Week 4 Top Performers: Small School

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week four brought a lot of new names to the forefront of WV prep hoops. Lots of holiday tournament events that welcome new eyes to see new players, new teams from different regions of WV. The talent pool in small schools seems to be keeping pace with the big school in numbers and that's music to our ears. It's our mission to provide exposure to as many WV players as possible and show its no longer a recruiting "fly-over" state!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2303408"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2310307,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='2303408' first='Kingston' last='Christen'] is one of our top 50 2026's in the coming rankings.  He's a second year starter at state tournament regular Magnolia.  Christen has been a force since day one of his freshman year and came into his sophomore campaign as not only floor leader but often primary scoring threat.  Kingston carries a great skill set including being an outstanding ball handler, floor vision and instinctively finding scoring opportunities.  We're bringing in his stats from Week 3 since he was omitted and adding him to this week since Magnolia had no games scheduled.  Christen poured in 22 against Ohio rival on 12/19 and topping that with 18 versus AA rival St Mary's on 12/22.  Keep an eye on this young gun and two sport athlete.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1920568"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1920568' first='Hayden' last='Pyles'] is yet again putting up serious numbers for perennial state tournament participant Magnolia.  Pyles who has great guard size and knock down shooting ability from anywhere on the floor has largely flew under the radar on the AA map in regards to the rest of the state.  Pyles like teammate Christen didn't get in last weeks article so we're including here.  Certainly being included in several D3 recruiting circles, Pyles size and shooting are hard to ignore and are what many programs look for as it can result in being an instant contributor.  Hayden started last week off ripping Monroe Central for 20 points, with an eye popping 14 of those in the first quarter.  That was followed up with 17 versus AA rival St Mary's including three buckets from deep.  Look for this 2024 to start getting interest very soon from D3 and possibly D2's.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":2310302,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2337625' first='Brady' last='Strode']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Tyler Consolidated","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='2337625' first='Brady' last='Strode'] is a quickly rising 2025 small school player who led Tyler in scoring a year ago and looking to lead a young Tyler team once again.  Strode led Tyler over a super talented AA Ritchie squad in Ritchie's home gym during their holiday tournament that saw him pour in 22 including 11 in the first quarter.  Brady followed that up with 16 in a championship loss to AAA Lincoln County on Saturday.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2208724"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='2208724' first='Ashton' last='Gute'] just keeps doing what he does week in and week out.  The mighty 5'7u0022 continues his reign of terror against WV small school opponents posting an impressive 23 points, 4 assists, 6 steals and 2 rebound statline this week versus single A Montcalm.  Gute we truly believe is a college level pg who affects a game in so many ways with his raw speed and energy.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1289825"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='2295581' first='Elijah' last='Pendleton'] is quickly heating up and becoming a matchup nightmare for opponents trying to guard a super talented TVCS roster.  Pendleton has posted great numbers throughout the season and continues this week against great competition in Nitro where he laid down 28 points and 5 rebounds.  Pendleton is one of the top guards in the 2025 class and with good size and athletic ability looks to be on the D2 recruiting line and according to BlueChips Nation likely MEC offers to come.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1573144"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1573144' first='Maki' last='Cary'] continues his absolute dominance vs any opponent on the schedule.  Cary dropped another huge game vs. 4A Cabell Midland with 22 points and 5 assists. Cary's continued production and increase in assists through this year will put him on the radar of some higher level D2's and likely offers between his junior and senior seasons.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["2243523"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='2243523' first='Brayden' last='Helmick'] who is arguably the best small school pivot, just keeps posting solid stat lines night in and night out and providing production in not just points and rebounds.  Helmick's last four stat lines including this past week are : 11pts/12reb/6asst/4blk, 12pts/10reb/5asst/2blk, 16pts/9reb/3asst/1blk, 12pts/11reb/3asst/3blk.   No matter the division, conference or state you play in, these are impressive and consistent stats for a true center in today's game.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["2211908"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='2211908' first='Isaac' last='Hodges'] is maintaining his dominance in AA basketball consistently posing matchup problems for opposing coaches.  Hodges has one of the sweetest mid range shooting strokes in WV despite class or division.  A true stretch 4 that college coaches have already taken notice of, Hodges likely rates out currently as a solid MEC candidate in recruiting terms.  Isaac posted another solid performance in a loss vs Tyler with 22 points with most in that midrange area.  He's a must see and his Ritchie team will make a strong push to be in Charleston in March.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6591ba9be407e"} /-->