Updated 2024 Rankings: Guards (5-1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We recently updated our class of 2024 rankings in the state of Virginia, with a lot of new faces and movement throughout the rankings. The rankings consist of 155 prospects, making it the most in depth rankings in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We will take a look at the rankings by position over the next few days. Here's a look at the top 5 point and combo guards in the junior class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1489063' first='Brandon' last='Jennings'] | 6'3” PG | St. Christopher's (#18 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1939524,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Brandon-Jennings.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Brandon-Jennings.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1939524" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jennings was a breakout player in the Richmond area the past year, and he holds a handful of division one offers with a chance to get more playing on the UA Circuit with Global Squad. His rise started last summer with Team Push, where coaches saw his mix of size, athleticism and playmaking ability at the point guard position. He has a quick first step and changes speeds well off the bounce allowing him to get in the paint, where he has great vision along with long arms and explosive leaping ability to finish above the rim. He picks his spots and scores it well from multiple levels, he sees the floor and catches defenses in rotation and he has a high IQ and good feel on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4) [player_tooltip player_id='1259544' first='Damon' last='Thompson'] | 6'1” PG | John Marshall (#16 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1589467,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Thompson-Damon-CBG-scaled-crop-1920x1261-1663347102.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Thompson-Damon-CBG-scaled-crop-1920x1261-1663347102.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1589467" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson had a breakout junior season for John Marshall who was one of the top teams in the country, and he won many accolades including First Team All Metro, First Team All State and was named MVP of the Chick-Fil A Classic. Thompson is a score first guard who is crafty and shifty off the bounce, he scores it from all three levels and is very good at creating space and making tough shots from multiple levels. He's able to make plays for others once he gets it going, and he can get hot quickly and fill it up in bunches. He holds 11 division one offers and his stock continues to rise with his stellar play on the 3SSB Circuit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3) [player_tooltip player_id='1702423' first='Dontae' last='Russo-Nance'] | 6'4” CG | Oak Hill Academy (#15 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1703012,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/E6D24132-5459-4FBB-B7F4-63B8D3FE9EC8.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/E6D24132-5459-4FBB-B7F4-63B8D3FE9EC8.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1703012" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The New Zealand native is one of the most purely talented players in the country, as he's played professionally in the NBL and has been one of the top young players in Australia/New Zealand before coming to Oak Hill last year. While he struggled a little with transitioning to the play over here, its easy to see why he's drawing interest from some of the top programs in the country. The 6'4” combo is a big guard who is highly skilled as he can score the ball from all over the floor, he's excellent in the pick-and-roll, he makes plays for others and he's a very good rebounder and finisher too. He picked up a number of high major offers before the season and has plenty of them tracking him now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2) [player_tooltip player_id='1259542' first='Ben' last='Hammond'] | 5'10” PG | Paul VI (#7 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1692760,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/Screen-Shot-2022-12-12-at-5.48.45-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/Screen-Shot-2022-12-12-at-5.48.45-PM.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1692760" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hammond was the floor general for a PVI team that was one of the top teams in the country, qualifying for the GEICO Nationals and playing against some of the top competition in the country. He's the perfect guard to run the show for their super talented group, as he's a tone setter on both ends of the floor and can create for himself and others with his quickness off the bounce. He has a quick first step and blazing speed in transition, he has natural vision and can fit passes in tight spaces, he finishes over bigger defenders easily and he has improved a lot in his ability to score it from deep off the catch and off the bounce. He holds 9 division one offers and has shown he can impact the game in winning ways across the board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1)[player_tooltip player_id='1131770' first='Christian' last='Anderson'] | 6'0” PG | Oak Hill Academy (#5 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1213685,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/06/20210607_155936-rotated.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/06/20210607_155936-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1213685" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anderson announced he's transferring to Oak Hill from The Lovett School in his hometown of Atlanta, where he's shown he's one of the top players in one of the most fertile areas of high school basketball prospects. The 6'0” guard may not look very intimidating, but he can flat out dominate games and is one of the most well-rounded guards in the country. He plays with great pace as he handles it on a string and changes speeds and directions well, he scores the ball off the bounce effortlessly and is a nightmare to guard in isolation situations and he is an excellent playmaker who sets the tone on both ends of the floor. He excels in the pick-and-roll and makes great reads off of it, and he controls the game and rarely gets sped up. He is already committed to Michigan and is the #123 ranked prospect in the country by 247.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->