Breakout Sophomores (Part 1)
In this article:
We recently looked at some of the players that took the junior jump this year, and sometimes it happens before the junior season and some players become go-to players during their sophomore season. This happened plenty of times this year,…
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Continue ReadingWe recently looked at some of the players that took the junior jump this year, and sometimes it happens before the junior season and some players become go-to players during their sophomore season. This happened plenty of times this year, as we take a look at part one of some of the breakout sophomores during the high school season.
Austin Williford Austin Williford 6'4" | CG Saint Anne’s Belfield | 2025 State #137 Nation VA | 6’5” WF | STAB
Williford had a good season for STAB on their run to the VISAA D1 State Championship game before losing to Paul VI, and in the state tournament he really broke out with a couple of big games where he showed his ability to fill the stat sheet across the board. The 6’5” wing is a big time athlete who can guard the other team’s best player and rebounds well, he has the ability to play on or off the ball and make shots from multiple levels in either scenario and he rebounds very well for his position on both ends of the floor.
Nate Ament Nate Ament 6'8" | SF Highland | 2025 State #12 Nation VA | 6’8” PF | Colgan
Ament has quickly become known as one of the top prospects in the NOVA area regardless of class, as many are saying his long term potential may be the most of any prospect in the class. The 6’8” forward showed his versatility this year putting up big numbers with his ability to knock down shots from deep, put it on the deck and use his size to rise up and knock down shots in the midrange and defensively he was able to alter shots and guard multiple positions as well.
Jordan Scott Jordan Scott 6'7" | SG South Lakes | 2025 State #130 Nation VA | 6’6” SG | South Lakes
Scott was perhaps the breakout player in the NOVA area this year, winning District POY and leading South Lakes to a state tournament appearance as just a sophomore. He’s still growing and now is a mismatch at this level with his size on the wing, he can move off the ball and gets set quickly to make shots from deep, he can get to spots in the paint and in the midrange to rise up and make contested shots and he showed no hesitation as the go-to guy scoring the ball as well as anyone this year.
Sebastian Whitfield Sebastian Whitfield 6'5" | SF Cape Henry | 2025 State VA | 6’6” WF | Cape Henry
While Cape Henry didn’t have as successful a season as they have in the past, Whitfield showed he’s a budding superstar for them moving forward as he came out the gates hot and quickly became their go-to scorer putting up big numbers throughout the season. He’s a big wing who can knock down shots from deep at a high clip, he gets downhill and uses his strength and athleticism to finish at the rim and get to the line often and he still is developing and has room to get better moving forward.
Cy Hardy Cy Hardy 5'11" | PG Nortide | 2025 State VA | 5’11” PG | Northside
Northside coach Bill Pope is known to let his talented young players go their sophomore season, and that’s exactly what he did this year with Hardy who was the breakout player in the Roanoke area and led Northside to a state championship this year. Hardy’s going to score a lot of points by the time his career is over as he has an advanced game with a great feel for creating shots already, he can score the ball from all over the floor off the bounce and he isn’t afraid of the big moments putting up big numbers against the best teams and in their biggest games this year.