Updated 2023 Rankings: Wings Rankings (5-1)
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We have updated our 2023 class rankings and have been breaking down content over the past few weeks. Here, we will take a look at rankings by position, breaking it down into three categories: Guards, wings and bigs. Here’s a…
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Continue ReadingWe have updated our 2023 class rankings and have been breaking down content over the past few weeks. Here, we will take a look at rankings by position, breaking it down into three categories: Guards, wings and bigs.
Here’s a look at part three of the wings rankings, ranking the best shooting guards and small forwards numbers 5-1.
To see the entire class of 2023 rankings, click here.
5) Jamie Kaiser Jamie Kaiser 6'6" | SF IMG Academy | 2023 State #67 Nation FL | 6’6” | Bishop Ireton (#7 Overall)
Kaiser is one of the top multi-sport athletes in the state, as he’s a standout in baseball, basketball and football and holds division one offers in basketball and football at least. He’s been a standout at Lake Braddock the last few years and has announced he’ll head to the WCAC to play for Bishop Ireton where he’ll step in with a talented group and provide a mix of athleticism, shooting and two way production to the group. He has good length and is a good athlete both vertically and laterally, he’s a knock down shooter from deep who can get hot quickly and ring off a lot of buckets in a row and he’s the type of player who can plug and play in multiple systems at the next level.
4) Austin Ball | 6’5” | Miller School (#6 Overall)
Ball was the WV player of the year in his classification last year after winning the state championship and having an epic run in the state tournament, and he’s already made a big splash in VA in the high school live period with Miller School where he picked up a number of offers including West Virginia. At 6’5” he’s a big wing that’s athletic vertically, can put it on the deck and get to spots to score it from multiple levels and he’s a lights out shooter from deep as well. He can really fill it up and is a capable and willing passer, and he’ll be one of the top players in the state and is a reason that Miller could be a contender in the stacked VISAA D2 classification this year.
3) Curtis Blair III Curtis Blair III 6'6" | SF Steward School | 2023 State #211 Nation VA | 6’5” | Steward School (#5 Overall)
Blair was turning the corner as an elite prospect during the high school season before some injuries set him back a little bit, but there’s no doubt when he gets healthy he’ll return to being an elite scorer and mismatch at his position. He’s long and bouncy allowing him to make plays at the rim and rebound at a high rate, he can play on the basketball and create space and make shots in the midrange level and in isolation situations and he’s a good shooter off the catch from deep as well. He’s smooth and has good feel, and while he isn’t a very vocal guy or shows a lot of emotion he plays hard on both ends of the floor.
2) DeShawn Harris-Smith DeShawn Harris-Smith 6'5" | SF Paul VI | 2023 State #53 Nation VA | 6’5” | Paul VI (#3 Overall)
Harris-Smith has been a standout in the WCAC at PVI and with Team Takeover for the past two seasons, and his impact on both ends of the floor can’t be understated as he’s an elite defender and hustle guy as well. He’s a big time athlete with a good frame and is very strong for his size, he can get downhill and finish at or above the rim in traffic and in transition and he’s improving as a shot creator and shot maker from multiple levels. What stands out for Harris-Smith though is all the extra stuff he does, whether it’s defending the other team’s best player, rebounding at a high rate as a wing or fighting for loose balls and making hustle plays.
1) Dennis Parker Dennis Parker 6'6" | SF John Marshall | 2023 State #89 Nation VA Jr. | 6’6” | John Marshall (#2 Overall)
Parker Jr. missed most of the winter season with John Marshall’s club team Blue Magic due to an injury he suffered in the fall and wasn’t back in action until the live period in July, and it was amazing how quickly he bounced back and looked like he didn’t miss a beat at all. He’s a fluid athlete who is still explosive despite coming back from a long term injury, he’s a position-less player who can do a little bit of everything on the floor and he continues to improve and get better across the board. He’s excellent on the ball for his size as he has good vision and playmaking ability, he can create shots and score it from multiple levels and he’s a good defender with toughness and versatility and good instincts as well.