Virginia All-Freshman Teams
Now that the season is over, it’s time to recognize those who stood out during this memorable campaign. Here we award our All-Freshmen Teams from Virginia. Choosing a total of 15 players to make up the first, second, and third…
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Continue ReadingNow that the season is over, it’s time to recognize those who stood out during this memorable campaign. Here we award our All-Freshmen Teams from Virginia. Choosing a total of 15 players to make up the first, second, and third teams was no easy task. Our staff deliberated for a significant amount of time before finally coming up with the names below. Stay tuned for much more postseason coverage right here at Prep Hoops.
FIRST TEAM
STAB’s Carter Lang was a first-team lockG – DeShawn Harris-Smith | Paul VI
Wilson – DeShawn saw his minutes increase in the latter part of the season and provided a good spark for Paul VI. DeShawn already has a solid body for being so young and looks to be the next big-time prospect out of PVI.
G – Mason So | Bishop O’Connell
Ayalew – Mason So probably improved more throughout the season than any other freshman. By the time the postseason rolled around, the skilled lefty point guard was oozing with confidence which was on display each time he hit the court.
F – Jamie Kaiser | Lake Braddock
Ayalew – Kaiser’s role at Lake Braddock grew as the season progressed, and he was up to the task. By season’s end, he became not only one of the most reliable scorers on his team but in the region.
F – Dennis Parker Jr. | John Marshall – Player of the Year
Herron – “DPJ” wasted no time getting into the groove with one of the best teams in the state regardless of classification and he was a huge reason John Marshall went on to win the state championship. For a young wing with his size at 6’7”, he has a great skill set that includes the ability to handle the basketball both in transition and in the half-court, he can make shots from deep and his size and athleticism is well beyond his years. He finished the season averaging 14 points and 4.6 rebounds and is just scratching the surface with how good he can be.
C – Carter Lang | St. Anne’s Belfield
Herron – The 6’8” freshman was playing his second season on varsity after starting as an eighth-grader and he improved leaps and bounds over just one season. He has a strong frame for his age and played with a good motor for most of the year, dominating the glass and showing a soft touch in the paint and out to the elbow as well. He finished the year averaging 11.6 points per game on 63% shooting from the floor and pitching in 9.1 rebounds and had 12 double-doubles on the year.
SECOND TEAM
Annandale’s John Awoke is one of the best young guards in the stateG – John Awoke | Annandale
Ayalew – Awoke took control of his team from an early stage with stellar play on both ends. He has a chance to develop into one of the better point young guards you will find in the DMV.
G – Kaleb Brown – Nansemond Suffolk
Herron – Brown was a big part of NSA’s success this year and looked every bit like one of the best shooters in the 2023 class that I saw this year. The 6’2” guard can flat out stroke it from deep with good confidence and deep range, and once he gets it going he can fill it up with the best of them. He averaged in double figures for the year with multiple big games including a 35 point outing against a very talented Middleburg team earlier this year.
G – John St. Germain | St. Anne’s Belfield
Wilson – John already has a very good basketball IQ and plays much older than he is. He has a good approach at the lead guard spot and certainly is lining up to be one of the top guards in the state of Virginia for the 2023 class.
F – Steven Stinson – Trinity Episcopal
Herron – Stinson was the youngest guy on a Trinity Episcopal team that made it back to the state Final Four after a hiatus last year, and as the season went on he got better and better. The 6’5” wing has a very good frame and he’s a natural athlete that’s beyond most his age, and he showed the ability to make shots from deep and all over the court as well. He’s going to be a guy that continues to improve and get better with time.
C – Brock Vice – Blacksburg
Herron – Vice is one of the best-kept secrets when it comes to this young class, and if I didn’t go to the Chance Harman Classic in Floyd where he scored 25 points and grabbed 19 rebounds against the eventual state champion Cave Spring. The 6’8” freshman is massive and likely still growing, he moves pretty decently for his size but should become more fluid as he grows into his body and he has great touch out to the three-point line and can dominate the glass. He’ll be a guy to keep an eye on moving forward.
THIRD TEAM
O’Connell’s [player_tooltip player_id="815606" first="Ty" last="Mason"] is a very intriguing long-term prospectG – Ryan Steger | James River-Buchanan
Herron – Steger is a guy that many don’t know about because he plays in a smaller market but the James River freshman lit teams up all season with his shooting ability from deep. The 6’1” guard plays with a confidence and swagger well beyond his years, he can fill it up in bunches and has no conscience from deep. He finished the year averaging 16 points per game while going 34% from deep and 91% from the line.
G – Wesley Williams | Independence
Herron – Williams was the star of a new program in Independence in Loudoun County that didn’t have a senior class but still competed against some of the best in the area. He was thrown into the fire and did very well handling the ball and running the show, averaging 11 points and 6 assists on the year according to his Head Coach Corey Stitzel.
F – Curtis Blair Jr. | Steward
Herron – The son of former NBA player and current NBA official Curtis Blair Sr., the junior looks like he’s following his Dad’s footsteps to be a very good player himself. He has all of the physical and athletic tools at 6’6” as he plays above the rim and is a threat to stretch the defense and make shots as well. He showed flashes of brilliance and will only continue to improve and get more consistent with time.
F – Kaiden Swortzel – Floyd County
Herron – Swortzel is one of my favorite finds of the year because at 6’3” he was almost always playing against bigger guys in the post but always found a way to be productive. In the two games I watched, he had 24 points against the eventual state champs Cave Spring and he had 19 points against East Rockingham who made it to the state semifinals before losing to John Marshall. He’s very crafty around the basket and makes big-time plays on both ends of the floor, and is part of a young Floyd group to keep an eye on.
C – Ty Mason Ty Mason 6'6" | C Bishop O'Connell | 2022 VA | Bishop O’Connell
Ayalew – Mason carved out a spot in Coach Joe Wootten’s rotation and played well down the stretch of his freshman campaign. He is an active big with intriguing physical tools that are still evolving.