Virginia Rankings Breakdown: 2019 Wings
The Vantage Hoops Virginia 2019 Top 50 Rankings were updated yesterday, and now it’s time to take a closer look. Below is a breakdown of the top five wings in the class. Stay tuned for more content, including additional position-by-position break-downs, biggest stock boosters,…
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Continue ReadingThe Vantage Hoops Virginia 2019 Top 50 Rankings were updated yesterday, and now it’s time to take a closer look. Below is a breakdown of the top five wings in the class. Stay tuned for more content, including additional position-by-position break-downs, biggest stock boosters, and more.
Mike Christmas | 6’4” | Landstown | #7 Overall
Two things come to mind when you think about Christmas, fundamentals and motor. It’s not very often that you see a young man who’s physically bigger and stronger than most kids his age that have the patience and fundamentals that Christmas displays. He’s great in the 15-20 feet range, because he has a pretty jumper off the catch, works well out of the triple threat and can blow by on shot fakes. He moves well without the basketball, and he’s relentless on the glass where he can dominate smaller wings or compete with the bigs. He’s tremendous at getting his own misses, and he can get up and down or play within a system. While he’s more physical and has a higher IQ than most players his age, his next goal should be working on becoming a secondary ball handler and guarding athletic wings on the perimeter.
Zac Ervin | 6’5” | Gate City | #8 Overall
It was a toss up between Ervin and Christmas, who have both had great springs for rival teams in Team Loaded and Boo Williams. Ervin started every game for Gate City last season who made it to the state quarterfinals before losing to eventual champions Martinsville. He has great size for his age and is still growing likely, and he can already put it on the floor, finish through traffic and stretch the defense from deep. The best part is that he is a true competitor who plays better against top competition. He’ll have to get more athletic moving forward so he can guard quicker wings, but his size and skill set at his age already is impressive to watch.
Christian DePollar | 6’4” | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes | #11 Overall
DePollar played big minutes for SSSAS in their run to the state semifinals before falling to their rival Episcopal, and what was encouraging was all of the versatility he showed. DePollar often played the 2-5 for the Saints, and when he was in a stretch four role it was good for them because he made a fourth player that could stretch the floor and attack off the bounce. He has a deadly stroke from deep, and the lefty isn’t afraid to mix it up on the glass on either end. His experience as a freshman should only bold well for him moving forward, and expect him to be a go-to threat offensively for the Saints this year.
Julien Wooden | 6’5” | Northside | #12 Overall
Wooden was limited to a bench role on a very experienced Northside team that made there second straight trip to VCU for the 3A State Tournament, but this spring playing up with Spectrum 16U has really opened our eyes to the ceiling this kid has. At 6’5”, he has really long arms and he’s already able to take his defender off the dribble. The lefty is an effortless athlete, and he can already shoot the deep ball off the catch. He’s still growing, but if he can fill out and add a little more motor to his game he could be a force in a the coming years.
DeArvae Heard | 6’3” | Maury | #14 Overall
Whether or not Heard will be at Maury next year is a question in itself, however we do know that wherever he suits up he’ll be an immediate impact. With broad shoulders and a strong frame that is beyond his years, Heard is able to muscle up and through players much older and stronger than him. He’s a slashing wing with a solid pull-up game, and he plays with an old school 757 toughness about him. As he continues to improve his jump shot, expect to hear Heard’s recruitment pick up, as many things he does translates well to the next level.