Top Backcourt Duos in Central/Western VA

<p>As we continue to provide content throughout the quarantine, we take a look at some of the top backcourt duos that should be returning for the 2020-2021 high school season next year. Here’s a look at six backcourts in the Central/Western VA area to keep an eye on next season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957888" first="Mike" last="Gray"] and [player_tooltip player_id="957951" first="Kobe" last="Jerome"] | Blue Ridge</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Gray-Mike-MVP.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1015651" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Gray-Mike-MVP-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Blue Ridge has always had terrific guards since I’ve been covering them, and even with the departure of [player_tooltip player_id="687599" first="William" last="Lee"] who was so important to them last year this duo of rising seniors still looks like one of the top duos in the state next season. Gray is one of the most underrated and under recruited point guards on the east coast, as he was named the VISAA D2 Player of the Year last season. He’s a scoring combo that can create space and make shots from all over, he gets hot quickly and he produces in almost every aspect of the game. Jerome was a great addition last year as he has a terrific IQ and brings playmaking and shot making ability to the team, along with being a good defender with good size at 6’3” as well. Both are gettin recruited by a multitude of division one programs.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="697100" first="Quadir" last="Pettaway"] and TK Bryant | Miller School</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Pettaway-Quadir.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1015652" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Pettaway-Quadir-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Miller School has another group of underrated and under recruited guards as well and the two should be a stellar duo next year if they both return. Pettaway has been a staple at Miller the past two seasons and despite being only 6’0” tall he’s a prolific scorer with a smooth game that can get to spots and make shots from all over the floor off the bounce. Bryant, who hails from NYC, is a gritty guard with a great IQ and makes winning plays. He was hurt for most of this past season, but if they both come back healthy they will be a handful to match up with.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="962814" first="Jack" last="Faulkner"] and [player_tooltip player_id="999644" first="Stark" last="Jones"] | Roanoke Catholic</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Faulkner-Jack-RC-rotated.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1015653" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Faulkner-Jack-RC-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a></p> <p>Roanoke Catholic has a backcourt to build around moving forward in a rising junior Faulkner and rising sophomore Jones who both showed promise over this past season. Faulkner has been a starter the past two seasons, and while he won’t wow you with his athleticism or size he’s a highly skilled lead guard who makes the right pass, can shoot it from deep and brings it against the best of the best. Jones is the opposite, as he’s a big 6’2” guard with good strength and athleticism that is a two way impact guy and is just scratching the surface with how good he can be moving forward. As these two develop, expect Catholic to become a more formidable opponent in the VISAA D3 classification.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="815612" first="Walker" last="Andrews"] and [player_tooltip player_id="815602" first="Piercen" last="Young"] | Virginia Episcopal School</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Andrews-Walker.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1015654" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Andrews-Walker-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>I could easily add rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="999630" first="Robbie" last="Matos"] to this list, but the two 2022 prospects in Andrews and Young are guys who should be big time this year with the departure of three key seniors from last year. Andrews was a breakout guy last year, as he’s a 5’11” off guard with deep range, good athleticism and good instincts and motor on both ends of the floor. Young is a 6’3” combo guard who showed that he can play on the ball at times last year, while showing a great all-around skill set that includes the ability to shoot it, make plays for others and rebound well for his position.</p> <p><strong>Ayrion Journiette and Quentin Slash | Northside</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Journiette-Ayrion.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1015656" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Journiette-Ayrion-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>The Wooden era is done at Northside as Julien (JMU) and Jordan (Concord) are no longer there, leaving room for rising senior Slash and rising junior Journiette to take the reigns and take over for the Vikings this year. Slash is the consummate throwback style PG as he’s on the smaller side at about 5’8”, but he runs the show extremely well taking care of the ball and getting them into their sets while making everyone on the team better. Journiette is intriguing, as he’s a 6’1” combo guard with good athleticism and quickness off the bounce, and he’s fearless as he gets downhill and can finish at the rim through contact.</p> <p><strong>Adam Hatter and [player_tooltip player_id="815622" first="Trey" last="Gillenwater"] | Eastern Mennonite</strong></p> <p>Eastern Mennonite is a team on the rise, and their backcourt duo of rising juniors Adam Hatter and Trey Gllenwater make them a team to watch in the VISAA D3 classification where they’ve been to the state championship game the past two seasons. Hatter, who’s older brother Zach was a big reason for EMHS turnaround, is a tough nosed and gritty lead guard who can make shots and run a team extremely well. Gillenwater is an intriguing prospect who has good size at 6’2”, is extremely crafty off the bounce and can create and make shots from all over the floor. They should have EMHS competing at a high level once again.</p>