Roundtable: Preseason All Junior Teams
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We recently released our preseason All State teams for the senior class. Now, the two contributors who determined them answer some questions in a roundtable segment about them. If you want to see the All Junior teams, you can do…
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Continue ReadingWe recently released our preseason All State teams for the senior class. Now, the two contributors who determined them answer some questions in a roundtable segment about them.
If you want to see the All Junior teams, you can do so here.
Who was the guard who just missed making the list?
Jack: Paul Jones Paul Jones 6'4" | CG Combine Academy | 2024 State NC of Churchland. The way he’s been playing this past summer and especially this fall, he’s on track to be one of the top scorers in the 757 and have a huge breakout season. He’s likely going to put up big numbers, but it may take him leading Churchland on a run in the playoffs to get him in the conversation.
Adam: Tavares Riley of Freedom-Woodbridge. He should once again put up big numbers, but how good will his team be? The uncertainty of that aspect made it tough to include him.
Who was the wing/forward who ended up on the outside looking in?
Jack: Shanon Simango Shanon Simango 6'6" | PF Blue Ridge | 2024 State #301 Nation VA of Blue Ridge. Blue Ridge makes the leap to D1 and while they built a dynasty in D2, they have a new look team this year with Simango as one of the only returners and we’ll have to see how they play and who they go through. The fact of the matter is he’s going to put up close to a double-double every game, and if they can replicate their success he’ll be in the talks at the end of the season.
Adam: Alejandro Ford Alejandro Ford 6'5" | SF Woodberry Forest | 2024 State VA of Woodberry Forest. It remains to be seen what type of role he will adopt with his new squad, but we know that he’s capable of being a difference-maker.
Who was the toughest player to place on the list?
Jack: I would have to go with Kollier Pruit of Narrows. The 6’3” combo guard is one of the best players in the VHSL Class 1 and has a chance to put up huge numbers this season, but a lot of the other players on these teams are going to play against much better competition. We settled on third team, and if he can make a run in the state playoffs he’ll have a chance to be even higher.
Adam: Patrick Ngongba Jr. Patrick Ngongba Jr. 6'10" | C Paul VI | 2024 State #25 Nation VA of Paul VI. He could have easily been on second team or higher given that we expect PVI to be very good.