Four of Virginia's top prospects from the Class of 2021 and 2022 have received invites to participate in the prestigious Wootten Top 150, a McDonald's All-American Game Evaluation Event held in Texas on the weekend of October 24-25. The quartet from the Commonwealth includes four All-State 1st Team selections in King's Fork guard Jayden Epps, East Rockingham forward Tyler Nickel, Landstown guard Donald Hand Jr., and John Marshall center Roosevelt Wheeler, the lone Class of 2021 prospect among the foursome.
The event is named after the legendary DeMatha sideline boss Morgan Wootten, who passed away earlier this year, and has been continued on in his legacy by his son Joe Wootten, Head Basketball Coach at Arlington's Bishop O'Connell. It's an invite-only event, which will follow COVID protocols (read more about it here).
Let's take a closer look at the Virginia talent that will be headed down to the Lonestar State...
About Jayden Epps: A four-star talent rated No. 53 nationally by Rivals in 2022, Epps was named the VHSL and VHSCA Class 4 State Player of the Year during his sophomore campaign, his first with the Bulldogs after transferring from Granby High in Norfolk. The 6-foot-1 playmaker dazzled all season long, scoring an even 700 points - 25.9 per contest - and opened with a bang when he lit up city rival Nansemond River for 46 points. Gyms were often sold out when King's Fork played as they rolled to a 24-3 record and a share of the Class 4 crown, the program's first state title since 2009.
Among Epps' Offers to Date: Arkansas, Florida, Georgetown, Maryland, NC State, Norfolk State, Old Dominion, Ole Miss, Penn State, Providence, Saint Louis, Texas A&M, UMES, VCU, Virginia Tech and Xavier
Hat's Recruiting Take: With an offer sheet of upwards of 16 schools already, it's sure to be an intense battle for the scoring-minded guard from Tidewater who has generated plenty of buzz, even before he ever entered the ninth grade. In chatting with him, Florida and Virginia Tech seem to have made an early impression on him, though the same could be said for Providence. Arkansas is a school gaining steam. It's hard to predict a destination at this point, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him ultimately even picking a school not currently on his offer sheet.
About Tyler Nickel: Rated a four-star and No. 83 in the country according to Rivals for 2022, Nickel earned 1st Team All-State honors in Class 2 after leading the Eagles to their second straight State Tournament Final Four. He averaged 26.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 38% from three-point distance (77-of-203). To no surprise, the 6-foot-7 forward was chosen the Region 2B Player of the Year.
Among Nickel's Offers to Date: Appalachian State, Clemson, Iowa, James Madison, LSU, NC State, Penn State, Richmond, VCU, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Hat's Recruiting Take: Probably the hardest to read of the four we're highlight at this point, Nickel has been courted hard by the likes of JMU and Virginia Tech going back to his freshman year. In JMU's case, they have a new coaching staff, and while they did have a couple of former East Rock players join their program as walk-ons in Dalton Jefferson and more recently Tyce McNair, they'll have a difficult time beating out programs from the Power 5 conferences for his services. My thinking is Clemson and Penn State will be serious contenders, and the same could be said for Wake Forest, which isn't on the offer sheet at the time, though has been in contact and monitoring his development.
About Donald Hand Jr: A 6-foot-5 combo guard and son of a former standout at the University of Virginia with the same name, Hand Jr. checks in as a four-star and No. 89 overall in the Rivals national rankings for 2022. The Region 6A Player of the Year as sophomore put up 20.3 points per game (488 total points), shot 37.9% from long distance (58-for-153), 44.2% inside the arc (88-of-199), converted 79.3% of his free-throws (138-of-174) while collecting 152 rebounds (6.3 per contest) and 95 assists (3.9 per game).
Among Hand's Offers to Date: Clemson, Connecticut, Hampton, Norfolk State, LSU, Maryland, NC State, Norfolk State, Penn State, TCU, VCU, and Virginia Tech.
Hat's Recruiting Take: When it's all said and done, Hand might be the most coveted of any prospect from Virginia in the Class of 2022 with his blend of size, shooting stroke and basketball smarts. His family, which includes Landstown Head Basketball Coach Dwight Robinson as his step-dad, is very big on the relationship building piece and you won't see 'D.J.' as he's known very vocal on social media. Naturally, UVA is viewed as the consensus leader since his dad starred there. But don't rule out the likes of Cincinnati, Louisville and Villanova here as well as Georgia, Ohio State and South Carolina, all of whom will look to stay in the picture until the very end.
About Roosevelt Wheeler: Listed as a four-star and No. 42 nationally by Rivals in the 2021 recruiting rankings, Wheeler took a leap from a promising big man with potential to an intimidating presence during his junior campaign that saw him help lead the Justices to their second state title in three years and third under Head Coach Ty White, the director of the Team Loaded AAU organization. On a team that played nationally-ranked competition, the 6-foot-10 center averaged 15.8 points, 11.9 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game as he more than doubled both his scoring and rebounding output from the sophomore season prior.
Among Wheeler's Offers to Date: DePaul, Georgetown, Hampton, Kansas, LSU, Memphis, Miami (FL), NC State, Norfolk State, Old Dominion, Providence, Texas A&M, VCU, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Hat's Recruiting Take: This appears to me to me, at this particular point, to be an ACC battle between Louisville and NC State for the towering big man from John Marshall. He's been to Raleigh twice since September of last year and took an unofficial to Louisville in February. If there's a darkhorse / wild card pick, keep an eye on VCU here. Mike Rhoades and his staff have made him a priority, plus are right up the road, so if being an immediate impact player and staying close to home are at the top of the list, the Rams may surprise some folks here.
The event is named after the legendary DeMatha sideline boss Morgan Wootten, who passed away earlier this year, and has been continued on in his legacy by his son Joe Wootten, Head Basketball Coach at Arlington's Bishop O'Connell. It's an invite-only event, which will follow COVID protocols (read more about it here).
Let's take a closer look at the Virginia talent that will be headed down to the Lonestar State...
About Jayden Epps: A four-star talent rated No. 53 nationally by Rivals in 2022, Epps was named the VHSL and VHSCA Class 4 State Player of the Year during his sophomore campaign, his first with the Bulldogs after transferring from Granby High in Norfolk. The 6-foot-1 playmaker dazzled all season long, scoring an even 700 points - 25.9 per contest - and opened with a bang when he lit up city rival Nansemond River for 46 points. Gyms were often sold out when King's Fork played as they rolled to a 24-3 record and a share of the Class 4 crown, the program's first state title since 2009.
Among Epps' Offers to Date: Arkansas, Florida, Georgetown, Maryland, NC State, Norfolk State, Old Dominion, Ole Miss, Penn State, Providence, Saint Louis, Texas A&M, UMES, VCU, Virginia Tech and Xavier
Hat's Recruiting Take: With an offer sheet of upwards of 16 schools already, it's sure to be an intense battle for the scoring-minded guard from Tidewater who has generated plenty of buzz, even before he ever entered the ninth grade. In chatting with him, Florida and Virginia Tech seem to have made an early impression on him, though the same could be said for Providence. Arkansas is a school gaining steam. It's hard to predict a destination at this point, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him ultimately even picking a school not currently on his offer sheet.
About Tyler Nickel: Rated a four-star and No. 83 in the country according to Rivals for 2022, Nickel earned 1st Team All-State honors in Class 2 after leading the Eagles to their second straight State Tournament Final Four. He averaged 26.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 38% from three-point distance (77-of-203). To no surprise, the 6-foot-7 forward was chosen the Region 2B Player of the Year.
Among Nickel's Offers to Date: Appalachian State, Clemson, Iowa, James Madison, LSU, NC State, Penn State, Richmond, VCU, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Hat's Recruiting Take: Probably the hardest to read of the four we're highlight at this point, Nickel has been courted hard by the likes of JMU and Virginia Tech going back to his freshman year. In JMU's case, they have a new coaching staff, and while they did have a couple of former East Rock players join their program as walk-ons in Dalton Jefferson and more recently Tyce McNair, they'll have a difficult time beating out programs from the Power 5 conferences for his services. My thinking is Clemson and Penn State will be serious contenders, and the same could be said for Wake Forest, which isn't on the offer sheet at the time, though has been in contact and monitoring his development.
About Donald Hand Jr: A 6-foot-5 combo guard and son of a former standout at the University of Virginia with the same name, Hand Jr. checks in as a four-star and No. 89 overall in the Rivals national rankings for 2022. The Region 6A Player of the Year as sophomore put up 20.3 points per game (488 total points), shot 37.9% from long distance (58-for-153), 44.2% inside the arc (88-of-199), converted 79.3% of his free-throws (138-of-174) while collecting 152 rebounds (6.3 per contest) and 95 assists (3.9 per game).
Among Hand's Offers to Date: Clemson, Connecticut, Hampton, Norfolk State, LSU, Maryland, NC State, Norfolk State, Penn State, TCU, VCU, and Virginia Tech.
Hat's Recruiting Take: When it's all said and done, Hand might be the most coveted of any prospect from Virginia in the Class of 2022 with his blend of size, shooting stroke and basketball smarts. His family, which includes Landstown Head Basketball Coach Dwight Robinson as his step-dad, is very big on the relationship building piece and you won't see 'D.J.' as he's known very vocal on social media. Naturally, UVA is viewed as the consensus leader since his dad starred there. But don't rule out the likes of Cincinnati, Louisville and Villanova here as well as Georgia, Ohio State and South Carolina, all of whom will look to stay in the picture until the very end.
About Roosevelt Wheeler: Listed as a four-star and No. 42 nationally by Rivals in the 2021 recruiting rankings, Wheeler took a leap from a promising big man with potential to an intimidating presence during his junior campaign that saw him help lead the Justices to their second state title in three years and third under Head Coach Ty White, the director of the Team Loaded AAU organization. On a team that played nationally-ranked competition, the 6-foot-10 center averaged 15.8 points, 11.9 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game as he more than doubled both his scoring and rebounding output from the sophomore season prior.
Among Wheeler's Offers to Date: DePaul, Georgetown, Hampton, Kansas, LSU, Memphis, Miami (FL), NC State, Norfolk State, Old Dominion, Providence, Texas A&M, VCU, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Hat's Recruiting Take: This appears to me to me, at this particular point, to be an ACC battle between Louisville and NC State for the towering big man from John Marshall. He's been to Raleigh twice since September of last year and took an unofficial to Louisville in February. If there's a darkhorse / wild card pick, keep an eye on VCU here. Mike Rhoades and his staff have made him a priority, plus are right up the road, so if being an immediate impact player and staying close to home are at the top of the list, the Rams may surprise some folks here.
