VISAA Division 1 Playoff Preview
It’s state championship time across the country, and the VISAA will get started with their first round games starting today in all three divisions. We’ll be taking a look with a quick preview for each division, starting with the biggest…
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Continue ReadingIt’s state championship time across the country, and the VISAA will get started with their first round games starting today in all three divisions. We’ll be taking a look with a quick preview for each division, starting with the biggest one in division one. If you need to check the brackets and see who plays who and when, take a look here. Otherwise, enjoy the preview and be ready for the Final Four and state championship at Virginia State this weekend!
Champion Pick: #2 St. Stephen’s St. Agnes
Last year SSSAS came in as a 3 seed despite being one of the top teams in the state all year, and this year they get the nod as the 2 seed after winning the state title last year. They have a senior ladened group led by 6’10” Bucknell commit Andre Screen and 6’3” Radford commit Xavier Lipscomb, and they have a number of senior wings with a blend of good size, athleticism and shooting ability as well. They are one of the deepest teams in the state and extremely well coached, giving them an edge despite it being one of the deepest D1 tournaments in the past few years.
Top 4
#1 Paul VI
The WCAC runner-ups could make for an interesting Northern VA matchup with SSSAS in the championship, and both teams wouldn’t be afraid of each other. PVI has one of the top backcourts in the state, if not the country, led by McDonald’s All-American and Duke commit Jeremy Roach who is as dynamic and skilled as they come. Junior combo guard Trevor Keels has turned himself into one of the best guards in his class as well, while sophomore jitter bug and playmaker Dug McDaniel makes everyone on the team better. Guard play is usually big in the playoffs, and you won’t find any better than this group.
#3 Episcopal
Darius Johnson EpiscopalEpiscopal has quietly been one of the top teams in the state, but they haven’t been able to get over the hump of IAC rivals St. Stephen’s St. Agnes in the past few years. The Maroons have as talented a starting five of anyone led by 2021 guard Darius Johnson, currently ranked #4 in the 2021 class in VA, along with Quinnipiac commit Tymu Chenery, Catholic commit Jack Fitzpatrick and 2021 6’6” wing Garrett Johnson. They have the mix of experience, talent and athleticism to compete with anyone and will be a tough out against whoever they meet.
#4 Trinity Episcopal
Trinity has been one of the top teams in the Richmond area over the past few years, and this year they have one of the best seniors in the state in Duke commit Henry Coleman. The 6’8” forward plays with a motor and athleticism that is hard to matchup with, and along with Boise St commit Burke Smith they have one of the most formidable front courts in the state. Junior guards AJ Williams and Erik Prosise provide outside shooting and they have plenty of depth as well.
Dark Horses
#5 Cape Henry Collegiate
Christian Moore CHCSome people believe the Dolphins should have got a bye and they absolutely have the resume for it and a quarterfinal matchup with Trinity Episcopal is going to be a very good one if they make it. Cape is a little young with their captains being 2021 point guard Christian Moore and 2021 Bryson Spell, and their entire starting lineup consists of juniors and sophomores. Sophomore forward Greg Melvin is an x-factor to keep an eye on.
#7 St. Christopher’s
Gill Williamson St. ChrisThe Saints were somewhat of a surprise this year, so much that their Head Coach Hamill Jones was named Prep League Coach of the Year. Their front court is one of the more underrated ones in the state with a senior trio of Gill Williamson, Walker Wallace and Nigel Green who all play hard and can athletically matchup with anyone. Their backcourt is young but talented and they have competed with the best of the best all year. They do have a tough first round matchup with a talented Benedictine team though.
#8 Flint Hill
Noel Brown Flint HillAnother team that has a formidable front court with seniors 6’9” Dowar Jioklow and George Washington commit 6’10” Noel Brown. The two bigs have a physicality and athleticism that will be tough for anyone else to matchup with. They have a few guards in senior Justice Ellison and sophomore Saxby Sunderland who can get the job done, but the road to get out of NOVA will be tough for them.
All State Predictions
*Note: While the All State teams will be broken up into three, we just decided to throw in a bunch of names we believe will make any of the teams.
POY: Henry Coleman | 6’8” PF | Trinity Episcopal 2020
Coleman will get the nod over fellow Duke commit Jeremy Roach of Paul VI from a pure production standpoint. The 6’8” forward is the heart and soul of the Trinity team and he leads them in both scoring and rebounding over the last two seasons. He plays with a great motor on both ends, he’s efficient and brings it every night against the best of the best.
Jeremy Roach | 6’1” PG | Paul VI 2020
Trevor Keels | 6’4” G | Paul VI 2021
Xavier Lipscomb | 6’3” G | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes 2020
Andre Screen | 6’10” C | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes 2020
Darius Johnson | 6’0” G | Episcopal 2021
Christian Moore | 6’0” G | Cape Henry 2021
James Berry III | 6’4” WG | Bishop Ireton 2020
Justin Taylor | 6’5” WG | St. Anne’s Belfield 2022
Gill Williamson | 6’8” PF | St. Chris 2020
Tymu Chenery | 6’6” WF | Episcopal 2020
Noel Brown | 6’10” C | Flint Hill 2020
Burke Smith | 6’11” C | Trinity Episcopal 2020
Malachi Poindexter | 6’0” G | St. Anne’s Belfield 2020
Jamel Melvin | 6’8” PF | Potomac School 2020
AJ Williams | 6’0″ G | Trinity Episcopal 2021
Knasir “Dug” McDaniel | 5’9” PG | Paul VI 2022