VA Preps Classic Senior Standouts (Part 2)
Last weekend was Session 2 of the 11th Annual Virginia Preps Classic, which for the past decade has been one of the top High School basketball one day classics every year. Fun fact, I was injured for the game but…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingLast weekend was Session 2 of the 11th Annual Virginia Preps Classic, which for the past decade has been one of the top High School basketball one day classics every year. Fun fact, I was injured for the game but participated in the first ever Virginia Preps Classic as a senior.
With snow disrupting the first session, the second session was a big one that had seven games and went from 11 in the morning to almost 11 at night. With all those games there were a number of standouts, and we broke down the different standouts based on class. Here’s a look at the scores and part two of the senior standouts and best players from the event.
Bethel 44 James Monroe 34
Tallwood 76 Thomas Edison 62
Nansemond River 62 Woodrow Wilson 50
Green Run 59 Western Albemarle 23
Varina 74 Norcom 51
John Marshall 69 Landstown 55
Oscar Smith 85 Wakefield 46
Jairus Ashlock | 6’2 G | John Marshall 2019
Ashlock is a guy who provides the Justices with energy and production in spurts, and without him they wouldn’t have won this game. The big bodied guard is a natural scorer who has learned and found ways to be effective without scoring on such a good team. Defensively he has good instincts as far as rotating in the press and in help, and he can use his size to rebound as well. He’s skilled and has a natural feel for the game, he’s just a ballplayer honestly. He finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.
Levar Allen | 6’0” PG | John Marshall 2019
While Allen struggled at times against the press, he still did a good job handling the basketball for the majority of the game and breaking down the defense. He only took five shots on the game, hitting four of them and scoring 13 points including going 2-for-2 from downtown, and he was a steady defender and tone setter as well. He played pretty much the whole game and was a rock for them throughout it.
Aubrey Merrit | 6’0” PG | John Marshall 2019
The x-factor on the team, Merrit is never going to have the best box score on the team but the guy makes plays and flat out knows how to play the game. He doesn’t shoot much but he’s a top notch on ball defender, he sees the floor and has great passing ability and he’s a hustle and energy guy that does all of the little things for his team. He finished with just three points on two shots but he had five assists and four steals while guarding Landstown’s best few players.
Mike Christmas | 6’6” F | Landstown 2019
The JMU commit didn’t get off to a fast start, but with the JM’s defense hounding him including 6’11” Roosevelt Wheeler, there wasn’t a lot of easy opportunities to get it going. He still did but hitting a couple shots, but in the second half he stepped it up. He finished with 15 points and five rebounds, and they weren’t easy for him to get.
Christian Jones | 6’1” G | Landstown 2019
With defenses focusing on Christmas, Jones stepped up in a big way and made shots in both halves when they needed him to. He’s a high motor, two-way guy who plays bigger than he is and has a solid skill set. He finished with 12 points on the game and brought energy throughout it.
Kai Lockhart | 6’0” G | Oscar Smith 2019
In a blowout win over Wakefield, a lot of the Smith younger guys got to show what they can do but it was Lockhart who got it going early and set the tone for the Tigers. A skilled guard with good size that can play on and off, he’s an efficient shot maker that can make plays as well. He got out to a hot start going 4-for-6 from the field and scoring 10 points in the first half, and with the score getting out of hand he didn’t play much in the second half. He finished with 13 points and three assists in the win.
Rob Starkey | 6’2” PF | Wakefield 2019
Despite the big loss, Starkey, who had a terrific game in last year’s state championship game, was a force inside. Despite being just 6’2”, Starkey is a massive guy with good quickness and touch in the post. He’s able to create space and score with either hand, and his size and strength is something that’s tough to matchup with. He finished with 16 points on 7-for-7 shooting from the field.