Oak Hill is still Oak Hill
When Steve Smith retired at the end of last season, many were not sure what Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy would look like moving forward. Smith’s legacy was unparalleled 1,225 career wins, nine times crowned national champions, 33 McDonald’s All-Americans, and 35 NBA Draft picks. Over a 37-year career, Steve Smith won 92.5 percent of his games played.
Enter Yerrick Stoneman. Stoneman was an assistant for Smith at Oak Hill from 1996-to-2007. In 2016, Stoneman took the job as head coach at Columbia (SC) Ridge View High. In his six seasons, he won 117 games and four state championships. Seventeen of his players went on to play college basketball during his time at Ridge View, including 2023 No. 1 ranked GG Jackson.
There has not been much buzz surrounding this year’s Oak Hill team. In speaking with Stoneman at yesterday’s open gym, they have only had Vanderbilt and VMI come by since the start of the Fall live evaluation period.
With a new head coach, for the first time in 37 years, and a roster of 14 new players, Oak Hill has reloaded with talent college coaches will soon come to love. Their 2024 class is deeply talented, and it starts with four-star AJ Swinton. He is the known commodity. There are a lot who come from Texas and New Zealand, and they are about to see a significant rise in status.
SG Dontae Russo-Nance (New Zealand)
Dontae Russo-Nance is expected to be the featured player of this Oak Hill team. The 6-foot-4 guard played in Sal’s NBL last season for the Aukland Tuatara, where he finished top ten in assists (4.4) and led the league in steals (2.9). As a 16-year-old playing in a professional league, he also averaged 15.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in helping to lead his team to the championship game.
Russo-Nance has no offers yet, but they should start to pour in once college coaches see him.
Four-star SF AJ Swinton (Baltimore, Maryland)
AJ Swinton is On3’s No. 50 player in 2024. The 6-foot-5 wing transferred from Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha Catholic, where he averaged 7.3 points, and 4.6 rebounds as a starter for the top-50 ranked team. The explosive and long-armed wing already carries offers from Xavier, Maryland, Virginia Tech, and others.
Swinton shot 33.3 percent from three on the Nike EYBL 16u Circuit with Team Takeover this summer. He had a 46.1 effective shooting percentage.
PG Zion Pipkin (Houston, Texas)
The ball will be in Zion Pipkin’s hands this season, and Stoneman is happy about that. Even in practice and open gym, you see the leadership. Pipkin has a strong frame with a quick handle and a smooth shooting stroke from deep. He is also a terror defending the point of attack, “He’s 6-1 with a 6-7 wingspan; you don’t want him guarding you,” Stoneman said.
The 2024 point guard claims offers from Texas Tech, LSU, SMU, and others.
C Bronson Schmidt-Uili (New Zealand)
Bronson Schmidt-Uili has only been in the United States for ten days, but he is quickly adapting. The 6-foot-11 post is expected to start for Oak Hill this season. Schmidt-Uili was a reserve for the New Zealand u17 men’s national team. He has great size and length, and he moves so well. The future four-star has a motor that runs hot and range that extends beyond the three-point line.
Like Russo-Nance, Schmidt-Uili does not have any offers just yet. Once college coaches see him, they should start coming in regularly.
SF Micah Robinson (Dallas, Texas)
Micah Robinson is the glue guy, the swiss-army-knife of the team. At 6-foot-6, 6-foot-7, he has a strong frame with long arms. A player who is not rushed when he pushes the break, he is a switchable defender, able to guard up and down a lineup. He transferred
Robinson claims offers from Texas A&M, Kansas, LSU, Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Kansas State, and others.
2022-23 Oak Hill
This team has talent, and the talent should be on campus for multiple years. I did not even have space in the above piece to talk about the 2023 D-I prospects, 6-7 Jeremiah Whitmore, 6-1 Josh Holloway, 6-3 Elijah Mitchell, or 6-9 Drayton Jones. Another New Zealander, 2024 Nic Book, is a 6-foot-8 lefty sharpshooter who played on the u17 national team. Dame Salane (7-0/2024) is an interesting prospect, and 2025 Kaden Magwood will bring high major schools in.
The Warriors practice Monday through Friday at 2:45. They will also play in some big events this season, starting with the NIBC League. They will also be in the Chic-Fil-A Classic, The Bash, the Hard Rock Challenge, and the Carmelo Anthony Classic.
This Oak Hill team should have 12 players who sign to play D-I basketball. Mid-Major and high-major programs should have a field day recruiting this roster.