Prep League Preview

The high school basketball season is right around the corner in Virginia, and we’re taking a look at some conference and state previews. Today, we take a look at the Prep League, the six team league in central VA. WHO IS THE TEAM TO BEAT? This one is tough, as it probably will come down to two teams in either St. Anne’s-Belfield out of Charlottesville or Collegiate out of Richmond. STAB lost a big piece in Justin Taylor, but they return three of the team’s top players who are either juniors or sophomores and have a few young freshmen to keep an eye. Collegiate is a little deeper with a well rounded lineup of both experience and up and coming players to keep an eye on. The two teams are likely to meet for the league championship. WHO ARE THE DARK HORSE CANDIDATES? St. Christopher’s is the first school that comes to mind as a dark horse candidate, as Head Coach Hamill Jones always finds ways for his team to compete and he has a team that features four seniors who have all played meaningful minutes since they were freshmen. Trinity Episcopal is a rebuilding team with first year Head Coach Andrew Blazer coming from James River where he revived that program, and he has a few newcomers to go along with junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="1231822" first="Leland" last="Coleman"] who already holds division one offers. WHICH TEAM HAS THE BEST BACKCOURT? <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/St.-Germain-John-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1302368" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/St.-Germain-John-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> St. Anne’s-Belfield gets the nod here, as they are led by junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="992531" first="John" last="St. Germain"] who is very steady and can both score it and distribute it, along with sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="1259624" first="Chance" last="Mallory"] who’s an elite shooter and very scrappy defender with great instincts on both ends. Throw in freshman shooting guard Austin Williford and the Saints backcourt will be tough to match up with. WHICH TEAM HAS THE BEST FRONT COURT? <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Smith-Luke-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1308360" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Smith-Luke-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> While STAB has probably the best big man in the league in 6’10” [player_tooltip player_id="999617" first="Carter" last="Lang"], but Collegiate gets the nod as they have a little bit more depth and experience in the front court. Junior 6’8” [player_tooltip player_id="999623" first="Luke" last="Smith"] is very versatile as he can play both in the post and on the perimeter and is an excellent scorer from multiple levels; senior 6’7” James Bell is a scrappy two way impact guy who rebounds well, is a good athlete on both ends and can also stretch the floor.; and senior 6’6” Quentin Tolson provides a blue collar and defensive minded athletic big as well. WHICH TEAM HAS THE MOST DEPTH? Collegiate is the easies to go with as they have depth and players at every role you want at every position. Senior guard and Washington & Lee commit [player_tooltip player_id="1107847" first="Colin" last="Ryan"] leads the backcourt with talented 6’5” sophomore combo Donovan Richardson, senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="1217466" first="Maddox" last="Winston-Evans"] can flat out shoot the rock from deep, and we already talked about the depth in the front court they have. WHO COULD WIN LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR? <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/Lang-Carter-ECE-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1273952" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/Lang-Carter-ECE-2-239x300.jpg" alt="" width="239" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="999617" first="Carter" last="Lang"] | 6’10” C | St. Anne’s Belfield 2023 Lang is the favorite to win POY in the conference as he’s not only the highest rated player in the conference but he’s also the most productive. The 6’10” big is a walking double-double who plays with a great motor, can score it in a number of different ways and he’s steadily improved year by year. [player_tooltip player_id="999623" first="Luke" last="Smith"] | 6’8” PF | Collegiate 2023 Smith is set for a big junior season after a good summer and fall showing where he’s improved his interior game to go along with his mismatch ability on the perimeter. He’s a smooth big who can initiate the offense, he can score it in the post with both hands and good moves and counters and he can step out and stretch the floor and make shots too. [player_tooltip player_id="992531" first="John" last="St. Germain"] | 6’1” PG | St. Anne’s Belfield 2023 While Lang is likely to put up the big numbers, don’t underestimate the value that St. Germain brings to his group with his skill set and ability to run the show. He’s a true floor general who sets the tone on both ends of the floor, he can make shots from multiple levels and he’s a great playmaker who can get where he wants on the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="1231822" first="Leland" last="Coleman"] | 6’6” WF | Trinity Episcopal 2023 Coleman will be in a position to be a go-to guy for this TES team this year, and the 6’6” athletic wing can bring it on both ends of the floor and brings good energy to his team. He’s long and very explosive and thrives in transition, he can make shots from the midrange and from deep and he continues to get better with time. WHO COULD BE THE LEAGUE’S BREAKOUT PLAYER? Donovan Richardson | 6’5” CG | Collegiate 2024 Richardson is a very talented guard who could be a high level collegiate prospect as he continues to improve, as he has the size and skill set that makes him very tough to guard. He’s shifty off the bounce and able to create space, he’s a shot maker from multiple levels and he can play and guard both guard positions. [player_tooltip player_id="1241930" first="Luke" last="Fisher"] | 6’1” PG | Trinity Episcopal 2023 Fisher had a good summer with Team Richmond and a good fall in the CBG Fall Series, and he’s going to play with the ball in his hands where he’s shown the ability to score it in a number of ways. He’s crafty off the bounce and can get to spots, he’s a good shooter from deep and he finishes well with both hands around the rim. Austin Williford | 6’5” WG | St. Anne’s Belfield 2025 Williford is one of the most intriguing freshmen I’ve seen so far, as he’s an explosive athlete that already has good size and a solid skill set to go along with it. The son of UVA Assistant Jason Williford, Austin is a natural athlete who can play on and off the ball, he can rebound and defends well and he’s a big time finisher at and above the rim. PREP HOOPS VA PRESEASON ALL PREP LEAGUE TEAM [player_tooltip player_id="962811" first="Keishawn" last="Pulley"] | 6’2” CG | St. Christopher’s 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1107847" first="Colin" last="Ryan"] | 6’1” PG | Collegiate 2022 Danny McKay | 6’4” WF | Woodberry Forest 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="992531" first="John" last="St. Germain"] | 6’1” PG | St. Anne’s Belfield 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="999617" first="Carter" last="Lang"] | 6’10” C | St. Anne’s Belfield 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1231822" first="Leland" last="Coleman"] | 6’6” WF | Trinity Episcopal 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1241930" first="Luke" last="Fisher"] | 6’1” PG | Trinity Episcopal 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="999623" first="Luke" last="Smith"] | 6’8” PF | Collegiate 2023 Donovan Richardson | 6’5” CG | Collegiate 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1259624" first="Chance" last="Mallory"] | 5’7” CG | St. Anne’s Belfield 2024