Takeaways: VISAA Championship Takeaways
Year-after-year the VISAA Championship weekend at Virginia State University is one of the best weekends of high school basketball in Virginia, and this year was no different. There were more than a few surprises, (I was 5-6 in semifinal predictions…
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Continue ReadingYear-after-year the VISAA Championship weekend at Virginia State University is one of the best weekends of high school basketball in Virginia, and this year was no different. There were more than a few surprises, (I was 5-6 in semifinal predictions but 0-3 in championships), and we got to see some players really come out and show what they have on the big stage. Here’s a quick rundown of what we saw.
Episcopal Wins Third and Biggest Championship
It was a memorable season for the Episcopal Maroon team, who swept all of the tournaments they played in, and beat the WCAC powerhouse Paul VI for their first VISAA Division One Championship in 17 years. Led by the backcourt combination of senior Nick Reed and junior George Mawanda-Kalema, Episcopal beat rival St. Stephen’s St. Agnes handedly in the semifinal, their third win over them this season, and led PVI throughout the majority of the game to finish off the best season in school history.
Episcopal finished the season with a record of 25-4 and number one in the Vantage Hoops Top 30 Power Poll. They won three tournament championships, opening the season as Sleep Thompson Champions, winning their Independent Athletic Conference Championship, then finishing the season as VISAA State Champions.
VES Bounces Back for Revenge
After a rough stretch in the middle of the season, where the Bishops lost six straight games without Pittsburgh commit Justice Kithcart, VES bounced back and played like the elite team everyone thought they would be at the beginning of the season. Kithcart and Kentucky commit Sacha Killeya-Jones were the best players on the floor throughout the weekend, and played like the big time prospects that they are.
On top of beating St. Anne’s Belfield and then #1 ranked Top 30 team Blue Ridge in the championship, VES had a tough road just to get to Virginia State. As just the #7 seed, they had to beat a tough Millwood team, one that beat them earlier in the season, and travel to Norfolk Collegiate, where they upset the #2 seed of the tournament. They made perhaps the biggest jump in Power Poll history, going from unranked to ending the season at #5.
VA Academy: From 1 Win to State Champs
Coming into the season, VA Academy was one of the biggest question marks in the state. The brand new private school, started by former Redskins star Antwan Randel-El, came into their second season after just winning one game last season. Coming into this season, they had a strong nucleus that included two high level prospects in 6’10” junior Ejike Obinna and 6’11” freshman Qudus Wahab. However, they had multiple kids transfer out right before the season, and they struggled early.
As the season progressed, VA Academy came together through adversity, and it showed in the tournament as they upset #1 Williamsburg Christian and #2 Amelia Academy to win the VISAA Division 3 Championship. Behind the play of junior point guard Jahlil Jenkins, junior wing Tadas Nausedas and the inside play of Obinna, VA Academy was able to beat some perennial D3 powerhouses after just one win last season. Early word is that they will be looking to move up to Division 2, and with the level of prospects they have they should be able to compete immediately.
Guards Boost Their Stock Big Time
There were a number of guards that showed off their ability to college coaches, and picked up some interested with their performances. Here are just a few.
- George Mawanda-Kalema; 6’1″ Episcopal
He stole the show in division one the first day with his 27 point outburst against rival St. Stephen’s St. Agnes. The junior guard was phenomenal off the bounce, showing his ability to create for himself and score it at all three levels. He’s a workhorse that is a lock down on-ball defender, and he turned the heads of multiple division one coaches with his performance.
- Jahlil Jenkins; 5’11” VA Academy
He blew up over the summer with Uncommon Bulls, and showed his take over ability in their two wins in the weekend. What’s interesting about Jenkins is that he’s not overly athletic and doesn’t have great size, but he fills it up with the best of them. He’s particularly good in ball screen situations, where he can shoot it when they go under, or take slower bigs to the basket on the switch.
- Jay Heath; 5’9″ Bishop O’Connell
The freshman was thrust into big minutes with Rice commit Ako Adams out, and he was phenomenal off the bench for them. Heath is a lightning quick guard that isn’t afraid to attack bigs or mix it up on the glass. He’s a great distributor in transition, and was a big change off pace for them when they needed it.
- Xavier Johnson; 5’8″ Episcopal
Another freshman, Johnson has started and got it done throughout the season for Episcopal, but he showed it on the big stage in their state championship win. Johnson played both on and off the basketball, and carved through the paint all day to create for himself and others. He plays much bigger than he is, and showed the ability to possibly become a knock down shooter later.