PHVA Freshman Expo Standouts (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Hoops VA Freshman Expo took place at Rock It Sports in Richmond on Saturday, August 31, with rising freshmen from all over the state attending to compete and get their names out there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a great day of competition with 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 games played intensely throughout the day. Here's a look at part one of the many standouts from the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaiah Carter | 6'6” WF | John Marshall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2547061,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImage9GpzNP.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImage9GpzNP.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2547061" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter came to the Freshman Expo after being named to the Top 20 team at CP3 camp the weekend before, and he showed his immense potential that has many saying he could be one of the top prospects in the 2028 class nationally. The 6'6” wing has great size and a frame that will fill out nicely moving forward; he's a fluid athlete who is still growing into his body; and he has an all-around game that includes the ability to play on and off the ball, he's an unselfish playmaker, and he can score the ball from all three levels.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Damari Smith | 5'11” PG | John Marshall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2547067,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagepaGK7D.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagepaGK7D.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2547067" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is another young prospect in the Richmond area to keep an eye on, as he's highly advanced for his age as a lead guard who can make plays off the bounce effortlessly. At 5'11” he's an athletic guard who plays much stronger than he looks, he is super quick and shifty allowing him to get wherever he wants to with the ball in his hands, he is an excellent finisher around the rim and he can create space and make tough shots from multiple levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sintel Carlock | 5'9” PG | Bishop O'Connell</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2547071,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagejv38fn.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagejv38fn.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2547071" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carlock is a young guard who caught my eye quickly as the camp as he was very aggressive both in the 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 sessions, and he showed a lot of toughness and tools that will translate well moving forward. He's got good burst off the bounce with the ability to get downhill and get to the rim at will, he knifes through the defense and is a good finisher around the rim, he can make plays for others and as he continues to grow he'll have the tools to be a very good defender as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kelvin Anderson | 6'2” CG | Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2547087,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageQGCrSv.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageQGCrSv.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2547087" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anderson is an already highly touted freshman in the Virginia Beach area who will fight for minutes on a very talented Catholic team, and he's one of those players that you watch and can't believe he's a freshman with how advanced he is physically and with his skill set. The 6'2” combo guard looks like a senior with his upper body frame and strength, he has a good handle for his size with the ability to hit combos in isolation and create space, he finishes well at the rim and he's steadily improving his outside shot as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trenton Blosser | 6'1” WG | East Rockingham</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2547093,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageVv2M2U.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageVv2M2U.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2547093" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blosser was impressive throughout the camp and will head into his freshman year at East Rockingham, a school that is known for developing very good guards and shooters. At 6'1” his frame suggest that he still has a lot of growing to do moving forward, he's a knock down shooter from deep with good form from the feet up, he competed on both ends of the floor against guys bigger and more athletic than him and he showed a savvy IQ for such a young player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2395088' first='Carlos' last='Lanier'] | 5'10” CG | North Cross</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2547103,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagezsaLdU.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagezsaLdU.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2547103" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lanier will join a North Cross team that is very young but talented and will have a couple of sophomores and juniors to learn behind, which will bold well for him as he has a lot of talent to work with. He shot the ball well from deep off the catch, he showed the ability to put it on the deck and make plays for himself and others, he gave great effort on both ends of the floor and he showed good instincts and quickness on the defensive end too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->