franklin 6'6" | SF St Andrews Episcopal | 2025 State MD | 6’4” SF | Madison 2024
Franklin has had a great summer with the NOVA Cavs where he showed elite athleticism and a budding offensive skillset that will make him very impactful in a number of different ways for his Madison team. The 6’4” wing has a good frame with long arms and is an explosive leaper in transition and when he can get downhill, he can drive in straight lines and get to the rim well, he’s a good rebounder and defender as well with a good motor and he is improving in his consistency to knock down shots from deep.
Blake Neal Blake Neal 6'6" | PF St. Stephen's & St. Agnes | 2024 State VA | 6’5” PF | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes 2024
Neal transferred to SSSAS from PVI where he will reclassify to the 2024 class and is in a situation where he can impact the game with his high motor and also continue to develop his skillset for the next level as well. The 6’5” forward is a mismatch as he can put it on the deck in transition and get downhill to finish, he attacks the offensive glass hard and gets extra opportunities and he brings it on both ends of the floor and can guard multiple positions as well.
Jason Penn Jason Penn 6'2" | PG Marshall | 2024 State VA | 5’11” PG | Marshall 2024
Penn is one of the best young point guards in the NOVA public school system and the way he’s looked this summer he should have a very good junior season this year on a talented Marshall team. He’s a super shifty guard with a tight handle and he changes speeds and has good burst to get in the lane at will, he has good playmaking ability with vision and the ability to fit passes in tight windows, he controls the tempo and sets the tone on both ends of the floor and he can create both scoring opportunities in both isolation and pick-and-roll situations.
Chancellor Perkins Chancellor Perkins 6'2" | SG Highland | 2025 State VA | 6’2” WG | Highland School 2024
Perkins will transfer to Highland School where he’ll have the opportunity to be a go-to scorer this year as they’re in a rebuild mode and he’s coming off of a good season where he showed a lot of promise. The 6’2” off guard can get to spots off of screens and moves well off the ball where he can set his feet and let it fly, he can get to spots off the bounce where he can make shots in the midrange and around the rim and he has shown a lot of improvement over the past few years.
Jordan Scott Jordan Scott 6'7" | SG South Lakes | 2025 State #130 Nation VA | 6’5” WF | South Lakes 2025
Scott showed flashes as one of the top young players in the NOVA area last season with South Lakes, and after his showing this summer with VA Elite it seems clear that he will be one of the top players in NOVA public schools next year. The 6’5” wing already has great size to get his shot off and rebound and make plays defensively, he can really shoot it well from deep with a quick release and effortless range and he just has the natural knack to fill it up in bunches from multiple levels.
Shane Lincoln Shane Lincoln 6'4" | PG Bishop O'Connell | 2025 State VA | 6’4” CG | Bishop O’Connell 2025
O’Connell will be a very young team, especially in the backcourt, but their youth showed a lot of flashes of talent in the DMV Live sessions and Lincoln looks like he’s ready to take a much bigger role this season. The 6’4” combo has great length and is able to play either guard position, he can put it on the deck and get to spots and he gets in the lane easily to make plays and he seems like he’s just scratching the surface and will get better and better as the season moves on.