2021 Rankings Update: Bigs Rankings (10-1)
As we continue to breakdown the updated 2021 rankings, we will look at positional rankings from across the state. We’ll take this time to look at the top 30 power forwards and centers, look at the numbers 10-1. #10 Oluwasegon…
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Continue ReadingAs we continue to breakdown the updated 2021 rankings, we will look at positional rankings from across the state. We’ll take this time to look at the top 30 power forwards and centers, look at the numbers 10-1.
#10 Oluwasegon Durosinmi | 6’10” | VA Academy (#32 Overall)
“Duro” as he’s called by teammates and coaches has been on our radar since he was a freshman and it’s about time coaches start to take notice. Yes, he’s still a project but he has great physical and athletic features, he plays with a good motor on both ends of the floor and he has tons of untapped potential.
#9 Avery Ford Avery Ford 6'7" | PF Centreville | 2021 State VA | 6’7” | Centreville (#31 Overall)
A two sport star that also shines as a defensive end on the football field, Ford is one of the best blue collar bigs in the state as he dominates the game on both ends of the floor. He’s a great post defender that challenges shots and walls up without fouling, he hustles to get rebounds and win 50-50 balls and he’s a solid offensive threat in the paint that doesn’t need many plays ran for him. His game isn’t the sexiest or anything but he goes at and gets it done against whoever is in front of him.
#8 Xzavier Long Xzavier Long 6'6" | PF VA Academy | 2021 State VA | 6’6” | Middleburg (#28 Overall)
Long isn’t a true big man as he’s more of a small ball guy that thrives in four out systems where he can either play in the post or on the perimeter. He’s surprisingly mobile and agile for his size and he’s able to step out on the perimeter where he can shoot the three ball or put it on the deck, and he’s great as a guy that gets up and down and can finish when he gets downhill. He’s highly skilled and still can be physical with his size in the paint.
#7 Dominic Strother Dominic Strother 6'10" | PF Woodstock Academy | 2022 VA | 6’8” | Central-Woodstock (#21 Overall)
Strother may be from a small school you likely haven’t heard of, but he’s the perfect example of the new school big men who have guard skills with impressive height. At 6’8” Strother plays like a wing as he can run or put it on the deck in transition, he’s a fluid athlete that can switch and guard defensively and he’s a good shooter from behind the arc as well. He needs to continue to fill out and get stronger but he’s got a skill set that college coaches would salivate over.
#6 IJ Ezuma IJ Ezuma 6'8" | PF Hargrave | 2021 State VA | 6’8” | Hargrave (#19 Overall)
Ezuma took big leaps with his game his junior season as he helped Hargrave’s varsity team to one of their best seasons in recent memory. The 6’8” big is a workhorse in the paint as he’s got huge hands and huge shoulders, he moves well and gets off his feet well and he’s added to his offensive repertoire with some face up moves and improved touch. He’s a guy who pursues the basketball extremely hard and is a high level rebounder and he’s getting better every time we see him which bolds well for him moving forward. He’s also a high academic kid.
#5 Bryson Spell Bryson Spell 6'7" | PF Cape Henry | 2021 State VA | 6’8” | Cape Henry (#17 Overall)
Spell is a stock riser right now after an increase in production throughout his junior season and a skill set that fits many systems moving forward. He’s sprouted to about 6’8”, he’s added a good amount of muscle allowing him to be more physical in the paint and he’s a big time shooter from deep when he gets it going. With his ability to stretch the floor from deep at his size there’s going to be a lot of college coaches that will be recruiting him moving forward.
#4 Clarence Rupert Clarence Rupert 6'7" | PF Miller School | 2021 State VA | 6’7” | Miller School (#11 Overall)
Rupert transferred to Miller School and reclassified to the 2021 class after winning the VHSL Class 5 POY the year before at Maury. He continued to show improvement and even an increase in production this year at Miller School where he was a walking double-double and showed great versatility as a guy who can play both inside and out. He averaged 18 points and 9 rebounds while showing improvement in his body and his game.
#3 Gabe Wiznitzer Gabe Wiznitzer 7'0" | C Hargrave | 2021 VA | 7’0” | Hargrave (#4 Overall)
Wiznitzer is one of the most skilled bigs in the country and his game took a big leap this year playing against mainly older guys on Hargrave’s post graduate team. The 7’0” big man is a guy who can do many things and you can even run an offense through with his ability to pick apart the defense in the paint or at the perimeter and he can score from multiple levels. He’s a fundamental guy who can shoot it from deep, has a great pump fake and he can hit the pull-up, he scores with both hands around the basket and his size is tough to handle in the paint. He holds a number of offers from schools across the country.
#2 Roosevelt Wheeler Roosevelt Wheeler 6'9" | C John Marshall | 2021 State #62 Nation VA | 6’11” | John Marshall (#3 Overall)
Wheeler may have been not only the most improved big man in the state but possibly the entire country as he showed a number of things that we were waiting to click for him. After an injury riddled sophomore campaign, Wheeler came back with something to prove and did so earning All Metro honors while averaging a double-double of 15.8 points and 11.9 rebounds while also having 4.4 blocks per game. He showed improved confidence and touch offensively while demanding the basketball more, he’s a guy who’s very athletic and can run the floor and finish above the rim and he’s a big time rim protector as well. He continues to pick up offers and should have his choice of schools moving forward.
#1 Efton Reid Efton Reid 7'0" | C The Steward School | 2021 #27 Nation FL | 7’0” | Steward School (#2 Overall)
Reid fell from the #1 spot but it had nothing to do with him and had everything to do with how well Trevor Keels Trevor Keels 6'4" | SG Paul VI | 2021 State #18 Nation VA has been playing as of late. Reid is one of the most unique prospects in the country with a Tim Duncan kind of feel to his game. He’s an unselfish guy who’s a great teammate and pushes his team to get better, he continues to grow into his body and become more mobile and a better athlete and he works on both ends to produce as much as possible. He separates himself from other bigs with his versatility offensively as he’s a guy who can go block to block, he uses his size to finish through traffic and above the rim and he can step out on the perimeter where he’s a confident shooter and passer as well. He averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 75% from the field, and he has some of if not all of the top programs across the country recruiting him.