VHSL Class 2 Top Contenders

<p>While some areas are still up in the air about whether they’ll be playing and some that have already shut it down, there was a large portion of public school teams in VA that started their seasons this past week. We’re cautiously optimistic that we will have an entire high school season, and with that we will take a look at some state contenders in each of the classifications. Here’s a look at six teams in Class 2 that we expect to be contending come late in the season.</p> <p><strong>Preseason Favorite: East Rockingham</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_1012359" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/Nickel.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1012359" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/Nickel-300x287.png" alt="" width="300" height="287" /></a> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="815579" first="Tyler" last="Nickel"][/caption] <p>One of the best teams in Class 2 last year, East Rock fell to a very talented John Marshall team in the state semifinals last year, but JM won’t play this year because Richmond Public Schools has canceled their season, leaving the door wide open for East Rock. They’re led by top 100 wing [player_tooltip player_id="815579" first="Tyler" last="Nickel"] who is on pace to break the VHSL scoring record, and the 6’7” forward is almost impossible for anyone else in Class 2 to match up with. Nickel will likely be the top scorer in the state, but he has some help in underrated guys like senior sniper Kyle Evick, junior point guard Cooper Keyes and sophomore utility guy [player_tooltip player_id="999639" first="Xavier" last="Butler"].</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Other Contenders</strong></p> <p><strong>Radford</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_1060585" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Cormany-Cam.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1060585" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Cormany-Cam-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> 2021 Navy commit [player_tooltip player_id="798739" first="Cam" last="Cormany"].[/caption] <p>“Title Town,” as they were known after winning 5 state championships in 9 years under legendary head coach Rick Cormany, Radford will be right in the thick of things after their young guys got some much needed experience last year. Radford is led by Cormany’s son and Navy commit [player_tooltip player_id="798739" first="Cam" last="Cormany"], who’s a highly skilled combo guard with good wiggle off the bounce and a crazy clip from deep, and he can fill it up with the best of them and is playing with extreme confidence right now. Fellow senior PJ Priouleu is one of the best athletes in the area and gives them a boost after missing last year with an injury, and junior Nate Wesley rounds out a very talented backcourt that can all make plays for themselves and others.</p> <p><strong>Floyd County</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_1021647" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Swortzel-Kaiden.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1021647" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Swortzel-Kaiden-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="999634" first="Kaiden" last="Swortzel"].[/caption] <p>The Buffaloes have shown tons of potential and played tough over the past few years, but this team may be the most talented and deep that they’ve had in a long time. The senior backcourt duo of [player_tooltip player_id="1091529" first="Tanyan" last="Sutphin"] and Mitchell Thompson have tons of experience as starters the past three years, and they compliment each other well as Sutphin is the do-it-all kind of guard and Thompson is the talented shot maker. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="962817" first="Josiah" last="Banks"] is extremely versatile and athletic, and sophomore big man [player_tooltip player_id="999634" first="Kaiden" last="Swortzel"] was one of the best freshmen in the state last year and is extremely productive and crafty around the rim on both ends.</p> <p><strong>James River (Buchanan)</strong></p> <p>James River showed a lot of promise last year with a young core of very skilled guys, and with another year of experience they will be a problem for anyone they match up with. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="999625" first="Ryan" last="Steger"] was one of the best freshmen in the state last year, and he’s an absolute sniper from deep that can really fill it up from deep. Junior 6’5” wing Patrick Clevenger is a walking mismatch who continues to get better, and the duo will be tough to match up.</p> <p><strong>Martinsville</strong></p> <p>The most successful school in VHSL history, Martinsville hasn’t been to the state tournament in a few years but they always are successful and always have athletes. Their coached by Jeff Adkins, who played on the Bulls in the Michael Jordan era, and they’re deep and very athletic on both ends of the floor. Senior big man [player_tooltip player_id="798717" first="Jaheim" last="Niblett"] is is a go getter on both ends of the floor and will man the middle for them and be a tough matchup.</p> <p><strong>Union</strong></p> <p>Union is a team that I don’t know much about, but they always have a good amount of athletes and play the right way and very hard all the time. They broke Gate City’s 82 game district winning streak by beating the Blue Devils by 28 points, and that’s a big statement to start the season.</p>