Updated 2024 Rankings: Forwards (5-1)
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With the recent update of the class of 2024 rankings, we will take a look at how the rankings are broke down by position. Here’s a look at part three of the top forwards in the class, ranking the top…
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Continue ReadingWith the recent update of the class of 2024 rankings, we will take a look at how the rankings are broke down by position.
Here’s a look at part three of the top forwards in the class, ranking the top 5 power forwards and centers in the senior class.
5) Rodney Baines Rodney Baines 6'8" | PF Lake Taylor | 2024 State VA | 6’8” PF | Lake Taylor (#14 Overall)
Baines took a big leap in both this rankings and the last one, as the 6’8” forward has developed into one of the best players in the 757 over the last few years. He was always a dominant post presence with his size and touch, but he’s worked on his body and got into better shape and added a lot to his game to make him a mismatch. He can bully players in the paint and has good lift and soft touch around the rim to finish, he’s improved a lot on his perimeter shooting and ball skills to be able to take defenders outside and if he continues to develop the way he has he still has a lot of room to continue to get better over the next few years.
4) Jamie Vinson Jamie Vinson 6'10" | C Oak Hill Academy | 2024 State VA | 6’10” C | Oak Hill Academy (#13 Overall)
Vinson showed flashes last year with Oak Hill but was overshadowed at times with their front court presence, but this summer the Texas native showed his all-around skillset that made him a big time recruit. At 6’10” he has an inside-out presence with his length and athleticism coupled with his good ball skills and shooting as well. He can knock it down from deep consistently off the catch, he can handle it in transition when he needs to, he works well off the ball on cuts and dives, he can post up and finish and he’s a good rebounder and rim protector too. He’s heading to Vanderbilt next year which he chose over a litany of other schools.
3) Jadyn Harris Jadyn Harris 6'6" | PF Bishop O'Connell | 2024 State #239 Nation VA | 6’6” PF | Bishop O’Connell (#10 Overall)
While Harris may be a little undersized for the conventional four man, he has all the tools you look for in a new age four man who’s a walking mismatch on the floor. While he doesn’t exactly look it, Harris is a strong player who can play much bigger than he is challenging shots and grabbing rebounds with his long arms and good IQ on both ends of the floor. He is a tough matchup as he can work out of the high post with the ability to knock down shots and deliver passes, he can put it on the deck and beat slower defenders to the rim and his mobility allows him to switch and guard multiple positions as well.
2) Garrett Sundra Garrett Sundra 6'11" | C Paul VI | 2024 State #148 Nation VA | 6’10” C | Paul VI (#5 Overall)
Sandra has been one of the most satisfying players to watch develop in the entire DMV, as we first saw him as a goofy freshman who played hard and showed a lot of potential but he has developed into a do-it-all big who can impact the game in a number of ways. At 6’10” he is mobile and runs the floor very hard on every possession, he’s a threat to catch lobs in transition and in the half court, he’s an excellent defender who can switch and is a good rim protector and he can drill it from deep. He’s a scrappy type of player who does whatever it takes to win, and he’ll fit in perfectly at Notre Dame over the next few years.
1) Patrick Ngongba | 6’10” C | Paul VI (#2 Overall)
Ngongba is another player who has been a joy to watch develop, as we have been keeping tabs on him since eighth grade and while he showed promise his first two years at Highland School he’s took off the last couple of years at PVI to a place few thought he could get to. At 6’10” with a crazy wingspan and good frame, he’s a load to deal with in the paint as he can dominate the glass and protect the rim without fouling whether it’s blocking or altering shots. He has great touch around the rim with both hands, he’s patient in the post and is a good passer out of double teams, he has excellent footwork and utilizes fakes well to keep defenders off balance around the rim and he’s even added the ability to step out and knock down shots from deep. While he’s been out most of the year with an injury, he’s heading to Duke where his style of play will make him a big factor over the next few years.