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Virginia Rankings: A Look at the Top 10 Prospects in the 2021 Class

By Big Shots Nation, 05/15/20, 10:00AM EDT

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A look at the Top 10 2021 prospects in the state of Virginia.

#1 Trevor Keels - 6'4 - Guard/Wing - Paul VI

Trevor Keels had a strong junior campaign which saw him earn offers from Duke, North Carolina, Louisville among other high major programs in the country. He earned MaxPreps All-American honors as well as MaxPreps All-State honors after averaging 17.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game en route to a VISAA State Title. He’s a big wing at 6-foot-5 that creates all sorts of havoc on both ends with his ability to score it on all three levels and defend the ball. He’ll be a breakout star in 2020-21 in the WCAC.

#2 Zay Folkes - 6'3 - Guard/Wing - Middleburg

One word that can be used to describe Zay Folkes’ game is electrifying. He’s a versatile option on the floor at 6-foot-3 that can play the point guard spot or on the wing to make things happen using his freak athleticism. He filled up the stat sheet this season for Middleburg, averaging 20.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game as he made up one of the top backcourt duos alongside Jaden House. House is headed to High Point, while Folkes will look to use his senior season to go out with a bang. He holds offers from Murray State, Georgetown, George Mason, Elon and others in the mid-major ranks.

#3 Efton Reid - 6'9 - Forward/Center - The Steward School

Efton Reid is a 6-foot-11 prospect with tremendous upside in the frontcourt for Steward School. He’s got tremendous mobility for his size on both ends which allows him to make his presence known in the paint. He’s a stretch-5 player that’s due for a big senior year with his ability to do it all on the floor. He put up 17.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per contest in 2019-20. He holds offers from LSU, Michigan, Kansas, Louisville, Virginia and other high major programs, showing he’ll land on his feet with his better days ahead of him.

#4 Roosevelt Wheeler - 6'11 - Forward/Center - John Marshall

Roosevelt Wheeler is another big man prospect due to land in the high major ranks when his high school career ends at John Marshall High School. He produced 15.8 points, 11.9 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game for the Justices as they won yet another state crown to add to his cupboard. Wheeler has won a state title through three seasons at John Marshall and will look to make it 4-for-4 in 2020-21. He’s another mobile prospect though he’s not as much of a shooter on the perimeter on the offensive end, he’s still capable of going out on the perimeter and defending players off the dribble. 

#5 Clarence Rupert - 6'7 - Wing/Forward - Miller School

Clarence Rupert has seen his ceiling grow a ton since joining Miller School in 2019-20. He put up 18.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game as they adjusted under new head coach Jack Meriwether. He’ll be looked upon to do a whole lot more as one of their primary scorers in the rotation once again in 2020-21. He holds offers from Wichita State, St. Louis, Murray State, Georgia and others heading into his senior season.

#6 Angelo Brizzi - 6'3 - Guard - Highland School

Angelo Brizzi is a growing name in the state of Virginia at Highland School. He averaged 20.3 points, 6.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game this past season for Highland School and has seen his status among college circles grow a ton. He’s a 6-foot-3 combo guard that shot 35 percent from 3-point land in 2019-20 and does damage scoring off the bounce and on the perimeter. He posted 34 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds for his squad in the VISAA State Semis this past season and will return in 2020-21 looking to go out with a bang. He already holds a slew of offers from high major and mid major programs, recently getting offers from Michigan, Iona, Virginia Tech and Providence.

#7 Jason Nelson - 6'1 - Point Guard - John Marshall

Jason Nelson is a floor general that’s going places at John Marshall High School. He was named Virginia’s 2A State Player of the Year after the Justices won the 2A State Title over Gate City. He’s a crafty point guard that can finish tough through traffic and make plays for others. He was an unstoppable piece in the backcourt alongside Dennis Parker Jr., producing 17.3 points, 5.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game. Howard, Richmond, Drexel, VCU, Vanderbilt and others have already extended offers for his services at the next level, among others.

#8 Garrett Johnson - 6'7 - Guard/Wing - Episcopal High School 

Garrett Johnson is an emerging forward prospect at Episcopal High School. He’s benefited from his prior work during the pandemic shutdown, earning two offers recently from Towson and Loyola Chicago to add to his growing list of offers. He’s a mobile forward that looks to attack the rim at all times from the wing and in the paint. He averaged 18.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in 2019-20 and returns looking to do more damage to end his final season. 

#9 Allen Strothers - 6'1 - Guard - Menchville

Allen Strothers is an underrated combo guard that loves getting to the paint and exploding to the rim with his athleticism. He’s 6-foot-1 guard that’s coming into his own as a floor leader from a vocal and scoring standpoint. He’s already got a professional background, given his father, Lamont, played in the NBA back in the 90s. He’ll look to tap into that skill set as his senior season approaches. He holds offers from Towson, Robert Morris, Elon, Radford and others.

#10 Kenard Richardson - 6'3 - Guard - Life Christian

Kenard Richardson is a big guard that’s finding his way at Life Christian Academy. He does well to navigate the defense when looking to score on all three levels and using his underrated athleticism to get to the rim when they’re on their heels. He’s got nice size at 6-foot-3 that he uses well to make space and make plays for others. He’ll be the first commit in Rick Pitino’s 2021 class at Iona.