The Hidden Wing Talent in 3A Ready to Explode

Every year there are a handful of wings that seem to come out of nowhere, but usually they don't actually come out of nowhere. They were just overlooked, and with this group it might simply be because they're playing 3A. This group falls into that category. These aren't necessarily the players generating a ton of buzz right now, and some I've only gotten limited viewings of compared to the bigger names in the class. Still, every time I saw them, there was something worth circling back to. I'm not ready to call them household names yet, but I do think they're the type of small forwards that could look a lot different in the conversation by the time this season is over.   Use code dev30 for 30% off and secure access as we're going through rankings and got you covered for the grassroots season. You don't want to miss any of our scouting.     [player_tooltip player_id='2387536' first='Dayton' last='Long'] put the state on notice a year ago as the 6'4 wing led Windsor Charter to an 18-8 record and made some noise in the playoffs. Dayton averaged 18.6 points a game, was one of the class's top rebounders at 6.1 rebounds a game, and played with extreme confidence. That gave him a boost in the rankings as he demanded some respect with those kinds of numbers. Long saw opposing teams' best defender and still was able to light it up, and we also just got to see him compete at the UNC camp last week, where he showed he could hang no matter who he is up against. He's an athletic two-way player with size who is a nightmare matchup; he battles on every play and had a solid season. This year is about growth and growing that name even more, as I expect him to really show that he's one of 3A's best players.     Malone is a 6'3 do-it-all wing for Bayfield, who had a breakout season. Malone went from an unknown prospect to turning some heads along the way. Bayfield was middle of the pack last year, but it was he who helped deliver some wins. Malone averaged 13.1 points a game with 3.7 rebounds to go along with it, and in the final game of the season he put up his best performance, a 33-point performance. Malone is an efficient sharpshooter who moves without the ball, can play both on and offball and score in bunches. He shot 43% from deep on high volume, and this year he should be much more ball-dominant and able to score off the dribble. He should have a rise in every category and put Bayfield on the map. He's under the radar, but trending in the right direction.     Sam is off to an incredible start to his career, and we got the chance to see him a few times and feel that he has the chance to battle for the conference POY if he has the season we expect. As a sophomore, he put up an impressive 16.8 points a game with 7.5 boards to go along with it which gave him a bump in the rankings this last go-round. He's electric in the open court as a high-flying dunker, he can step out and shoot the 3-ball, and has gotten on more radars as he's been with PLUTO Prospects for the club scene, letting everyone know that he belongs and wants his name more out there. If you look at Colorado Springs Christian's games last season, he was even better in the big games. He had 25 points against state runner-ups, Forge Christian, 30 points against a talented St. Mary's squad and 21 points in one of the best games of the year, a 1-point win over Yuma. We saw Sam compete at the UNC elite camp last week, and he was a player who turned some heads with his athleticism. I feel that he will be one of 3A's top players next season, and with how he's competed and put himself out there this summer, the game should be able to slow down for him a bit, which is scary for everyone else.     Jenkins has had quite the start to the club scene as he jumped onto our radars. Taking a look at his sophomore year, he was able to be a complementary piece for a Vanguard team that had some of the better scoring seniors who have now graduated, which has opened the door for Jenkins to be the man. With that comes great responsibilities as he will have to pick up the scoring load, help out on the boards, and also get a pretty young and inexperienced bunch an edge in games. I do think that Vanguard will have a slower season than they're used to, but this will be a big year for Cameron, where he could shock us all and lead the way. Nonetheless, all eyes are on him, and we're excited to see if he can ride that momentum he's had to start the summer.     Addenbrooke Classical Academy is not a school that many know about, and that is why their hidden gem, 6'3 wing, has remained that. Dobbs was able to have them compete and finish 3rd in the conference after having a balanced season. He put up 12.1 points and 3.8 rebounds a game while finding his groove at times. He's a player who can catch fire from deep to score, but also get into the paint as well. Dobbs is best in the open court as an outlet option that attacks the rim and gets to his spot. This year, he will have to progress as a scorer and player who reads the court to get some easy points going for himself. His being a bit more aggressive can have ACA pick up a few more big wins and get his name out a bit more, since we don't see him in the summer. We certainly want to see how he fares against the top players in the state, as he showed he can compete in 3A.

Every year there are a handful of wings that seem to come out of nowhere, but usually they don't actually come out of nowhere. They were just overlooked, and with this group it might simply be because they're playing 3A. This group falls into that category. These aren't necessarily the players generating a ton of buzz right now, and some I've only gotten limited viewings of compared to the bigger names in the class. Still, every time I saw them, there was something worth circling back to. I'm not ready to call them household names yet, but I do think they're the type of small forwards that could look a lot different in the conversation by the time this season is over.