2025 TOP TEN BREAKDOWN

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A top ten is always popular talk amongst sports fans of any genre, and WV high school prep stars are no exception. In this breakdown we'll look at each players season highlights thus far as well as their recruiting progress and projection. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='1573144' first='Maki' last='Cary'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1573144' first='Maki' last='Cary'] has been one of WV's top performers regardless of division or class. The dynamic point guard has a scorer's mentality with the talent to match. Currently the top scorer in Max Preps stat database, Cary has been a force in every game he's played this season. Maki has embraced the role of a scoring guard and it's becoming clear that he's gonna close this year averaging near or at 30/ppg. Cary will be one of the most watched WV players during upcoming AAU season with coaches anticipating their pursuit of the top ten guard. Maki has a current offer from NAIA Kentucky Christian. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='1310623' first='Jamari' last='Jenkins']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1310623' first='Jamari' last='Jenkins'] is in his third year of being the floor general of the Jefferson squad who's made the state tournament every year Jenkins has been at the helm. Jenkins is lightning quick and beats almost every defender off the dribble with a great pull up game. Already boasting an offer from Stony Brook, Jenkins had once transferred out of WV to Goretti in Maryland, but quickly came back due to school closing rumors. Jenkins Jefferson squad has grinded out some real tough wins this year and will need some big games from Jamari down the stretch to win the big ones. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='1408521' first='Aiden' last='Davis']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1408521' first='Aiden' last='Davis'] has taken huge steps into being one of WV's top guards and best scorer/shooters. He's already broken the school record for three pointers in a season as well as averaging 26/game for the Patriots. Davis is a two sport star (QB) but looks to be just as effective and recruitable on the hardwood. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='2208848' first='Clay' last='Robertson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2208848' first='Clay' last='Robertson'] is steadily rising to one of the most recruitable players in WV and the WV/OH/KY tri-state area. Seeing Robertson for the first time in Myrtle Beach Big Shots event last summer, I knew exactly who he was without checking the roster based on how he was playing and what people had described as his style of play. Robertson really has no glaring weakness to his game which is why he's getting some early lower level D1 attention. Speed and explosion paired with real skill gets everyone's attention quickly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='2319940' first='Ruben' last='Salazar']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2319940' first='Ruben' last='Salazar'] is likely a lesser known name in WV due to him recently arriving in the Mountain State to attend Linsly School in Wheeling WV. In talking to former D1 head coach and current Linsly head coach Dave Wojcik, Salazar was a point of emphasis when it came to evaluation. Wojcik was very optimistic about Salazar's future development and his skill level. Salazar who participated on Spain's world championship 16U national team really needs nothing else on his resume to show how much of a talent he is. The first time watching Salazar on tape it was easy to see how he was working to mesh his game with the American style, yet you could also see the fluid and skilled style he possesses and brought across the Atlantic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. [player_tooltip player_id='2208821' first='Caleb' last='Thomas']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2208821' first='Caleb' last='Thomas'] has been hyped by nearly every media outlet, scouting service and coach but has lived up to every bit of it. Thomas who is really comfortable at nearly any position on the floor, is his team's utility man yet also its leading scorer and stat getter. He's an impressive player from alot of standpoints aside from scoring. His level of athleticism is well above average for a 6'7" forward and he shows it finishing breaks. Thomas who we can confirm is getting Division I interest will be heavily recruited likely starting this spring and we'd tend to believe start seeing offers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. [player_tooltip player_id='1573155' first='Braydon' last='Hawthorne']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1573155' first='Braydon' last='Hawthorne'] has went so quickly into the WV prep recruiting scene, most folks haven't realized his moving from Beckley Woodrow Wilson to Huntington Prep. Hawthorne transferred at the beginning of the year and joined the nationally recognized basketball factory with chances to get in front of several more D1 coaches and give himself more opportunity. He's already received offers from Radford and Wichita State, but we'd expect there to be more by season's end after coaches have ample time to evaluate in his new level of play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. [player_tooltip player_id='2114397' first='D'arrae' last='Goodwin']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2114397' first='D'arrae' last='Goodwin'] has emerged as a highly sought after forward after last year's season at Linsly and AAU season, he was quickly pursued by many coaching staffs and has offers from several D1's (too many to list). Goodwin has certainly developed under coach Wojcik at Linsly and gets tested every night out with the tough schedule that they endure. I believe Goodwin's best high school basketball is ahead of him yet, which is amazing considering the rise to his current level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. [player_tooltip player_id='1383019' first='Micah' last='Tucker']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1383019' first='Micah' last='Tucker'] is a do everything guard at one of the nation's top prep schools. With a complete arsenal of weapons at disposal, Tucker, the Georgia native has garnered some serious offers including Florida, Cincinatti, South Florida, Miss St, Auburn and most recently WVU. He's described as fast to the bucket and makes acrobatic finishes. Nonetheless, he's gonna have lots of opportunities it seems to play power 5 basketball if he so chooses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. [player_tooltip player_id='1432004' first='Darryn' last='Peterson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1432004' first='Darryn' last='Peterson'] is the nation's #3 2025 recruit according to 247 Sports. Peterson is described as a combo guard but i think next level you'll see him on a wing as a shooting guard the most. His college offer list looks like a who's who of college basketball. The list includes, Arkansas, Baylor, Indiana, Kansas and most recently Kentucky. Peterson's game and body look ready to take on next level competition and I don't think we've heard the last offer quite yet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->