by Dave FairbankOakley, a 6-foot-4 guard, was Player of the Year in Suffolk, first-team all-conference, first-team all-region and first-team all-state in Group 4A by the Virginia High School Coaches' Association and Virginia Preps.
"He's a great kid and a good worker," Nansemond River coach Ed Young said. "
He was our primary scorer, but he did a little bit of everything for us." Oakley averaged 18.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, three assists and three steals per game for the Warriors, who went 19-4 and at one point were ranked No. 1 in the state.
He was a shooting guard, but played every position from point guard to power forward.
Despite Oakley's success and production, Young said that Hampton was his only Division I
scholarship offer."When you watch him play the first time, he might not impress you," Young said. "He's a little herky-jerky. He's got a funky-looking jump shot and an old man defensive stance. Coaches are looking for that 'wow' factor and explosiveness, and Devon doesn't have that. He's just a good player.
"I'm frustrated that he didn't have more Division I offers because I think he's a Division I player. He had a ton of D-II and D-III offers, but he didn't listen to them because his goal is to play Division I. When Hampton offered, he decided to pursue it." Young said that Oakley considered prep school to enhance his status and game when no Division I scholarship offers came.
That's one reason Young said that Oakley should consider redshirting, along with acclimating himself both academically and athletically.
"In my estimation, Hampton is getting one of the best players in the 757 (area code), with little effort," Young said. "There's going to be some teams that realize they missed on this kid.
If he continues to improve in college like he did in high school, he'll be a pretty good player by his junior year."
