Updated 2024 Rankings: Guards (15-6)
We recently updated our 2024 class rankings for Virginia heading into the season, and we have a lot of new faces and movement in the class. Heading into their senior year, we have a good understanding of this class and…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWe recently updated our 2024 class rankings for Virginia heading into the season, and we have a lot of new faces and movement in the class. Heading into their senior year, we have a good understanding of this class and the depth of talent. However, there will always be omissions and debates regarding placement among the rankings.
Here’s a look at part two of the guards rankings, looking at some of the top point and combo guards in the class.
15) Jayden A Johnson | 6’1” CG | Tuscarora (#45 Overall)
Johnson has become one of the top guards in the NOVA area over the past few years, and he’s the type of guard who can impact the game in so many different ways. He’s a tone setter on the defensive end who is a great point of attack on ball defender, he is slippery off the bounce with a tight handle and good burst to get into the lane, he scores the ball off the bounce from all three levels and he makes others better with his passing ability too.
14) Kris Tiller | 6’0” PG | Glen Allen (#37 Overall)
Tiller was one of the top scorers in the Richmond area the last year, and he has had a huge fall showing he’ll continue that and will have a big senior season for a good Glen Allen team. Tiller is a natural scorer who can create space off the bounce and get to spots using his handle, he makes tough shots from deep and in the midrange, he’s a crafty finisher around the basket and he is excellent in pick-and-rolls as a scorer.
13) Malik Johnson | 6’4” PG | Hampton (#36 Overall)
Johnson returns to the 757 after a one year stint at Massanutten on their post grad team, and he will be one of the top guards in the area this year as he has improved a lot over the last year. Coming off a big summer, Johnson is a downhill attacking guard who has good burst and wiggle off the bounce, he’s a strong finisher through contact, makes good reads off the bounce and has shown improvement in his ability to make shots as well.
12) Deandre Cowan Jr. | 6’2” CG | Hargrave (#32 Overall)
Cowan is set up for a big senior season for a Hargrave team that is very talented and looking to make another run to the state tournament this year. The Georgia native has a great frame and is athletic and strong when he gets downhill, he makes tough shots from all over the floor and has takeover ability as a scorer and he can set the tone defensively too.
11) Kye Robinson | 6’1” PG | Alexandria City (#31 Overall)
Robinson has been one of the top guards in NOVA over the past few years, and he’s coming off a big summer with AKT and is set up for a huge senior season this year. The 6’1” lead guard has floor general qualities as a playmaker who makes good reads and touches the paint regularly, he’s a good shooter who can make shots off the catch and off the bounce and he makes winning plays on both ends of the floor.
10) Kennard Wyche Jr. | 5’8” PG | Varina (#27 Overall)
Wyche is the reigning VHSL Class 4 Player of the Year and has led Varina to back-to-back state championships, and he is one of the best lead guards in the state hands down. He’s a tenacious on ball defender that can guard the length of the floor and has good hands to pick pockets, he is crafty off the bounce changing speeds and drawing contact often, he can score the ball off the bounce from all three levels and he is an excellent playmaker as well.
9) Tavarres Riley | 6’1” PG | Westfield (#19 Overall)
Riley was one of the top scorers in the state last year at Freedom-Woodbridge before announcing his transfer to Westfield for his senior year where he’ll be set up to continue that kind of success. The 6’1” lead guard has takeover ability as a scorer as he can get to spots effortlessly and has good elevation on his jumper to make contested shots, he gets downhill effortlessly and is a good finisher in traffic and he can score it in bunches when he gets it going.
8) Damon Thompson | 6’0” PG | John Marshall (#18 Overall)
Thompson helped lead John Marshall to a national ranking last year and they were named Max Preps National Champions, and after a good summer he committed to JMU for next season. He’s had a good fall with a John Marshall team that will play a national schedule, showing his ability to knock down shots consistently off the bounce from deep and in the midrange, he’s made plays for others and his ability to play at his pace and change speeds makes him very tough to guard.
7) Josiah Rickards | 6’3” CG | Catholic (#17 Overall)
Rickards is one of the most underrated and under recruited players in the state, as the Catholic combo guard is a talented playmaker and scorer who can create shots against almost anyone. At 6’3” he has a good frame that should fill out nicely when he gets to college, and he knows how to use his size to score the ball in different ways. He can drill it from deep both off the catch and he can create space off the bounce to get his shots, he understands angles and is a very good finisher in the midrange and at the rim and he’s an unselfish playmaker who makes others better as well.
6) Jason Clarke | 6’1” PG | Miller School (#15 Overall)
Clarke was always a good player at his previous stops including at Word of Life last year, but he had a breakout summer with Boo Williams on the EYBL and with Miller at the high school live period stops too. The 6’1” point guard has a great build and uses his strength and lateral quickness to stay in front of ball handlers, and he’s a very good point of attack defender who can guard the length of the floor. He’s a knock down shooter from deep who has effortless range off the catch and off the bounce, he changes speeds well and has great footwork and touch as a finisher and he is a natural leader who makes others better as well.