2023 Wings Rankings (14-6)
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As we look at the first class of 2023 rankings in the state of VA, we will break down the positional rankings by guards, wings and big men. While we label prospects by six positions as far as point guards,…
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Continue ReadingAs we look at the first class of 2023 rankings in the state of VA, we will break down the positional rankings by guards, wings and big men. While we label prospects by six positions as far as point guards, combo guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards and centers, I like to put some of them together to simplify things and do rankings based on the three main positions.
Today, we take a look at part two of the wings rankings, looking at some of the top shooting guards and small forwards in the sophomore class.
14) Wyatt Trundle Wyatt Trundle 6'6" | PF Meridian | 2023 State VA | 6’3” | George Mason (#30 Overall)
Trundle is a part of a very intriguing George Mason team that should surprise a lot of people this year, and he’s a versatile guy who can play and guard multiple positions for his team. He’s very strong and has a good frame that should continue to grow, he’s a knock down shooter from deep with good range and he’s able to attack closeouts and finish at the rim as well.
13) MJ Smith MJ Smith 6'2" | SG Manor | 2023 VA | 6’2” | Wilson (#29 Overall)
Smith was one of the top freshmen in the 757 last year, starting for a Wilson team that was Class 4 co-state champions and was one of their top scorers on the season as well. He’s a guy who just has a knack for filling it up, as he can knock down shots from deep with great efficiency and he’s able to create and score at multiple levels as well. He’s a guy who understands spacing and mismatches and takes advantage of it, he’s a good secondary ball handler and he’s always in the right place at the right time.
12) AJ Clark AJ Clark 6'2" | SG Menchville | 2023 State VA | 6’2” | Menchville (#26 Overall)
Clark is a guy who is starting to come into his own on a very talented and experienced Menchville team, and he’s part of a very bright future once they leave. An athletic guard who can play on and off the basketball, Clark is a great slasher who can get to the basket and finish at or above the rim, and he can stick it from deep when he’s left open. He’s a great defender both on and off the ball and he’s oozing with potential moving forward.
11) Kameron Roberts Kameron Roberts 6'6" | SF Hargrave Military Academy | 2023 State VA | 6’5” | Halifax County (#25 Overall)
Halifax County is a gem of a smaller area that is always producing hoopers, and Roberts is as impressive of a young prospect from there that I’ve seen in the five years I’ve been scouting. A well built forward that can play inside-out, Roberts has a good frame and a lot of tools that will only get better with time. He can put it on the deck and make shots from multiple levels, he can post smaller guys and hit the glass on both ends and he can guard multiple positions as well.
10) Kaleb Brown Kaleb Brown 6'3" | SG King's Fork | 2023 VA | 6’2” | King’s Fork (#24 Overall)
Brown was one of the top scoring freshmen in the 757 last year at Nansemond-Suffolk and joins a very talented King’s Fork team that won the state championship last year. A lights out shooter from deep, Brown is a guy who knows how to read screens and can work off of them to get open, he has great footwork getting into his shot and he’s able to attack closeouts and use his strength to finish in the paint and in the midrange area as well. He had quite a few big games including a 37 point outing against a Middleburg team that had two division one guards on it last year, and if he can continue to round out his game he’ll be a big time scorer for years to come.
9) Macon Emory Macon Emory 6'7" | SF Perkiomen School | 2024 State PA | 6’7” | Blue Ridge (#20 Overall)
Emory joins his brother Houston at Blue Ridge and has already made an impact and a great impression on the coaching staff in the early going this season. The 6’7” wing has a phenomenal frame and is a versatile scorer that can play inside-out, and he’s a guy who knows how to get to his spots and use his size to shoot over top of small defenders. He plays with a good motor and a high IQ on both ends, he hits the glass and fights for 50-50 balls and he’s a guy who makes the right plays and doesn’t force things either.
8) Josiah Rickards Josiah Rickards 6'3" | CG Catholic | 2024 State VA | 6’3” | Catholic (#16 Overall)
Rickards is a very intriguing prospect who is on the verge of being one of the best prospects in the 757 if he continues to develop the way that he did over this past offseason. The 6’3” wing has an impressive frame that should fill out nicely, he’s a smooth athlete that’s getting more explosive every day and he has an all-around game that makes him productive in a number of ways on both ends. He can score it from multiple levels, he’s able to play on and off the basketball and he has a lot of potential and versatility on the defensive end too.
7) Jayden Harris Jayden Harris 6'8" | SG Potomac Va | 2023 State VA | 6’4” | Christ Chapel (#13 Overall)
The younger brother of UNC guard Ant Harris, Jayden is starting to make a name for himself now as he had a big time freshman season and is just starting to scratch the surface with how good he can be moving forward. An athletic wing with good size, the smooth lefty is a multifaceted scorer that can shoot it from deep and get to the rim at will, and he has a good feel for the game and can make plays for others off the bounce as well. Defensively he has a chance to really shine, as he has the size and athleticism to guard multiple positions and lock down the best player on the other team.
6) Greg Jones Greg Jones 6'5" | SF Hayfield | 2023 State #258 Nation VA | 6’5” | Hayfield (#12 Overall)
Jones is one of the better players in the class that not many people know about, but it won’t take long for him to start to get the recognition he deserves as he continues to get better. A high motor wing with great size and versatility, Jones is a guy who can impact the game in a number of ways as he is athletic, skilled and able to play and guard multiple positions when he’s on the floor. He can shoot it from deep off the catch, he’s a good finisher around and above the rim with both hands and he’s a good rebounder and defender as well. He’ll be a guy to keep an eye on because if he works as hard behind the scenes as he does in games he’s going to improve in a big way.