VISAA Live Preview: VA Prospects (Part 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The June scholastic live periods are getting underway starting the weekend of June 16-18, and the DMV will be a must stop for college coaches. The annual DMV Live at DeMatha, Virginia Live Period Shootout (VISAA) and Alexandria City and the first ever VA Live by the VHSL will take place at Saint James, all within a 30 mile radius of each other.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We will take the next week or so breaking down the many prospects for coaches to take a look at in these events, and there's a TON of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at part two of the VA prospects at the Virginia Live Period Shootout we expect to make noise at the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1117676' first='Josiah' last='Rickards'] | 6'3” CG | Catholic '24</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1308381,"width":959,"height":719,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Rickards-Josiah-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Rickards-Josiah-CBG.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1308381" width="959" height="719" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rickards was a standout last year at the June live periods as a rising junior, and this year he should be a guy coaches pay close attention to as he can help a team at the next level with his all-around skillset. At 6'3” he has good size for the position and a frame that will fill out moving forward, he gets to spots effortlessly and he can score it efficiently from multiple levels and he can make plays for others as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259548' first='Brayden' last='Thorne'] | 6'1” PG | Catholic '24</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1195674,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/05/Thorne-Brayden.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/05/Thorne-Brayden.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1195674" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thorne is one of the more underrated lead guards in the 757 area, as he's a true floor general who runs the show and makes winning plays for his team. He's a strong guard who can get downhill and play through traffic, he handles pressure well and makes good reads with the ball in his hands and he can flip the switch and score it in bunches when his team needs him to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1963390' first='Kosi' last='Mgbejiofor'] | 6'10” C | Catholic '26</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1589497,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Mgbeijiofor-Kosi-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Mgbeijiofor-Kosi-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1589497" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mgbejiofor had his coming out party at the Virginia Live Shootout last year, and he backed it up his freshman season showing he's one of the top recruits in the 2026 class in the state. He is the perfect big for the new age as he's a big time athlete at his size and runs the floor like a gazelle, he's an explosive leaper who has great timing as a shot blocker and plays above the rim with authority and he still has tons of room to get better moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1483033' first='Matthew' last='Shelton'] | 6'5” WF | Evergreen Christian '24</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shelton has steadily seen his stock rise over the past couple of seasons, and he holds a handful of division one offers now and I'm sure there will be plenty of coaches going to watch him play. The 6'5” forward is an elite athlete who gets out in transition and gets downhill aggressively to finish above the rim, he is a good rebounder who can start the break and he has improved significantly on his shooting over the past few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1956065' first='Jackson' last='Britt'] | 6'3” CG | Evergreen Christian '25</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Britt is an emerging star at the emerging Evergreen program that is one of the most skilled guards you'll come across in the Nova area. He has the whole bag on the offensive end as he's shifty off the bounce and can break down defenders and touch the paint, he's a very good shooter both from deep and in the midrange, he's a crafty finisher at the basket and he makes his teammates better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1489063' first='Brandon' last='Jennings'] | 6'3” PG | St. Chris '24</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1969811,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Jennings-Brandon.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Jennings-Brandon.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1969811" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jennings is going to be heavily watched for St. Chris, as he's had a good summer with Global Squad so far and is emerging as one of the best point guards in the state. He's a long and bouncy athlete who can impress with his above the rim finishing, he plays with great pace and has great feel and decision making with the ball in his hands, he scores it from all three levels and he's an excellent defender both on the ball and in help.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->