Holiday Classic Preview (Virginia): James Monroe vs. Eastern View
The inaugural Vantage Hoops Holiday Classic tips off this Saturday, December 19th at Woodbridge High School, with five quality high school match-ups all within the state of Virginia. Vantage Hoops will preview each game before the event tips off this weekend.
The second game of the day features James Monroe of Fredericksburg and Eastern View of Culpeper at 2:15 p.m.
James Monroe has stumbled out of the gate, starting the year 0-2 with a recent loss to 3A power John Marshall. The Yellow Jackets are led by reigning Conference 27 Player of the Year Dre’Jon Boley. Boley is an explosive, 6’4’’ wing who excels in transition and slashing to the basket.
JM also features Percy Burt, a 6’5’’ forward who has shown to be an athletic, versatile forward with a high motor. Burt’s motor allows him to be effective on the glass and defensively in guarding multiple positions.
Josiah Avington and CJ Miller round out a tough back-court that looks to push tempo for James Monroe. Avington is a 6’2’’ combo-guard who is athletic and skilled with the ball in his hands, while Miller gives the Yellow Jackets some more firepower offensively, averaging 11 points per game.
Eastern View enters this week with an unblemished 6-0 record. EV will be busy this week, with three games scheduled before the Vantage Hoops Holiday Classic.
6’2’’ junior guard Anias Saunders leads the Cyclones offensively, posting 18 points per game and three steals per game. Saunders is a strong slashing guard who finishes well in traffic and is a capable of creating his own off the bounce. He also gets after it defensively, providing great ball pressure.
Musah Sackor is a sleeper prospect for Eastern View. The 6’6’’ versatile wing forward is able to play and guard multiple positions and can stretch the defense with a good looking stroke. This year he is averaging just under a double-double at 12 points and 9 rebounds per game.
Look for this match-up to be a barn-burner as both teams like to push tempo and have rosters full of athletes who like to get up and down.