Updated 2024 Rankings: Wings (15-6)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We recently updated our junior class rankings in the state of VA, and we will take a look at each positional ranking from guards, wings and forwards. Obviously some of these players are positionless players that can fit in multiple spots, but we did our best to categorize them based on their skillset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at part two of the top shooting guards and small forwards in the new rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15) [player_tooltip player_id='1259632' first='Zekhi' last='Darden'] | 6'5” SF | King's Fork (#35 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1195673,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/05/Darden-Zekhi.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/05/Darden-Zekhi.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1195673" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Darden is a very intriguing prospect on a very good King's Fork team that sometimes gets overlooked, but his physical and athletic tools are something you can't ignore. At 6'5” he has great size on the wing and is an explosive leaper that can play above the rim, he is a good rebounder and has the ability to defend multiple positions and he's improved a lot in his ability to knock down open shots from deep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>14) [player_tooltip player_id='1489070' first='Danzelle' last='Coles'] | 6'4” SG | Highland Springs (#33 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1602909,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Coles-Danzelle-CBG-1-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Coles-Danzelle-CBG-1-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1602909" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coles is one of the best scoring guards in the Richmond area, as he has the ability to play on or off the basketball and he can fill it up in different ways and in bunches. He's a streaky shooter but when he gets it going he can knock them down in succession and take over games, he can handle it and has a good crossover to get in the lane and when he gets downhill he can find contact and finish through it well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>13) [player_tooltip player_id='1489071' first='Kolier' last='Pruett'] | 6'4” SG | Narrows (#32 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pruett is one of the best players in Class 1 and in SWVA, and he's a two sport star who is getting recruited heavily on the football field already too. The 6'4” wing is a big time athlete who can get out in transition or get downhill and finish above the rim, he's a very good shooter who has good range and can light it up from deep and he can put it on the deck and create for himself and others off the bounce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>12) [player_tooltip player_id='1259838' first='Paul' last='Jones'] | 6'3” SG | Churchland (#30 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1602908,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Jones-Paul-CBG-1-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Jones-Paul-CBG-1-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1602908" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones has been one of the top scorers in the 757 all year long, putting up big numbers in multiple games and he has an all-around bag as a scorer. He is a big time athlete who plays above the rim and is an explosive finisher, he shoots it well from deep and in the midrange off the pull-up and he plays at a different cadence than most and it makes him hard to guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>11) [player_tooltip player_id='1489067' first='Jordan' last='Watlington'] | 6'5” SF | Menchville (#29 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1478655,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/Watlington-Jordan.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/Watlington-Jordan.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1478655" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watlington may get overlooked a little bit due to the talented senior class at Menchville, but he's a very intriguing prospect with a lot of tools moving forward. At 6'5” he's a big time athlete who gets up and down the floor and can do so with or without the ball in his hands, he can play and guard multiple positions with his versatility at his size and he plays with a high motor that makes him a good rebounder and defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10) [player_tooltip player_id='1489063' first='Brandon' last='Jennings'] | 6'3” SG | St. Christopher's (#28 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1531282,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Jennings-Brandon-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Jennings-Brandon-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1531282" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In my opinion, Jennings might be a little too low for this list and I'd have him labeled as a point guard as he has terrific feel and playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. At 6'3” he has good positional size and is a good athlete who can finish around the rim, he plays with good pace and changes speeds and directions well, he can score the ball in different ways and he is an excellent playmaker in pick-and-rolls and when he gets in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9) [player_tooltip player_id='1489060' first='Alejandro' last='Ford'] | 6'5” SF | Woodberry Forest (#22 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1421107,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/Ford-Alejandro-Head-Shot.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/Ford-Alejandro-Head-Shot.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1421107" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ford is a prospect that coaches should start to monitor now going into the AAU season, because he has a chance to really take off with his blend of size and talent at the position. The 6'5” wing has a good frame that should continue to fill out moving forward, he can shoot it well from deep and get to spots in the midrange and he's an unselfish teammate who makes the right play on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8) [player_tooltip player_id='1759704' first='My'Kel' last='Jenkins'] | 6'5” WF | Woodside (#21 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1246216,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Jenkins-Mykel.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/Jenkins-Mykel.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1246216" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jenkins makes his debut in the updated rankings after moving to Woodside from North Carolina, and he's a super talented wing who can do a little bit of everything on the floor. At his size he's able to play on the basketball and get to spots off the bounce and scores it well from all three levels, he's a good athlete who can play above the rim and has good tools on the defensive end, he's a good rebounder and he has natural talent and the ability to take over games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7) [player_tooltip player_id='1489035' first='Markus' last='Robinson'] | 6'3” SG | Blue Ridge (#20 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1461892,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/Robinson-Markus.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/Robinson-Markus.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1461892" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Robinson is one of the most talented shot makers in the class, and he's able to score the ball in bunches without being a black hole on the offensive end. He has great footwork and gets into his shot with fluidity off the catch, he can use different fakes to create space, he can handle the ball and get to spots where he can hit the pull-up and he gets to the line often where he converts at a very high clip.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6) Elijah Kelly | 6'7” SF | Radford (#16 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1741990,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Kelly-Elijah.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/Kelly-Elijah.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1741990" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kelly has been a super intriguing prospect since he was a freshman at Radford, and he's starting to put it all together and turn that potential into production now. He's grown a few inches to 6'7” and has very long arms, and he's versatile at his size with good ball skills on the perimeter and the ability to guard multiple positions. He can handle the ball and get in the lane where he can finish or make plays for others, he can knock down shots from deep and he can protect the rim and rebound as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->