VISAA D2 Preview: State Title Contenders
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We take a look at our preseason preview of the VISAA divisions as the season is right around the corner. We will start with division two, featuring some of the top programs in the state. Here’s a look at some…
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Continue ReadingWe take a look at our preseason preview of the VISAA divisions as the season is right around the corner. We will start with division two, featuring some of the top programs in the state. Here’s a look at some of the state title contenders and dark horse candidates as we head into the season.
State Title Favorites
Blue Ridge
The Barons are one of the premier perennial powerhouse programs in the state as they’ve won five of the last seven VISAA D2 state championships, including last season, and they come with a deep roster that fits Head Coach Cade Lemcke’s style of play. The Barons are huge up front with 6’8” senior Syracuse commit Maliq Brown Maliq Brown 6'8" | PF Blue Ridge | 2022 State #123 Nation VA (pic) and 6’10” senior Houston Emory Houston Emory 6'10" | C Blue Ridge | 2022 State VA returning to man the middle, and they have depth in the front court too with 6’7” sophomore Shanon Simango Shanon Simango 6'6" | PF Blue Ridge | 2024 State #301 Nation VA who has taken a lot of strides over the offseason. They return a few key guys in senior point guard Devin Walker Devin Walker 6'0" | PG Blue Ridge | 2022 State VA and junior 6’7” wing Macon Emory Macon Emory 6'7" | SF Perkiomen School | 2024 State PA , and have added a lot of talented new pieces including junior point guard Robby Matos Robby Matos 5'9" | PG Blue Ridge | 2023 VA , junior wings Logan Rhoades Logan Rhoades 6'2" | CG Mills Godwin | 2023 State VA and Diarmid Stewart and a host of other players as well, making them very deep.
Miller School
Miller went through a rebuilding phase the past few years, but Head Coach Jack Meriwether has a loaded roster this year with great size and athleticism that fits his pressing style and they will be a very tough team on both ends of the floor. A couple of newcomers in senior wing and Fairfield commit Anthony Davis Anthony Davis 6'5" | SF Miller School | 2022 State VA (pic) and nationally ranked junior Austin Ball Austin Ball 6'7" | SF Miller School | 2023 State #203 Nation VA both bring good size on the wing and compliment each other well, while the front court is led by senior Navy commit 6’8” Ethan DeLaurier and his 6’8” sophomore brother Eli DeLaurier Eli DeLaurier 6'8" | C Miller School | 2024 #173 Nation VA who is already getting recruited nationally, along with 6’7” senior Jacob Rice Jacob Rice 6'7" | SF Miller School | 2022 State VA giving them a huge and versatile lineup. Guard play will be the key to their success and a lot of that will fall on 6’2” junior transfer Jordan Horne Jordan Horne 6'2" | PG Miller School Of Albemarle | 2023 State VA to be able to get them into sets and make plays for this talented group.
Highland School
Highland was heading to the state semifinals last year and looked like they were going to contend with Blue Ridge before their season was shut down due to Covid, but they’ll have a chance to do it this year despite losing their two stop scorers from last season. Head Coach Brian Hooker has built a program that has depth at every position and good size, with 6’7” senior Reiss Whitaker Reiss Whitaker 6'7" | PF Highland | 2022 State VA , 6’8” junior Patrick O’Brien Patrick O’Brien 6'8" | C Bishop O'Connell | 2023 State VA (pic) and 6’7” sophomore Patrick Ngongba Jr. Patrick Ngongba Jr. 6'10" | C Paul VI | 2024 State #25 Nation VA manning the front line. 6’4” sophomore wing Isaiah Abraham Isaiah Abraham 6'7" | SG Paul VI | 2024 State #62 Nation VA is looking like one of the top prospects in the 2024 class and should have a breakout season, and junior point guard Cam Cole is a dual threat to score and distribute leading the group.
Virginia Academy
A few seasons ago it wasn’t even clear if VA Academy would continue to have a program, but their back and they showed at the CBG Fall Series they are super talented with a lot of athletes across the board. The senior trio of point guard Lorenzo Nichols Lorenzo Nichols 5'9" | PG Virginia Academy | 2022 State VA and wings Greg Williams Greg Williams 6'4" | SF VA Academy | 2022 State VA and Tazir Smith Tazir Smith 6'3" | SF Virginia Academy | 2022 State VA will be crucial to their success as bucket getters and ball handlers, and they have great size and depth in the front court. 6’8” UK junior transfer Callum Crossman (pic) is one of the elite athletes in the state and will turn heads with all of the college coaches that watch him, and he has 6’7” senior Peter Oduro Peter Oduro 6'7" | PF VA Academy | 2022 State VA and 6’7” junior David Solomon III David Solomon III 6'6" | C VA Academy | 2023 State VA in the front court with him giving them a ton of size and athleticism in the front court.
Dark Horse Candidates
Steward School
This is one of the best teams the Spartans have had in a while, and Head Coach Curt Kassab has a lot of pieces to play in different ways and a lot of players who can create and make shots. Senior St. Francis commit Cam Gregory Cam Gregory 6'5" | CG Steward School | 2022 State VA (pic) leads the way with fellow senior point guard Nick Booker who is a two way impact guy, along with one of the best shot makers in the state in junior 6’5” wing Curtis Blair III Curtis Blair III 6'6" | SF Steward School | 2023 State #211 Nation VA . The front court is one of the more underrated in the state with senior 6’7” forward Roman Barshow Roman Barshow 6'6" | PF Steward School | 2022 State VA and junior 6’8” big Owen Gray Owen Gray 6'10" | C Steward | 2024 State VA , along with senior Catholic commit Daniel Heitman providing depth in the front court.
Peninsula Catholic
PC has become one of the top programs on the Peninsula and Head Coach Trevor Dorsey has a talented group that has experience and a few young pieces that should make them able to compete with anyone. Leading the way are two very athletic two way impact seniors in 6’3” Chris Brown Chris Brown 6'5" | SG Peninsula Catholic | 2022 State VA (pic) and 6’5” forward Travon Gray, they return one of the craftiest scorers in the 757 in junior guard Stylz Gardner Stylz Gardner 5'11" | CG Peninsula Catholic | 2023 State VA and they have a couple of talented young guards in sophomores EJ Joyner EJ Joyner 5'8" | PG Peninsula Catholic | 2024 State VA and Malcolm Velmar.
Hargrave
Hargrave is in their first year under new Head Coach Alan Petty and they have an influx of new players both locally and from around the state that may have them as a surprise team this year in VISAA D2. Senior point guard Dominnic Shoemaker from Osbourn Park can both score it and make plays for others, senior hybrid forward Maleek Richardson Maleek Richardson 6'4" | SF Hargrave Military | 2022 State VA is a crafty bucket getter, they have good versatility in the front court led by junior forward and Halifax transfer Kam Roberts and they have one of the top shooters in the state in junior Church Hill Academy transfer Timayahs Bracey (pic).