Men's BB: Virginia Tech's 2015 Targets **Work in Progress**

****This is a work in progress, will continue it later in the week. Didn't want to lose the progress thus far****

Here I will continue to give you an idea of who it is the coaching staff is targeting for his 2015 class. Virginia Tech should have four scholarships to work with if my math is correct looking at the roster. The position of needs by that look are the two forward positions but as we have seen with this year, we need to consistently bring in a point guard in every class.

These kids are the targets according to 247 Sports. They are listed in the order they appear Nationally on 247 Sports. The list will show that JJ and his staff are at least attempting to recruit some of the top talent, unfortunately without great results, as these kids hold offers from some of the top programs in the country.

I am going to include those that I already highlighted in my other thread that are on the 247Sports Target list, but you will want to check it out HERE for Mid Atlantic Talent as that thread shows some additional kids not included on the list that Tech has offers out to.

One frustrating point and it gives me a greater appreciation for the Washington Post is that it seems that the majority of newspapers or schools, even in their online function do not seem to keep a database of the prep sports scoring or other stats. So a big kudos to WashPo for that as it has easy access to every team in the All-Met area. I am also surprised that the basketball players have yet to really buy into using Hudl as a marketing platform for their skills and stats. Most seem to have plenty of YouTube quickies but Hudl makes their information so clean and easy to navigate.

1.) Dwayne Bacon
HT/WT: 6'6" 190 lbs
Position: Small Forward
National Ranking: 31
Position Ranking: 8
State Ranking (FL): 2

Dwayne is believed to be leaning towards Florida State. This season Bradenton Academy is 8-8, definitely a down year for this school. Neither the school, nor the local newspaper in Bradenton appear to post statistics.

Youtube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN
Twitter: @BaconDwayne1000

2.) Perry (P.J.) Dozier Jr
HT/WT: 6'5" 180 Lbs
Position: Point Guard
National Ranking: 33
Position Ranking: 8
State Ranking (SC): 1

P.J. is at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, SC and has had to sit out this season due to a torn ACL injury. He currently has 16 offers but is thought to be headed to UNC.

YouTube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN
Twitter: @Dozier_Kid

3.) Franklin Howard
HT/WT: 6'4" 185 Lbs
Position: Shooting Guard
National Ranking: 65
Position Ranking: 12
State Ranking (VA): 3

Franklin plays at Paul VI in Fairfax, VA. He is currently seen as being split between Georgetown and Syracuse for his final destination. He had to sit out this season due to an ACL tear so does not have any stats for this season.

YouTube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN
Twitter: @Jesussss_

4.) Joseph Toye
HT/WT: 6'7" 190 Lbs
Position: Power Forward
National Ranking: 78
Position Ranking: 17
State Ranking (IN): 3

Joseph currently plays at La Lumiere School in Laporte, IN. They are ranked 23rd in the country in large part to Joseph's play. They are 17-2 at this point in the season, with both losses coming to Top 50 opponents. Neither the school or local/regional papers seem to track stats but the few game summaries I could find indicate he is a 12-15 PPG/6-8 RPG player right now with at least one senior in front of him on the roster.

YouTube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN
Twitter: @J_toyestory

5.) Jeremy Miller
HT/WT: 6'9" 215 Lbs
Position: Power Forward
National Ranking: 88
Position Ranking: 20
State Ranking (NH): 4

Listed as a Boston College lean, this seems to be the first player on the list that I think JJ or staff could convince to give Virginia Tech a shot. The Blacksburg weather wouldn't faze him being from New Hampshire. Couldn't find any reliable information regarding stats or playing style other than the YouTube video linked below.

YouTube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN
Twitter: @imjuice21

6.) Tevin Mack
HT/WT: 6'6" 185 Lbs
Position: Small Forward
National Ranking: 95
Position Ranking: 19
State Ranking (SC): 2

Tevin doesn't seem to have a strong favorite yet so he could be a good get if the coaches get it in gear. Right now our only major competition for him is UGA, not exactly a basketball powerhouse in its own right but closer to home for him since he is coming out of Dreher High in Columbia, SC. They are 15-6 so far this season. No stats available on his play right now.

YouTube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN
Twitter: @30piecemack

7.) Chris Clarke
HT/WT: 6'5" 170 Lbs
Position: Shooting Guard
National Ranking: 113
Position Ranking: 22
State Ranking (VA): 4

Chris is from Cape Henry Collegiate School in Virginia Beach, VA. He has verbally committed to play at Maryland as of January 17th, 2014. He has led Cape Henry to a 17-0 record so far this season. While no consolidated stats were available, Clarke seems to be the center of his school websites Highlights on every game I click on, scoring somewhere in the high teens in most games. Unfortunately they were sporadic at best of uploading highlights.

YouTube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN

8.) Myles Carter
HT/WT: 6'9" 225 Lbs
Position: Power Forward
National Ranking: 129
Position Ranking: 33
State Ranking (IL): 8

Myles is currently helping St Rita HS in Chicago, IL into a Top Ten ranking in the Chicago area with a 13-6 record. He does not seem to be in a starting role at this point, sitting behind a senior but is still averaging 7.7 PPG with 4.5 RPG in a limited role. He does not seem to have a preferred destination at this point and most of the schools recruiting him hard are the mid-major programs such as Bradley and VCU. Tech should go hard after this kid as he appears to have plenty of room to grow between now and signing day. You have got to see his YouTube dunk that I linked below. Reminds me of a taller version of Deron Washington, dunking from almost at the foul line.

YouTube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN
Twitter: @Mj_Carter41

9.) Kain Harris
HT/WT: 6'4" 180 Lbs
Position: Shooting Guard
National Ranking: 143
Position Ranking: 35
State Ranking (IL): 10

Kain is at Morgan Park in Chicago, IL averaging 15.7 PPG. They are currently 17-5 and sitting one spot behind Myles Carter's St Rita team in the Chicago rankings. This is the third kid in the Chicago area that JJ and his staff seem to be focused on. Not sure which coach brings that connection to the staff but if it pays dividends I am all for it. I love this kids ability to drive the lane as his You Tube clip will show you. He creates space to take shots and can get the ball to the rim which we have lacked all season. He doesn't appear to have a set destination and is being recruited primarily by the mid major schools as well.

YouTube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN
Twitter: @KainHarris11

10.) Terrence Phillips STRONG VT LEAN
HT/WT: 5'10" 170 Lbs
Position: Point Guard
National Ranking: 161
Position Ranking: 41
State Ranking (VA): 7

Terrence is the quasi backup point guard at Oak Hill Academy and has helped them to a 29-3 record. He is the first kid on this list that I consider a solid Virginia Tech lean. JJ spends quite a bit of time recruiting Oak Hill kids and Terrence is no exception. This kid is Brandon Jennings younger brother so comes from a basketball pedigree. He is averaging about 7.8 PPG and 8 APG so far this season in his backup role. He regularly hits double figures in assists playing about half the game for Oak Hill. I really hope we can get this kid into our program as his ball handling would allow him to compete for starting time as soon as he arrived on campus. He can shoot outside, great awareness of where his teammates are and can create his own shot driving the lane. Give his video a look when you have a chance.

YouTube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN
Twitter: @FloorGeneral03 I even love his Twitter handle.

11.) Ronshad Shabazz
HT/WT: 6'3" 175 Lbs
Position: Combo Guard
National Ranking: 190
Position Ranking: 1
State Ranking (NC): 3

Ronshad leads his team in scoring at 21.8 PPG this season, also averaging 3.7 RPG, 1.6 SPG, and 1.8 APG. His assist numbers lead me to believe he plays more in the Shooting guard role but has the ball control to play point guard at the college level. His team is 18-5 on the season. He is a lefty shooter which brings an added degree of difficulty guarding him for most players. He does not appear to have a favorite at this point but is being recruited by Clemson, NC State and Old Dominion. His video shows a solid crossover move at the top of the key, the ability to hit an 15-18 foot jumper regularly and a willingness to drive the lane.

YouTube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN
2013-2014 Stats
Twitter: @RonShabazz_15

From here down, all the players per 247Sports have not been ranked

12.) Malik Beasley
HT/WT: 6'3" 170 Lbs
Position: Shooting Guard
National Ranking: NR
Position Ranking: NR
State Ranking (GA): NR

Malik has led St Francis to a 20-7 record and the top ranking in Class A for the Atlanta area after winning the 6A region title. He has averaged 18.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.1 SPG all while shooting 54% from the floor, 38% from behind the arc, and 76% from the free throw line. We are currently the highest profile school recruiting Malik other than possibly George Mason. He could be a key get in helping to pave the way in getting the other good guard currently a year behind him at St Francis, Kobi Jordan-Simmons. As a sophomore, Simmons has a 17 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.8 SPG line this year while teaming with Beasely. Physically, Beasely reminds me a lot of Robert Brown, but seems to be much more sure of his shot and control. He seems to have the mid range jumper down pat with the ability to create space while driving the basketball.

YouTube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN - No Profile
Twitter: @MaLiKK_5

13.) Keyshawn Evans
HT/WT: 5' 10" 150 Lbs
Position: Point Guard
National Ranking: NR
Position Ranking: NR
State Ranking (FL): NR

Keyshawn has just returned to play late this season as he suffered a knee injury towards the end of the 2012-2013 season that he was working his way back from. There are no stats yet available on how he has done in his recent return. He will go through his senior year at American Heritage next season with hopes of reestablishing himself as a prominent Division I prospect. He is also being recruited by Clemson and Miami.

YouTube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN - No Profile
Florida Hoops has him as the #10 player in FL in his class
Twitter: @Keyshawn57

14.) Drew Edwards
HT/WT: 6'3" 165 Lbs
Position: Shooting Guard
National Ranking: NR
Position Ranking: NR
State Ranking (MD): NR

Edwards has helped Calvert Hall High School to a 26-5 record this year. He is averaging 14.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3 APG, and 1.3 SPG while shooting 45% from the floor, 35% behind the arc and 81% at the free throw line. He seems to equally split ball handling between himself and Nico Clareth, another SG at Calvert. They are both juniors with almost identical stat lines. Edwards is being recruited by Clemson and several of the Ivy League schools. He also has the attention of some of the big name programs in UNC, Georgetown and Arizona, so may be a bubble player for one of their scholarships. Clareth isn't getting nearly that level of attention, his highest profile offer so far is from Radford. He appears to be able to create in the lane driving the ball but has trouble with his jumper outside of 18 feet. Really surprised that Edwards hasn't been ranked or at least scored based on the interest list.

YouTube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN- No Profile

15.) Antwan Maxwell
HT/WT: 6'6" 190 Lbs
Position: Power Forward
National Ranking: NR
Position Ranking: NR
State Ranking (GA): NR

Maxwell has helped lead Johnson High School to a 22-4 season record. He is averaging 10.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 1.3 BPG as the third option scorer on his team. There are currently two senior guards that are the primary options, so Maxwell gets a lot of put back points on his rebounding efforts. Surprisingly, neither of the guards appear to be getting much attention from college scouts. Johnson is a very senior laden team, so next season will really give an indication of how well Maxwell can play as a main focus. Maxwell is the only non-senior in the top six scorers for his team this season.

No Video Available
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN - No Profile

16.) Matt Milon
HT/WT: 6'4" 180 Lbs
Position: Shooting Guard
Rankings Per ESPN*
Regional Ranking: 49
Position Ranking: 48
State Ranking (FL): 14

Matt has helped Oviedo to a 25-4 record so far this season. I am unable to locate his stats for this season but as a sophomore his line was 20.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.3 SPG while shooting 55% from the floor, 39% from behind the arc and 78% from the free throw line. He is being recruited by Florida State, Wichita State and Creighton right now among a handful of offers. JJ really seems to like the left handed guards as this is the third one he is looking at in this class. After watching his tape, I wouldn't be surprised to see Milon grow a couple more inches and end up playing the three spot in college. He seems to have a good outside shot, isn't afraid to take it to the hoop and has the presence to shoot or pass in the lane.

YouTube
247Sports
Yahoo Rivals
ESPN
Twitter: @MattMilon

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