We’ve seen a lot of players come through our doors over the years, varying in appearance, skill level, and everything in between. We decided to put forth a “Getting to Know” series on some players who have attended events but still remain on the lesser-known side of things. Each of these prospects embody being a student-athlete and getting it done in the classroom as well as on the basketball court, and today’s edition will take a closer look at TJ Ragland of Henderson Collegiate.
We’ve seen Ragland in every possible setting, including most recently at our All-American camp, where we stated, “Next, we look at a player that easily stood out amongst the top campers in attendance, TJ Ragland. He’s a tough, skilled guard prospect with IQ, rebounding instincts, and quality defensive prowess. Ragland scored the ball efficiently from all levels, set up others with regularity, and led by example on either side of the ball. Next in his development process working to get stronger, as it would make him a more physically imposing player on either end of the floor. Coach Harmon on Ragland: “TJ is a good defender and penetrator. He’s capable of finishing in traffic with both hands. He plays hard on both ends. TJ is very coachable, has good court vision, and rebounds very well for his position. He’s very unselfish and will make the extra pass. TJ can continue to work on stopping the ball in transition. He can also improve on being a more vocal leader. TJ can also be more aggressive on offense.” Ragland enjoyed a terrific showing at camp, securing the Mr. Station award with relative ease, and should be the leader of Henderson Collegiate during the upcoming season.”
Going forward, Ragland will be tasked with operating as the clear leader of this Henderson Collegiate squad. His game is drastically different than the Pride’s previous leaders (Kalib Matthews, Javonte Waverly, Akhiris Holden, etc.), but this roster should still find a ton of success behind their new captain. Ragland offers a tough, smart two-way identity with athleticism and a rugged mentality. He plays hard, overwhelms opponents defensively, and more than carries his weight as a rebounder. Ragland is a useful all-around scorer but prefers to attack the basket and midrange area whenever possible. He’s a quality athlete and overall teammate with a willingness to make extra passes and work for extra opportunities. Ragland should have no problem operating as the tone-setter for this group, and his recruitment should steadily progress throughout the course of the high school season.