Updated 2024 Rankings: Centers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We recently updated our class of 2024 rankings in the state of VA, and now that we have we'll give you our positional rankings and look at what makes these prospects worthy of being recognized. Here's a look at the center rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5) [player_tooltip player_id='1423731' first='Brenden' last='Ahlers'] | 6'7” Osbourn (WL)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ahlers makes the watch list for this set of rankings but I wouldn't be surprised to see him move up quite a bit in our next rankings if he is consistently productive for an Osbourn team that's on the up-and-up. The 6'7” big man is long and moves well for his size, he thrives in the mid-post area where he can knock down shots off the catch and fadeaway and showed a good jump hook and he's an excellent passer who is patient in the post and makes good decisions when he's doubled.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4) [player_tooltip player_id='1260003' first='Reece' last='Ketron'] | 6'9” Abingon (#47 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ketron is a gem in the Southwest corner of the state who is still relatively unknown but could end up on the radar of coaches here soon. At 6'9” he is a massive man in the paint who is intimidating and clogs the lane so driving guards struggle to score, he has become much more mobile and is able to get up and down better now, he's super patient in the post and is an exceptional passer and he has soft touch in the paint and out to the elbows and at the free throw line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3) [player_tooltip player_id='1489069' first='Billy' last='Koudelka'] | 6'10” VES (#27 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Koudelka is a project at the moment but the way he moves at his size if it starts to click for him it's going to surprised a lot of people. He was a standout lacrosse player before a growth spurt made him focus on basketball, he's a fluid athlete who runs well and is a good leaper who can get on the glass and protect the rim and he shows good coordination he just needs more reps and experience with the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2) [player_tooltip player_id='1107851' first='Owen' last='Gray'] | 6'10” Steward School (#13 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1581476,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Gray-Owen-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Gray-Owen-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1581476"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gray recently reclassified to the 2024 class and it looks like that's what he needed to do as the 6'10” big man has seen his stock skyrocket and he has become an absolute force and has looked great this fall. At 6'10” he moves extremely well running the floor hard and he's an explosive leaper and finisher above the rim, he has shown good touch out to the three-point line and defensively he's starting to figure out how to use his length and athleticism to stay in front and contest shots of both bigs and guards as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1) [player_tooltip player_id='1259622' first='Shanon' last='Simango'] | 6'7” Blue Ridge (#11 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1585826,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Simango-Shanon-CBG-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Simango-Shanon-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1585826"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simango is really starting to come into his own after this summer and fall where he's been very impressive and productive almost every time I've seen him. The 6'7” big man may be a little undersized but he doesn't play that way as he has long arms and good strength in the paint to rebound and contest shots, he plays with a very high motor getting after it on both ends and never giving up on a play and he finishes everything in the paint and gets his team a lot of second chance opportunities. He's a walking double-double that can put up big numbers almost every time he's on the floor and continues to improve every time we see him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->