NAME TO KNOW:
6’2” Rising Sophomore Joe Foley (Woodberry Forest- VA)
PLAYER: Joe Foley
TWITTER: Joe_Foley_
CLASS: 2018
HEIGHT and WEIGHT: 6’2” & 170lbs
HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Woodberry Forest (Orange, VA)
HIGH SCHOOL STATISTICS: 8 Points, 3.5 Rebounds, 5 Assists per game (2.19 assist to turnover ratio)
AAU PROGRAM: Team Loaded Virginia (15U)
GPA: 3.3
THOUGHTS ON FOLEY:
Woodberry Forest is known as one of the most highly regarded boarding schools in the entire country. Kids from across 30 different states and 18 different countries make the journey to Orange, Virginia each year in hopes of excelling in and outside of the classroom. In the eyes of many, WFS is known as a “football dominant school.” They continuously produce countless amounts of D1 athletes year after year, and always seem to thrive against the opposing competition. But what about the basketball program'
Since taking over the squad back in 2012, Tigers HC Craig Dawson has already shown tremendous signs of improvement. After winning only four games his first year, Dawson has made some serious strides in hopes of turning things around. He has increased his overall winning total each season, and had his team one win short of .500 during the 2014-2015 campaign. This year, the Tigers will have nine players returning on their roster. They’re young, hungry, and willing to give it their all, with the eventual goal of making some serious noise against some of the state’s most elite competition. One player to keep an eye on in particular' Rising sophomore Joe Foley from Menlo Park, California.
When Coach Dawson introduced us to this young gun at our first annual Virginia Top 80 Camp this past March, we immediately became intrigued. When Foley stepped foot in the building bright and early that Sunday morning, it was easy to tell he came to Norfolk to compete. Standing at 6’2”, this hoss made it apparent he wouldn’t let his age become a factor. During the early morning station drills, Foley put his ball handling ability on full display. He wasn’t the quickest, and didn’t necessarily have that “wow” factor that blew us off our feet, but he was consistent and rarely made any mistakes. When the first scrimmage rolled around, we knew we had to pay close attention to see if this West Coast baller was the real deal.
Right from the start of game one, the shifty PG showed us why he is indeed one of the state’s most talented young prospects. Play after play, Foley never seemed to disappoint. On offense, my man was sharp. He possessed what I like to call “The Three Mandatory E’s of Offense.” Explosion, elusiveness, and efficiency. On top of that, Foley distributed the ball evenly, knocked down several jumpers from all angles, and attacked the glass strong throughout the course of the afternoon. Defensively, Foley was an absolute nightmare for opposing PG’s. He forced several turnovers, played tight, on-ball defense, and used his lengthy arms to wreak havoc until the clock hit zero. His overall performance was flat-out impressive.
Although he may seem like the complete package, Foley still needs to improve a few minor aspects of his game. If he can add a little extra strength and bounce to his craft, people can expect his recruitment to skyrocket. But keep in mind; he’s only a sophomore. With a dedicated mindset and the proper guidance, this hidden gem could possibly evolve into one of Woodberry’s most highly recruited guards in quite some time. Foley is apparently quite the stud on the soccer field too. If given the opportunity, he plans on being a two-sport athlete at the next level. His grades are strong, his attitude is superb, and he possesses an unreal amount of athleticism' Watch out VISAA D1. Foley and the Tigers could be a force here in the coming years.