Early Season Bigs Standouts (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school season is in full swing and the Holiday tournament time is right around the corner, so we decided to take a look at some of the top performers we've seen so far this season. Here's a look at part one of the top forward performers we've seen in VA so far this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999617' first='Carter' last='Lang'] | 6'9” C | STAB '23</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1498669,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/Lang-Carter-DMV.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/Lang-Carter-DMV.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1498669" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>STAB has one of the best teams they've had in history and have ducked no smoke early playing a gauntlet of a schedule so far, and Lang has been nothing short of fantastic as a walking double-double. The Vanderbilt commit has been as consistent as they come and has had multiple big games including 16 points 17 rebounds in a loss to Word of God (NC), 25 points 15 rebounds in a win over Carmel School, 17 points 15 rebounds in a win over Landon (DC), 24 points 13 rebounds in a win over Mount Vernon (NY), 16 points 9 rebounds in a win over Miller School, 14 points 19 rebounds in a loss to Bishop O'Connell and 12 points 20 rebounds in a loss to Bullis (MD).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1159838' first='Evan' last='Ramsey'] | 6'11” C | Abingdon '23</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1302370,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Ramsey-Evan-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Ramsey-Evan-CBG.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1302370" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ramsey has also been a walking double-double this season, and now that he's fully healthy again he's been putting up huge numbers in almost every game Abingdon has played so far this year. In their first game he went for 33 points and 22 rebounds in a win over Tazewell, and since he's had games of 26 points 14 rebounds 7 blocks in a win over Chilhowie, 33 points 13 rebounds in a win over Gate City and 22 points 18 rebounds and 6 blocks in a win over Virginia High. He's been absolutely dominant this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1403962' first='David' last='King'] | 6'4” PF | Hayfield '23</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1320864,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/11/King-David.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/11/King-David.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1320864" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>King has been a rock for a Hayfield team that is on a 37 game winning streak dating back to last season, and he's been one of the most consistent producers in the NOVA area. He's a highly cerebral forward with great instincts and a high motor, and it's easy to understand when you see he's had games of 18 points in a win over Woodside, 26 points 16 rebounds in a win over Patriot and 21 points in a win over Annandale.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1483023' first='Gavin' last='O'Malley'] | 6'5” C | Tuscarora '23</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>O'Malley has been a consistent double-double for Tuscarora who is off to a very good start this season and he's been a big reason why. He's had multiple double-doubles this season including 14 points 11 rebounds in a win over Independence and 21 points and 18 rebounds in a win over Millbrook, and he's been a big reason the Huskies are sitting at 5-1 so far this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chris Fields | 6'7” PF | Petersburg '23</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1594431,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Fields-Chris-CBG-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Fields-Chris-CBG-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1594431" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fields was the Class 3 Player of the Year as a junior leading Petersburg to a state championship appearance, and while they lost some top players from last year he's still looking like one of the top players in the state. He's a super versatile scorer who can score from all over, rebounds well and has to play through double teams but is still putting up big numbers like his 20 point game against rival Hopewell.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='999623' first='Luke' last='Smith'] | 6'8” PF | Collegiate '23</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1308360,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Smith-Luke-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Smith-Luke-CBG.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1308360" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is one of the more versatile big men in the Richmond area, as he has an inside-out skill set and great feel for the game that makes him impactful in a number of different ways. He's a walking mismatch that is consistent in so many ways and has shown that this season with performances like 11 points 11 rebounds in a win over Meadowbrook, 15 points in a loss to Hermitage and 23 points 17 rebounds in a win over Banner Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->