VHSL Class 1 Preview: All State Contenders
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With the high school season around the corner, we have been previewing the up coming season in a number of different ways, including our All State teams by class which is only done here at Prep Hoops. For the more…
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Continue ReadingWith the high school season around the corner, we have been previewing the up coming season in a number of different ways, including our All State teams by class which is only done here at Prep Hoops.
For the more traditional readers, we will be doing a preview of All State teams by classifications too. While most VHSL All State teams have two teams with 8 players on each, we have decided to simply list some of the players we expect to be on the team at the end of the season.
With that being said, here’s a look at some of our picks for VHSL Class 1 All State candidates, looking at six players we expect to be in the conversation.
POY: Troy Henderson Troy Henderson 5'9" | PG Lancaster | 2025 State VA | 5’9” PG | Lancaster 2025
Henderson was the rare freshman that you’ll see on the All State teams as he was First Team All State last year after leading Lancaster to the state semifinals where they fell just short of a state championship birth. Henderson doesn’t play like most guards his age, he’s smooth off the bounce and always under control, he can create space and make tough shots look easy and he has a tremendous feel for the game and doesn’t make many mistakes.
Connor Lane Connor Lane 6'3" | CG Twin Springs | 2023 State VA | 6’3” CG | Twin Springs 2023
Lane was a First Team All State selection last year and led Twin Springs to a state tournament bid, and if he can lead them to another and possibly a state title he’ll be in the running for Player of the Year. The 6’3” combo guard is highly skilled and impacts the game across the board, he can score it in a number of different ways whether he’s on or off the ball and he is one of the toughest players to guard in Class 1 with his mix of size and skill at the position.
Stuart Hunt | 6’3” CG | Altavista 2023
Hunt was a First Team All State selection this past year and was a Second Team All State selection as a sophomore and has been vital in the rebuilding of the Altavista program. At 6’3” he’s able to impact the game in a number of ways playing on and off the ball, he’s a big time shooter who knocks it down consistently from deep and with good range and he can score it from the midrange and even post smaller guards too.
Tyson Henderson | 5’11” CG| Lancaster 2023
Henderson, who is Troy’s older brother, was also a First Team All State selection for Lancaster and the two of them combined make up perhaps the best backcourt in Class 1. He’s a lightning quick guard with a great first step and good speed in transition, he can get in the paint where he can finish around the rim and has great feel as a playmaker and he can knock down shots while bringing it defensively too.
Bennett Bowers Bennett Bowers 6'0" | PG Buffalo Gap | 2023 State VA | 5’10” PG | Buffalo Gap 2023
Bowers led Buffalo Gap to a surprising state tournament run and was named First Team All State in doing so, and now he’s back for his senior year trying to do the same thing. He’s a true floor general of a guard who commands the offense and puts his teammates in places to succeed, but he’s also a lethal scorer who can make shots from all over and is very crafty with the ball in his hands.
Eli McCoy Eli McCoy 6'5" | C Eastside | 2023 State VA | 6’6” C | Eastside 2023
McCoy is part of an Eastside squad that always seems to be in contention come March, and his senior season he’s going to make a lot of noise. He’s a brute big man who can muscle his way in the post for offensive rebounds, he has great touch around the rim and out to 18 feet and he’ll do all the little things to help his team win too.
Kollier Pruitt | 6’4” WG | Narrows 2024
Pruitt was fantastic as a sophomore for Narrows emerging as one of the top players in SWVA and earning Second Team All State honors in the process. The 6’4” wing has fantastic size for his position and at this level can play multiple positions for his team, he can create his own shot and make shots from multiple levels and he’s a big time athlete who makes plays on both sides of the ball.
Aiden Lowe | 5’11” PG | Honaker 2024
Lowe is a fantastic athlete who thrives on the basketball court, football field and in track and field, and that in itself should show how naturally talented he is. He was a Second Team All State selection as a sophomore last year as he has great speed and quickness with the ball in his hands, he thrives in transition and can create in isolation situations and he brings it on the defensive end too.