Week 8 Top Performers: Big School
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After a week of weather delays, cancellations and postponed events, we come roaring back with Top Performers report. Some of the usual cast of players but as always, we’re looking for those new and unknown players that need the state…
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Continue ReadingAfter a week of weather delays, cancellations and postponed events, we come roaring back with Top Performers report. Some of the usual cast of players but as always, we’re looking for those new and unknown players that need the state to know who they are and where they play. Going into the season’s second half we’re starting to see a pack of scorers standout and stand alone as well as guys getting it done all over the floor on both ends. This week’s report is so massive we’re changing the layout to acommodate.
Izzy Everett leads off the report with an 18 point performance at the New Martinsville Rotary Challenge. Everett scored 12 of those on four from beyond the arc in limited time action while the Mohigans stretched an early lead vs. Ripley. Everett has the guard skills and long distance shooting to play next level.
Kayden Knapp Kayden Knapp 6'3" | SF John Marshall | 2026 State WV put on quite a show as well at the Rotary Challenge posting 16 points in fast paced defensive game vs. Williamstown. Knapp was certainly a pleasant surprise getting buckets and put backs in the paint and did some real dirty work to lead the game in rebounds. Knapp is also the Monarch’s starting QB on the football team and as a 2026 has a bright athletic future.
Xavier Kirk Xavier Kirk 6'2" | CG Hedgesville | 2025 State WV is one of WV’s top two way guards who prides himself on defense. Kirk scored 17 vs Millbrook while holding the opponents leading scorer to zero. Kirk has already turned heads in the recruiting world and will have a chance to climb to high level D2 offers soon.
Tyronn Paulin Tyronn Paulin 6'6" | SF St Albans | 2025 State WV comes up big often. The 6’6″ and nimble forward posted 30 points and a whopping 15 boards vs a very talented Teays Valley squad. Paulin has taken huge steps in development this season being a big part of St Albans resurgence and will have a chance to get on the recruiting radar soon.
Tate Adkins Tate Adkins 6'3" | SG SPRING VALLEY | 2024 State WV is another one of those multi-sport guys who seem to always come up big in big games and put up great numbers doing it. Adkins dropped 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 asst and 2 blocks on Capital in week and 19 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal vs Riverside. Adkins is in our top 50 rankings for 2024.
Jackson Crouso Jackson Crouso 6'6" | PF East Fairmont | 2024 State WV dropped a bomb on Bridgeport in week 8. Bridgeport had quite the momentum until Crouso popped for 25 points and 10 rebounds vs the Indians in week 8. Crouso is one of the best, yet lesser known bigs in WV. at 6’6″ (maybe 6’7″) he’s multi skilled and a true stretch 4 that helps break presses, facilitates from the high post but can also bang and finish in the paint. Seems to be at least a lock for D3 offers but there are D2’s out there in MEC-land that could use his services.
Colin Cross Colin Cross 6'0" | CG Weir | 2024 State WV from Weir is just tearing up the upper Ohio Valley. We’ve been trying to put his name to the forefront of WV high school basketball because we feel he’s one of the state’s best kept secrets. The multi-sport star also has a possible future beyond high school on the baseball field but he’s not letting anyone talk about that until he’s finished scoring in huge amounts every night. For instance in week 8 Cross dropped 27 on Indian Creek (OH) as well as 28 on Oak Glen High School. He’s a pleasure to watch and hopefully in the post season he’ll gain some notoriety for the work he’s done this season.
Aiden Davis Aiden Davis 5'11" | CG Steubenville | 2025 OH just doesn’t let up no matter what season. The two sport star has put together one impressive stat line after another this season and week 8 was no different. Davis (along with teammate Mykel Davis who scored 18) poured in 18 points vs the East Liverpool OH Potters. Davis is boasting a stat line of averages that could be the best in WV including 26ppg, 8reb, 5asst. Davis also recently broke the Wheeling Park record for 3’s in a career, a record held by Park legend Bubby Goodwin who went on to star for nationally ranked West Liberty.
Eli Campbell Eli Campbell 6'0" | CG Midland Trail | 2024 State WV returns to the TP report. Campbell clocked in vs Greenbrier West with 17 pts, 5 assists, 4 rebs as well as burning Independence for 20 pts, 5 rebs, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 charge. Campbell is the Midland Trail mainstay it seems and has solid averages for the season at 15 pts, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 charge. Campbell will run with the Big Shots WV Reign Elite this spring and summer AAU season.
Clay Robertson Clay Robertson 6'2" | SG Spring Valley | 2025 State WV is doing some things that haven’t been done in awhile. Like post near triple doubles and consistently push triple double type stats. If you don’t know how hard it is to post those kinds of stats in a 32 minute game, well lemme tell ya, its nearly impossible. Robertson has such a unique combination of size, skill, lateral quickness and court presence and seems to always make the right play. He could score 35 a game if he wanted to, but takes care of the ball, takes quality shots and gets the ball distributed where it needs to be. Robertson has got some lower level D1 eyes on him very early and doesn’t seem to be resting on that attention. 14 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in limited minutes vs Riverside, backing that up with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists vs Capital for the second game of week 8.
James Fortney-Garbart wasn’t on any lists or radars pre season, but maybe he should be. The 5’11” 2024 guard gunned in 27 vs Parkersburg South in week 8.
It seems we can’t go a week without posting a big game by Ammar Maxwell Ammar Maxwell 6'3" | SG Shady Spring | 2024 State WV . He’s a high level scoring guard with length and ample athleticism. No problem figuring out who he is on game night, he’s the one slashing and dashing with the ball and pushing the tempo with his ball handling 6’3″ rangy frame. Maxwell poured in 32 in Shady’s win over county rival Woodrow Wilson. Maxwell who’s been offered by D2 Glenville and NAIA WV Tech is going to push the issue to get some low level D1 (we actually know he’s on some of their radars) attention hopefully by the end of March. One last go around to see this talented guard in 2024.