Virginia Rankings Breakdown: 2018 Underrated and Under Recruited
The Vantage Hoops Virginia 2018 Top 100 Rankings were updated yesterday, and now it’s time to take a closer look. Below is a breakdown of 10 of the most under recruited players in the class. Stay tuned for more content, including additional position-by-position break-downs,…
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Continue ReadingThe Vantage Hoops Virginia 2018 Top 100 Rankings were updated yesterday, and now it’s time to take a closer look. Below is a breakdown of 10 of the most under recruited players in the class. Stay tuned for more content, including additional position-by-position break-downs, biggest stock boosters, and more.
Antwan Miles | 5’10” PG | Phoebus | #41 Overall
Miles was overshadowed by some of the upperclassmen point guard talent on the peninsula this season like Devante Carter, Jalen Ray and Jermaine Marrow, but his time certainly is coming. A lightning quick lead guard that uses his speed to put constant pressure on the defense, Miles excels in transition where he commands so much attention because of his ability to finish at the rim. He has a high IQ on both ends, takes care of the basketball, is coachable and he’s a fearless competitor that will come at you on every play. Once people see that his size doesn’t affect his productivity he’ll start to see his recruitment take off.
Kobe Tigney | 6’5” WF | Handley | #43 Overall
Tigney is part of a group that looks to revive a once prestigious Winchester area program in Handley High School. Along with fellow Erick Green Premier forward Gus Wise (#52 overall), Tigney is an athletic wing with attributes that translate. Just looking at him you think he’s going to be a player. He has great size and a strong frame, and he has the natural athleticism to play with anyone. He has to work on his outside shooting ability, but he has the tools to be a lock down and versatile defender right now.
Tommie Pope | 6’0” PG/WG | Norcom | #47 Overall
It’s hard to get much recognition when you play in the same high school backcourt as Travis Fields and Travis Ingram, but Pope has started as a freshman and sophomore for the three time state champions for a reason. Pope is a pesky guard that stays on the floor by making good decisions, pressuring ball handlers and locking up the best perimeter scorer on the other team. He has shown more to his game this spring with Team Loaded 757, where he’s relied upon to score more while still keeping others involved. What has shocked us somewhat is how athletic Pope has become as he’s matured and grown into his body. If he can develop a reliable jump shot from deep, Pope could be highly sought after by scholarship programs looking for a point guard with a winning pedigree.
Ayush Mayur | 6’5” WF | Rock Ridge | #50 Overall
One of the smartest kids in the state, high academic schools such as the Patriot and Ivy League conferences should be all over Mayur right now. He has good size at 6’5″, and while he’s a little stiff athletically he makes up for it with his intelligence and skill set. His biggest strength is his shooting touch, as Mayur is deadly from deep and just as good off of one or two dribble pull ups. He plays with a high motor and competitiveness, and while he still needs to fill out he isn’t afraid to bang in the paint for rebounds. The most encouraging thing for Mayur, who is a quiet and humble kid, is that he’s playing with more confidence and expressing himself more on the basketball court. For a kid who scored over 1500 on the SAT as just a SEVENTH grader, it’s nice to see that he isn’t overthinking every little thing, and he’s just playing the game and having fun.
Jahdon Robinson | 6’4” WG/WF | LC Bird | #51 Overall
After a standout season on JV as a freshman, Robinson was called up for his sophomore season, and despite only playing limited minutes on an experienced team, playing for a team that went to the state championship seems to have done wonders for his confidence. At 6’4”, Robinson is an athletic wing that shows versatility on both ends. He can guard the 1-3 on the perimeter, is a good rebounder for his position and provides energy with above the rim and hustle plays for his team. He still is grasping many concepts of the game, but he has the talent and athleticism to take a big jump his junior season with the Skyhawks.
Timon Jones | 5’10” PG/WG | Henrico | #53 Overall
The brother of Virginia Wesleyan guard Tim Jones, Timon has had a terrific start to the summer with Team Richmond Garner Road, and is set to take the reigns as Henrico’s go-to scorer with the graduation of their three top scorers in De’Monte Buckingham, Richard Sanders and Gus Rowland. Despite his under 6’0” frame, Jones is an explosive athlete that gets in and out of cuts well that allows him to create space for his shot. He’s a knock down shooter from deep, but he can attack and create off the bounce and he’s a capable scorer at all three levels with a killer’s mentality. He has to continue to work on making his teammates better on the offensive end, but whoever can look past his height has a chance to get a sleeper at the next level.
Marcus Holman Jr. | 6’2” PG/WG | Benedictine | #65 Overall
(Photo courtesy of ASSIST Student Athletes)Jones’ backcourt mate with TRGR, Holman had a huge year at Patrick Henry where he averaged close to 20 points per game, which they needed him to do to keep them in a lot of games. He made the decision to reclassify at Benedictine and repeat his junior season, where we should be able to see more of his facilitating side because he won’t be relied upon as much to score. What makes Holman so good is his ability to play both guard positions and change his game to whatever the team needs to help them win. He has good vision with the ball in his hands, he can score it off the catch from deep and finish at the basket, and he’s a high energy defender that can guard multiple positions. He’ll be vital for Benedictine, who needs help creating easy shots from the guard position.
Justin Jasper | 6’2” WG | St. Christopher’s | #69 Overall
St. Chris was a team we got to see double-digit times last season, and what was most impressive from Jasper was that he continually improved throughout the season despite being overshadowed by the backcourt of Alex Petrie and Nick Sherod. Jasper took his role as defensive stopper very seriously, as he was looked to pick up the best player on the other team full court, and that wasn’t easy with the tough schedule that STC played last season. As the season went along, Jasper became more of a focal point offensively, giving the Saints a third perimeter option that shot it at a high percentage and was okay without having many plays run for him. We’d like to see him be more aggressive off the bounce offensively, but you can’t fault a kid who knows and loves his role when it helps his team win regularly.
Cole Meadows | 6’3” WF | Giles County | #71 Overall
Our first chance to see Meadows was at the Chance Harmon Classic when Giles played George Wythe, and we were intrigued by his frame, length and athleticism on the wing. The next time we saw him was the first live period with Spectrum, where he impressed us with his improvement in such a short amount of time. At 6’3”, Meadows has the length and athleticism to be a versatile defender and a monster in the open court. However, he’s improved his midrange and perimeter jump shot to where he’s a legitimate scoring threat from outside now. He still has to fine tune his handle and continue to work on his offensive game, but if Meadows routinely plays with energy on both ends he has a chance to be an impact player in whatever game he’s in.
Toreaz Settles | 6’5” WF | Hermitage | #82 Overall
With good size, a high motor and a competitive chip on his shoulder, Settles is set for a big year with Hermitage this season. The 6’5” wing is a versatile offensive player that can shoot the midrange, work out of the triple threat and moves well without the basketball. He has a fire to him as well, where he looks like he’ll run through a brick wall if it helps his team win a basketball game. He’s a solid rebounder and defender, and if he can keep his emotions in check and stay serious on and off the court he could be a stand out player on the west end of Richmond.