JV Corner: Late Season Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The JV Corner takes a look at a couple of JV players who are making late-season impacts. Here are a few players who are finishing the season strong…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2336931,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PH-Ardarrius-Pruitt-Jr.-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PH-Ardarrius-Pruitt-Jr.-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2336931" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2748808' first='Ardarrius' last='Pruitt, Jr.']</strong> (5'4/PG/'28/Huffman HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: ardarriuss</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Ardarriuss</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ardarrius is a small PG but does a good job orchestrating the offense. He pushes the pace and is at his best when he is out in transition. He is tough off the bounce, and a lot of that is due to his size and how low to the floor he is when attacking the rim. He changes speed and direction well, which keeps opponents off balance. He is a two-way talent who is very good at playing passing lanes, as he has good instincts coupled with his quickness. He is an 8th-grader who is already getting burn on the JV stage and outside of his decision-making at times, which will improve as he grows in the game; the main question when it comes to AP is his size. He cannot control his size right now, but what he can control on the court is what needs his attention during the off-season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2336933,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PH-Jonathan-Jay-Johnson-Jr.-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PH-Jonathan-Jay-Johnson-Jr.-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2336933" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jonathan Jay Johnson, Jr.</strong> (6'0/SF/'27/Huffman HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Sheknow.jay205</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jonathan has good size in the frontcourt for life on the JV; however, as he makes the jump from JV to Varsity, he will need to extend his game out to the perimeter. He is a very good finisher around the rim and showed his comfort with finishing with his left. He showed flashes of physicality which gave him an advanatage on the possessions which he was aggressive. Right now, his comfort zone was around the rim, which proved to be a place where he was able to provide point production. He needs to expand the usage of his right, get better with his hands, and work this off-season to establish a perimeter game.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2290320,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/PH-John-Robert-Towry-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/PH-John-Robert-Towry-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2290320" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>John Robert Towry</strong> (6'6/PF/'27/Vestavia Hills HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Johnnytowry</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @JohnnyTowr9236</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">I put ink on John before, but after seeing him again last night, he continues to impress by showing more tools that he unleashes. He is a frontcourt player who probably has the most potential of anyone I have seen on JV this year. He would probably be pulled up for the experience in many programs, but that may be hard in the Vestavia program with the numbers they have. However, John is a lengthy finisher when facing the basket or with his back to the basket. As a freshman, I am banking that he will grow some more, and as he goes through the physical training, he could be a dominant interior presence for the Rebels in another year or so. Let's keep a pin in this conversation about John because, with the right commitment to the off-season on the court and in the weight room, we may soon be having a completely different conversation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2336935,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PH-Amaris-Robinson-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PH-Amaris-Robinson-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2336935" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2892748' first='Amaris' last='Robinson']</strong> (5'9/PG/'28/Huffman HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: etmarixo3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Amaris struggled in the match-up against Vestavia, but he did have some bright spots. When he was able to get something going, he showed his craftiness with the rock and his ability to get to the cup. He can score off the bounce as he has a quick first step and burst on his drive. He has natural instincts for the PG position, and while watching him play, you can tell he has a good skill set and potential but was just having an off night. Consideration has to be taken when it comes to Amaris, as he is playing JV as an 8th-grader.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2336936,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PH-Asa-Wood-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PH-Asa-Wood-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2336936" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1958830' first='Asa' last='Wood']</strong> (5'10/PG/'26/Huffman HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @asawood0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">A lot of intrigue surrounded Asa as I watched him play. He is a lead guard with good positional size who showed ball-handling and three-level scoring. He is a sophomore eyeing playing on varsity next year and can potentially capture a spot. He was at his best out in transition as he pushed the pace, which gave his team better chances to put points on the board. Utilizing the off-season to focus on his overall game will be key to what lies ahead of him, as the question will be simple: can he work to ensure that the potential turns to production.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2336937,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PH-Asa-Wood-C-2.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/PH-Asa-Wood-C-2.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2336937" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>John Robin Lang</strong> (5'11/CG/'25/Hewitt Trussville HS) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: 21_jrob</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @johnrobinlang</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">John has proven to be a reliable backcourt talent with a nice skill set. He does a lot of things well, as he has a solid overall game. He is a '25 kid playing JV who is looking to make that jump to varsity next year. He does a good job initiating the offense when needed, as well as being a secondary ball-handler. He competes on both ends of the floor and will need to continue to show the willingness to do so. He has shown progression throughout the season and will need to really hone in on his personal development this off-season as he prepares to find a spot in the program next year.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->