Updated 2023 Rankings: Guards Rankings (5-1)

<p>The updated 2023 class rankings in VA came out last week, and with that will come a lot of content in the next week or so!</p> <p>Today, we take a look at part 3 of the point guards and combo guards, ranking the top 5.</p> <p>Check out the full rankings <a href="https://prephoops.com/virginia/rankings/2023-rankings/">here</a>, and stay tuned for more content and class rankings updates! </p> <p><strong><span class="s2">5) [player_tooltip player_id="992531" first="John" last="St. Germain"] | 6’1” | ST. Anne’s Belfield (#17 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/St.-Germain-John-STAB-1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1356693" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/St.-Germain-John-STAB-1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">St. Germain has been successful in the Charlottesville area since he was in eighth grade, but this year he seemed to take a jump as a leader and in production as a the primary ball handler and creator for a young but talented STAB team. The 6’1” guard is super shifty and plays with great pace as he can change speeds and directions on a dime and he knows how to get to spots on the floor to make plays, he’s strong when he gets downhill and knows how to find contact and finish through that contact, he can make shots with efficiency when he needs to but also has good control of the game and makes great decisions with the ball in his hands.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">4) [player_tooltip player_id="999619" first="Yuri" last="Manns"] | 6’3” | LC Bird (#16 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Manns-Yuri-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1302372" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Manns-Yuri-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Manns had a breakout junior season for LC Bird earning Class 5 All State honors and will have a chance to blow up this summer with Team Loaded VA when coaches see his improved athleticism, strength and consistency with his shot making ability.The 6’3” combo guard has become more fluid off the bounce and when he gets downhill now he’s able to rise above the rim and finish or take contact and finish through it, he’s able to knock down shots from deep on the move or off the bounce when he sizes up opponents and he has an excellent midrange game with floaters and pull-ups as well.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">3) [player_tooltip player_id="992530" first="Trevor" last="Smith"] | 5’11” | Woodside (#12 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Smith-Trevor.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1187190" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Smith-Trevor-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><span class="s2">Smith has been on the radar as one of the top guards in the 757 over the past few seasons, and as he continues to develop as a point guard that can both facilitate and score the basketball he should have a big summer on the recruiting trail. He’s a quick twitch guard who is shifty off the bounce and changes directions well to create space and get in the lane, he’s a good finisher in traffic and in the midrange and when he moves off the ball he can catch and shoot from deep and he has the ability to create in pick-and-rolls and in isolation situations.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">2) [player_tooltip player_id="1231823" first="AJ" last="Wills"] | 6’1” | LC Bird (#9 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Wills was another breakout player this year after transferring from LCA to LC Bird and helping the Skyhawks to be one of the top teams in the Richmond area. He grew about 3 inches over the summer and improved in his ability to shoot and score the ball, making him a dynamic dual threat lead guard that can both run the show and get a bucket when he needs to. He’s lightning quick and very shifty off the bounce allowing him to beat guys in pick-and-roll and in isolation situations, he can score the ball from a number of different areas and is a big time finisher at the rim and he has great control of the game and IQ as a passer and playmaker.</span></p> <p><strong><span class="s2">1) [player_tooltip player_id="1115502" first="Caleb" last="Foster"] | 6’4” | Oak Hill Academy (#1 Overall)</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/Screen-Shot-2021-02-03-at-5.07.21-PM.png"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1126725" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/Screen-Shot-2021-02-03-at-5.07.21-PM-300x225.png" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s2">Foster is one of the top point guards in the country and is already committed to Duke, and he was a big reason that Oak Hill was one of the top teams in the country yet again in Steve Smith’s final season of his illustrious career. He has great size at the point guard position moving forward at the next level and he has great vision to see over defenders and making passes over the defenders, he’s a knock down shooter from deep who has deep range both off the catch and off the bounce and he plays with great pace and has the ability to create shots for himself and others effortlessly. He makes the game look very easy and is able to impact it across the board from the point guard position.</span></p>