VHSL Class 4 Preseason POY Candidates

<p>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.</p> <p>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. </p> <p>We take a look at eight players we think will be in the conversation for VHSL Class 4 Player of the Year.</p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="815588" first="Alphonzo" last="Billups"] | 6’7” WF | Varina 2022</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Billups-Alphonzo-CBGFS.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1307743" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Billups-Alphonzo-CBGFS-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Billups is the overwhelming favorite for Class 4 POY if Varina is able to make a run to the state championship as we expect in their first year in Class 4. The VCU commit is a nationally ranked prospect who is very athletic and versatile, as he can play on or off the basketball, he’s able to create for himself and others and he’s come a long way as a go-to scorer and is ready for a huge senior season. His Blue Devils team is deep and talented, and they should make a deep run behind Billups this year.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="815587" first="George" last="Beal"] | 6’4” WF | King’s Fork 2022</span></strong></p> [caption id="attachment_1122092" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Beal-George-PC-crop-3456x2270-1611676082.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1122092" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Beal-George-PC-crop-3456x2270-1611676082-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Lancaptures[/caption] <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Beal is another division one commit on one of the favorites in Class 4, as the LIU-Brooklyn commit is the go-to guy for the Bulldogs after Jayden Epps transferred to Combine in NC. A versatile and athletic wing, Beal is a high motor player who brings it on both ends of the floor, he can create shots for himself and others off the bounce and he’s very productive across the board. The Bulldogs are a deep team but it will be up to Beal to help them make a run in March.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="1107889" first="Rival" last="Axselle"] | 6’3” WG | Atlee 2022</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/Axselle-Rival.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1107907" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/Axselle-Rival-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Axselle will be in the running for All State team for sure and if he can lead Atlee to a state tournament run he’ll be a dark horse candidate for POY as well. He had a big junior season in their limited season and played well this summer with Team Richmond, showing he’s one of the top shooters in the state and will fill it up efficiently and in bunches from deep. He has a great IQ and feel for the game as well.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">DaShawn Goodwyn | 6’4” WG | George Wythe (Richmond) 2022</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Speaking of top shooters in the Richmond area, Goodwyn has already broke records at George Wythe with his shooting ability and after missing his junior year due to Covid he’ll have a chance to put up big numbers this season for the Bulldogs. He has good size on the wing at 6’4” allowing him to shoot over defenders, but it’s his in the gym and effortless range that makes him so dangerous as he can go well beyond the NBA line to knock it down. He’ll be one of the top scorers in Richmond this year.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="999635" first="Josh" last="Sime"] | 6’7” PF | Western Albemarle 2023</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/Sime-Josh.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1136764" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/Sime-Josh-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Sime was well on his way to being considered for last year’s team before Western Albemarle was forced to shut down their season due to a Covid outbreak, but this year he should be one of the top players in the Charlottesville area. The 6’8” big man is athletic and strong in the paint, he plays with a great motor on the glass and on the defensive end and he’s an excellent shot blocker and he continues to improve his range making him very tough to guard. He should put up big numbers for a WAHS team that should compete in Region D in their first year in Class 4.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="999652" first="Troy" last="Giles"] | 6’0” PG | Smithfield 2023</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Giles-Troy.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1008199" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Giles-Troy-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Giles was named Second Team All VHSCA in Class 4 as he helped lead Smithfield to a state championship, and with the departure of a few seniors he will have a chance to put up even bigger numbers moving forward. The 6’0” point guard is long and dynamic off the bounce as he’s able to explode and finish through contact at the rim, he can step out and make shots from deep and he’s a willing and capable playmaker as well. His play will determine if Smithfield is able to make another run in Class 4 this year.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">Rasheed Daniels | 6’4” WG | Monacan 2023</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Daniels was a surprise on the First Team All VHSCA team last year, as the 6’4” wing came out and made a name for himself as one of the top scoring wings in the Richmond area as a sophomore. At 6’4” he has great size on the wing and is able to create for himself off the bounce, he can make tough shots from multiple levels and he has a go-getter mindset that allows him to hang up big numbers on some tough teams. The Chiefs should be able to compete in Region B and Daniels will likely be their top scorer.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="1117694" first="MJ" last="Smith"] | 6’2” CG | Manor 2023</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Rice-MJ.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1091301" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Rice-MJ-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Smith was one of the top scorers in the 757 as a freshman before Covid canceled their season last year (when they were still Woodrow Wilson), and he looks ready to be a top scorer yet again. The 6’2” combo is already one of the top shooters in the area with deep range and the ability to make shots off the catch and off the bounce, but he’s added to his game with his ability to get downhill, score in the midrange and make plays for others. He’s set to have a big junior season for a Manor team that will compete in Region A.</span></p>