VHSL Class 3 Preseason POY Candidates

With a full basketball season (hopefully) ready to get into swing in VA, we will take a look at some of the players we feel are candidates for Player of the Year in each classification. While there’s plenty of players we haven’t seen or are ready to have breakout years, we will take a look at some of the best players we know of that we think will have big seasons. We take a look at seven players we think will be in the conversation for VHSL Class 3 Player of the Year. [player_tooltip player_id="1107825" first="Carmelo" last="Pacheco"] | 6’4” WG | Spotswood 2022 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Pacheco-Carmelo-Blaze.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1159977" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Pacheco-Carmelo-Blaze-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Pacheco was a First Team All VHSCA selection last year in Class 3 and with Spotswood looking like one of the top teams in Region C it’s hard to imagine him not being in the conversation again this year. The 6’4” off guard is a smooth operating wing who can light it up from deep whether it’s on kick-outs or on the move, he has good feel on both ends of the floor and he has emerged as one of the top players and prospects in the Harrisonburg area. In a wide open Class 3 this year if he plays well it wouldn’t be a stretch to think he could help lead them to a run in March. Ayrion Journiette | 6’0” CG | Northside 2022 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Journiette-Ayrion-Havoc.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1159979" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Journiette-Ayrion-Havoc-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Journiette was also a First Team Selection last year and he’s going to be the go-to guy for a Northside team that is typically the most successful team in the Roanoke area when it comes to late season playoff runs. A strong and compact guard who is fearless and plays with a good motor, Journiette has improved his all-around game to where he can play on or off the ball, he scores it well from all over the floor and he makes an impact on the defensive end as well. If he can help the Vikings overcome a tough Region D he’ll be right in the talks for top player in Class 3. [player_tooltip player_id="1217464" first="Conner" last="Tilley"] | 6’4” WF | Lord Botetourt 2022 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Tilley-Connor.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1162484" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Tilley-Connor-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Tilley was a Second Team selection last year and on an up and coming Botetourt group he has a chance to make a big splash in Region D this year as one of the elite shooters in the area. At 6’4” Tilley has good size to get his shot off, he has very deep range and he has the ability to get hot quickly and ring off multiple shots from deep and take over games. They’ll have a tough road ahead of them but for them to be successful it’s all going to start with Tilley. Tyheim Love | 5’11” PG | Petersburg 2022 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Love-Tyheim.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1185919" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Love-Tyheim-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Love was a First Team selection last season and was vital in Petersburg being a surprise team in Region A, and he has some help this year and could be a reason the Crimson make a run deep into the playoffs this year. Despite not being the biggest guy, Love is a certified bucket getter who is smooth off the bounce, can score it in bunches and from multiple levels and has a chip to him that allows him to take over games. He should be one of the top scorers in the Richmond area and barring injury will be firmly in the discussion for POY if they can make a run. [player_tooltip player_id="999660" first="Dylan" last="Saunders"] | 6’7” PF | Cave Spring 2023 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Saunders-Dylan.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1161642" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Saunders-Dylan-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Saunders is the only one on this list who wasn’t in the VHSCA All State team last year, but he has improved a lot over the past few years and looks like one of the best bigs in the Roanoke area. The 6’7” forward has the size and the skill to take over games, as he can score it in the post, he can step out and stretch the floor and he’s an excellent rebounder as well. They are still a relatively young group but Spring has the talent and depth to compete in a very competitive Region D this year. [player_tooltip player_id="999644" first="Stark" last="Jones"] | 6’3” CG | Cave Spring 2023 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Jones-Stark-rotated.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1049784" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Jones-Stark-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a> Jones was a Second Team selection last year, and he’ll be another big part of Cave Spring’s success this year as the long and rangy guard is a two way impact player that can take over games in a number of ways. He’s a very good on ball defender with great instincts and quick hands, he can score it when he needs to or make others better and he’s always around the ball and always making a play. His ability to become a leader and run the show for this group will have a lot of impact on their success. [player_tooltip player_id="1159838" first="Evan" last="Ramsey"] | 7’0” C | Abingdon 2023 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Ramsey-Evan-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1302370" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Ramsey-Evan-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Ramsey was a Second Team selection last year on a senior ladened Abingdon group that made it to the state championship before falling to Hopewell, and this year he has a chance to be the best player in SWVA. At a legit 7’0” tall, Ramsey’s size makes him very difficult for anyone to deal with, but it’s his willingness to bang in the post and his soft touch out to the three-point line and in the paint that makes him dominant. He should be a walking double-double this year and will be the toughest matchup for anyone in Region D, if not all of Class 3, this year.