Virginia All-Sophomore Teams
Now that the season is over, it’s time to go recognize those who stood out during this memorable campaign. Here we award our All-Sophomore Teams from Virginia. Choosing a total of 15 players to make up the first, second, and…
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Continue ReadingNow that the season is over, it’s time to go recognize those who stood out during this memorable campaign. Here we award our All-Sophomore Teams from Virginia. Choosing a total of 15 players to make up the first, second, and third teams was no easy task. Our staff deliberated for a significant amount of time before finally coming up with the names below. Stay tuned for much more postseason coverage right here at Prep Hoops.
FIRST TEAM
East Rockingham’s [player_tooltip player_id="815579" first="Tyler" last="Nickel"] was a first-team lockG – Jayden Epps Jayden Epps 6'1" | CG Combine Academy | 2022 State #41 Nation NC | King’s Fork – Player of the Year*
Regarded as one of the top point guards nationally for his class. As a sophomore, he put up huge numbers with his ability to impact the game in so many ways on offense. Expect to hear a lot more on Epps at the national level.
G – Donald Hand Jr. Donald Hand Jr. 6'5" | CG Landstown | 2022 State #93 Nation VA | Landstown
Herron – The son of former UVA star Donald Hand and stepson of Landstown Head Coach Dwight Robinson is on his way to becoming a star in the Virginia Beach area. The 6’4” guard has great positional size, can play either backcourt position and is capable of exploding for huge scoring numbers on any given day. He can flat out shoot it from deep and can create his own shot, and as he continues to grow and get more athletic he’s going to be a big-time recruit.
G – Dug McDaniel | Paul VI
Ayalew – Many wondered how Dug McDaniel’s role would differ with the return of Jeremy Roach Jeremy Roach 6'2" | PG Paul VI | 2020 State #19 Nation VA , but he still found a way to fit in and make a significant impact. McDaniel’s willingness to shoot the ball with confidence and his improved defense are two reasons why he found success again this year.
F – Tyler Nickel Tyler Nickel 6'8" | SF East Rockingham | 2022 State #85 Nation VA | East Rockingham
Herron – He may not play in the biggest market but Nickel is a straight-up stud and probably one of the top prospects out of the Harrisonburg area in recent memory. The 6’7” wing has great size for his position, he’s a naturally gifted athlete that plays above the rim and is fearless in the lane and for his size he has a great skill set as a guy who can put it on the deck and make shots from all over. He’s likely going to win all sorts of accolades as well.
F – Maliq Brown Maliq Brown 6'8" | PF Blue Ridge | 2022 State #123 Nation VA | Blue Ridge
Wilson – Brown is the next big star to come out of the prestigious Blue Ridge program. Brown has great length and versatility that allows him to do a lot on both sides of the ball. Brown helped Blue Ridge win the VISAA division two state championship.
*unanimous selection
SECOND TEAM
Varina’s Alphonzo Billups emerged as one of the top sophomores in the state this seasonG – Efrem ‘Butta’ Johnson Efrem ‘Butta’ Johnson 6'4" | NA lbs | SG Grissom | 2022 State #NA Nation AL | Western Branch
Ayalew – Johnson was a key player for the Bruins, who made it all the way to the 6A final four. Nicknamed “Butter” after his smooth style of play, Johnson took important strides in his development this season.
G – Kenyon Giles Kenyon Giles 5'11" | PG Oscar Smith | 2022 NV | Oscar Smith
Herron – Giles was one of the breakout players in the 757 this past season, and it was somewhat surprising as he led a very experienced Oscar Smith team in scoring. The 5’9” combo guard showed a smooth shooting stroke from deep both off the catch and off the bounce, he showed good playmaking ability and despite his size, he’s also a very good on-ball defender. His fundamentals and ability to do a little bit of everything stood out every night.
F – Alphonzo Billups Jr. | Varina
Herron – It was somewhat of a question coming into the season who the best players in the 2022 class in the Richmond area are, and Billups emerged and put himself firmly in the conversation this year. The 6’5” wing has all of the physical and athletic tools, and he showed a base skill set that should translate to the next level and has made him very productive as he’s improved. He put up big numbers while helping a Varina team that should have been rebuilding make it back to the state tournament.
F – David Solomon III David Solomon III 6'6" | C VA Academy | 2023 State VA | Lake Braddock
Ayalew – Solomon anchored the paint pridefully for a young but surprisingly competitive Lake Braddock team this year. He played his best ball down the stretch when Coach Metress decided to deviate from his original style of play and unleash him.
F – Justin Taylor | St. Anne’s Belfield
Wilson – Taylor is another guy that had a breakout season and got recognized on the national level. Taylor already has good size that allows him to rebound the ball well on both ends and can shoot the ball from different areas on the floor.
THIRD TEAM
O’Connell’s Paul Lewis impressed during his debut varsity seasonG – Walker Andrews Walker Andrews 6'1" | CG Virginia Episcopal | 2022 State VA | Virginia Episcopal
Herron – VES went through a rebuilding process this year as they played four or five kids that were all sophomores and freshmen, and while they struggled at times it did allow a guy like Andrews to break out and he’s looking like a player to keep an eye on. At 6’0” he isn’t the biggest shooting guard but he can flat out shoot it from deep with great range, he makes the hustle and winning plays on both ends and he’s an underrated athlete as well.
G – Paul Lewis | Bishop O’Connell
Ayalew – Lewis has come a long way since his freshman year during which he played exclusively on JV. He parlayed a productive summer into a breakout campaign for a youthful Knights team.
G – Saxby Sunderland Saxby Sunderland 6'2" | CG Flint Hill | 2022 State VA | Flint Hill
Ayalew – Sunderland took the keys to Flint Hill’s offense and led them to the top seed in the MAC. He is a notoriously hard-worker who is starting to see the fruits of his labor.
F –
Greg Melvin
Greg
Melvin
6'7" | PF
Cape Henry | 2022
State
VA
| Cape Henry
Wilson – Melvin was very important for Cape Henry in the low post as his size helped him dominate portions of the season. With big size, he also has good athleticism and can finish well above the rim on different occasions. Melvin helped Cape Henry win the TCIS Tournament this year after also winning the regular-season championship.
F – Jaden Daughtry Jaden Daughtry 6'6" | SF Benedictine College Prep | 2022 VA | Benedictine
Herron – Daughtry missed some of the season with a hand injury but when he was healthy the Cadets looked like a totally different team and beat some very good teams as well. The 6’6” forward who is built like a tight end showed good versatility with his ability to put it on the deck and stretch the floor, his size allows him to bully guys in the paint on both ends and he plays with a great motor on both ends as well. It will be interesting to see him develop but he’s part of a bright future for them moving forward.