Updated 2022 Rankings: Bigs Rankings (25-16)

<p>The updated 2022 class rankings in VA came out yesterday, and with that will come a lot of content in the next week or so!</p> <p>Today, we take a look at the first part of our positional bigs rankings, looking at numbers 25-16 of the power forwards and centers.</p> <p>Check out the full rankings <a href="https://prephoops.com/virginia/rankings/2022-rankings/">here</a>, and stay tuned for more content and class rankings updates! </p> <p><strong><span class="s2">25) [player_tooltip player_id="798747" first="Peter" last="Oduro"] | 6’8” | VA Academy (#62 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Oduro is a late bloomer who has a lot of potential moving forward, and as he’s starting to come into his own it’s easy to see that he is just scratching the surface with how good he can be moving forward. The 6’8” big man is mobile and runs the floor and can play in an uptempo system, he brings a lot of grit and toughness to his team and he’s improved in his offensive skill set as a finisher in the mid-post and on the block.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">24) [player_tooltip player_id="1107852" first="CJ" last="Highsmith"] | 6’10” | Richmond Christian (#61 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Highsmith-CJ-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1308296" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Highsmith-CJ-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Highsmith is one of the most improved players I have seen over the past few years, as he’s gone from a big body without much idea of how he can impact the game to a productive rim runner and rim protector who has improved on both sides of the ball. He can get up and down the floor and has improved in his hands and timing when catching and finishing, he can protect the rim with the best of them and if he continues on this trajectory he could be a major steal at the next level.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">23) Cade McCulloch | 6’8” | West Point (#59 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">McCulloch is one of the reasons that West Point has become one of the top small schools in the state, and he’s a very intriguing prospect with his size and skill set moving forward. The 6’8” big man can put it on the deck in transition and in the half court to create space and get downhill, he can make shots from multiple levels and he can guard multiple positions and make plays in different ways.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">22) [player_tooltip player_id="815591" first="Wendell" last="Tomlin"] | 6’6” | Church Hill Academy (#58 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Tomlin-Wendell-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1308295" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Tomlin-Wendell-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Tomlin is a very talented big man who’s a walking mismatch and when he puts it all together he can be the best player on the floor with his mix of size and skill. He has good ball skills on the perimeter as a shooter and working out of the triple threat, he can run the floor and switch and guard wings and he can rebound on both ends of the floor.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">21) Reis Whitaker | 6’7” | Highland School (#56 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">The Navy commit is one of the most skilled bigs in the NOVA area, as the 6’7” big is the definition of a stretch big man who opens driving lanes for his guards. He’s very comfortable on the perimeter as a catch and shoot guy and can hit shots on the trail in transition, he can put it on the deck in limited dribbles and get to the midrange and he has a good IQ and feel on both ends of the floor.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">20) [player_tooltip player_id="1107836" first="Roman" last="Barshow"] | 6’6” | Steward School (#53 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Barshow-Roman.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1075132" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Barshow-Roman-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Barshow is a relatively unknown prospect who has great versatility and is one of the best shooters in the Richmond area regardless of position. The 6’6” stretch four is a knock down shooter from deep and in the midrange and at the free throw line and he has good form and a high arc on his jumper, he’s an explosive athlete who can rebound and finish above the rim and he can play and guard multiple positions and play within different systems as well.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">19) [player_tooltip player_id="962788" first="Christian" last="Carden"] | 6’5” | Varina (#47 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/Carden-Christian.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1094460" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/Carden-Christian-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Carden has been a vital part of Varina’s revival over the past three years, and is one of the main reasons that they are one of the favorites to win the Class 4 State Championship. He’s far from a traditional big as he can handle the ball and is an excellent passer on the perimeter, he can make shots from deep and in the midrange but he also can attack the glass and rebound over players bigger than him and he has great switch-ability defensively.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">18) [player_tooltip player_id="1107832" first="Cooper" last="Bowser"] | 6’9” | John Paul the Great (#43 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Bowser has the perfect last name for his style of play, as much like the Mario character he’s an absolute bruiser in the paint and is a nightmare to guard because of that. He’s surprisingly quick and athletic for his size as he can spin off defenders and get up and down the floor, he has soft touch around the rim and can step out and make plays in the midrange area and he can dominate the paint and the glass as well.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">17) [player_tooltip player_id="815605" first="Obinna" last="Okafor"] | 6’8” | Bethel (#41 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Okafor has steadily been one of the best big men and defenders in the 757 over the past few years, and he can change the game with his rim protecting prowess. At 6’8” he has long arms and gets off his feet well with good timing to challenge shots, he’s fearless in the paint and will pursue the basketball and rebounds well and he can finish through traffic and is a good free throw shooters as well.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">16) [player_tooltip player_id="1107830" first="Spencer" last="Hamilton"] | 6’10” | Parry McLeur (#40 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Hamilton-Spencer.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1082510" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Hamilton-Spencer-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Hamilton was the 2021 Class 1 POY and is arguably the best prospect in the class and in the area, as the 6’10” big has a unique skill set at his size and is able to impact the game in a number of different ways. He’s a good shooter from deep and can handle the basketball well for his size, he has good finishing ability in the paint with both hands and has good length as a shot blocker and a rebounder as well.</span></p>