We take a look at our preseason preview of the VISAA divisions as the season is right around the corner. We will start with division one, featuring some of the perennial powerhouses throughout the state. Here’s a look at some…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inWe take a look at our preseason preview of the VISAA divisions as the season is right around the corner. We will start with division one, featuring some of the perennial powerhouses throughout the state. Here’s a look at some of the state title contenders and dark horse candidates as we head into the season.
State Title Contenders
Paul VI Panthers
The Panthers are younger than they have been in the past few years, but they have one of the best players in the state leading the team in Michigan commit
Knasir McDaniel
Knasir
McDaniel
5'9" | PG
Paul VI Cathlolic (VA) | 2022
State
#126
Nation
VA
(pic) and have as much talent as anyone in the state. They’re always one of the top teams in the state and Head Coach Glen Farrello will have them ready to compete with pretty much anyone. Junior wing
DeShawn Harris-Smith
DeShawn
Harris-Smith
6'5" | SF
Paul VI | 2023
State
#53
Nation
VA
is one of the states top perimeter defenders, sophomore 6’6” forward
Darren Harris
Darren
Harris
6'6" | SF
Paul VI | 2024
State
#38
Nation
VA
is set to be one of the breakout players in the WCAC and newcomer junior
Justin Janaski
Justin
Janaski
6'2" | CG
Scotland Campus | 2023
State
PA
provides another shooter and athlete on the wing. They are young up front but have good size and a good amount of depth as well.
St. Stephen’s St. Agnes Saints

The Saints boast a starting five that will be as tough as anyone in the state, and their point guard is as dynamic as they come in senior Buffalo commit
Devin Ceaser
Devin
Ceaser
6'1" | CG
St. Stephen's & St. Agnes | 2022
State
VA
(pic) who is coming off of a big time summer and is as tough to guard as anyone you’ll find. They have good size and experience up front in seniors 6’8” St. Frances (PA) commit
Miles Webb
Miles
Webb
6'7" | PF
St. Stephen's St. Agnes | 2022
State
VA
and 6’7” Elliot Black, they have an x-factor leader in senior combo guard
Garrett Brennan
Garrett
Brennan
6'3" | CG
St. Stephens & St. Agnes | 2022
State
VA
and junior guard
Mason So
Mason
So
6'1" | PG
DeMatha | 2023
State
MD
gives them another scorer and playmaker. Their bench is a little unproven but Head Coach Mike Jones will have them ready to compete and find roles for them as he always does.
Cape Henry Collegiate Dolphins
Cape Henry won the state championship last year although many of the northern VA teams didn’t compete, and while they lose some of their top scoring they still have a mix of size and experience that will be tough to match up with. Up front they have great size and athleticism in 6’7” senior
Greg Melvin
Greg
Melvin
6'7" | PF
Cape Henry | 2022
State
VA
(pic), 6’7” junior Tristan Whitfield and 6’8” reclass freshman Martez Harris who is one of the top young prospects in the state. They have two seniors in the backcourt in George Cutler and
CJ Bailey
CJ
Bailey
6'1" | CG
Cape Henry | 2022
State
VA
who set the tone on both ends of the floor and they have a lot to prove this year.
Bishop O’Connell Knights

The Knights went through a rebuilding process the last few years, but now they are stacked with one of the deepest lineups in the DMV area that feature both experience, youth and talent at all positions for Head Coach Joe Wootten. The backcourt is stacked with seniors
Paul Lewis
Paul
Lewis
6'1" | PG
Bishop O'Connell | 2022
State
VA
(pic), Towson commit
Christian May
Christian
May
6'6" | SF
Bishop O'Connell | 2022
State
VA
and sophomore
Del Jones
Del
Jones
6'3" | CG
Huntington Prep | 2024
WV
that can fill it up with anyone, and they have good athleticism across the board. A senior that will be looked at to bring it is big man
David Onanina
David
Onanina
6'6" | PF
Bishop O'Connell | 2022
State
VA
who is one of the best interior defenders and rebounders in the WCAC, and they have a lot of talented young guys in sophomores
Jadyn Harris
Jadyn
Harris
6'6" | PF
Bishop O'Connell | 2024
State
VA
,
Machi Chester
Machi
Chester
6'3" | PG
Gwynn Park | 2024
State
MD
and
Jake Williams
Jake
Williams
6'4" | SG
Sidwell Friends | 2024
State
MD
to give them depth.
Dark Horse Contenders
Benedictine Cadets
The Cadets have been through a rebuild process the last few years but new Head Coach Matt Murrer wasted no time bringing in some elite talent that will make them tough to beat as they have multiple guys who can go out and take over games. Senior
Jaden Daughtry
Jaden
Daughtry
6'6" | SF
Benedictine College Prep | 2022
VA
(pic) returns to VA after a brief stint at AZ Compass and has been playing extremely well this fall, junior 6’4” shooting guard Davin Cosby returns to Benedictine and is one of the elite shooters and scorers in the RVA area and sophomore Kris Tiller is set to have a breakout year running the point for this group.
St. Anne’s Belfield Saints
STAB has built themselves into one of the top programs in a Charlottesville area that has some of the best boarding schools in the state, and despite losing Syracuse commit Justin Taylor to IMG, Head Coach Damin Altizer still has some pieces that will make them a tough out. They may be a year away but junior big man
Carter Lang
Carter
Lang
6'9" | C
St. Anne's Belfield | 2023
State
#199
Nation
VA
(pic) and point guard
John St. Germain
John
St. Germain
6'2" | PG
St. Anne's Belfield | 2023
State
VA
have been playing high level high school ball since they were in eighth grade and are very consistent and productive, sophomore
Chance Mallory
Chance
Mallory
5'10" | PG
St. Anne's Belfield | 2025
State
VA
may be small at 5’7” but he always finds ways to produce and can really shoot it and they have great chemistry. They have a few young kids that will be thrown in the fire, but 6’4” freshman Austin Williford is ready to make a name for himself.
Flint Hill Huskies
The Huskies played extremely well over the summer, and they are a dark horse team that could be able to shock a lot of teams with their experience and talent across the board. Senior lead guard
Saxby Sunderland
Saxby
Sunderland
6'2" | CG
Flint Hill | 2022
State
VA
(pic) is a walking bucket who can score it with the best of them, and fellow senior 6’6” wing Matt Gray is one of the most improved players in the DMV and brings great size, athleticism and energy. The Huskies have great size with senior 6’7”
Reis Jones
Reis
Jones
6'10" | C
Flint Hill | 2022
State
VA
anchoring the middle and junior 6’7” forward
Gibraltar Coleman
Gibraltar
Coleman
6'6" | PF
Flint Hill | 2023
State
VA
providing a big mismatch option, and 6’4” wing
Nate Pabis
Nate
Pabis
6'5" | SF
Flint Hill | 2023
State
VA
is a big time x-factor that can really shoot it.
Catholic Crusaders
The Crusaders are back on track to be a dark horse candidate in this division as they have playmakers and difference makers at every position and Head Coach Bobby Steinberg has brought in some talent from all over. They only have one senior in their main rotation in 6’4” wing
Kendon Peebles
Kendon
Peebles
6'4" | SF
Catholic | 2022
State
VA
who is a high motor two way impact player, but their young guys are ready now to play with anyone. Led by 6’10” transfers Steven Solano (pic) from NY who is an elite level prospect who is a natural rim protector and big time athlete, the Crusaders also sport some perimeter playmakers in sophomore 6’4” wing
Josiah Rickards
Josiah
Rickards
6'3" | CG
Catholic | 2024
State
VA
, sophomore point guard
Brayden Thorne
Brayden
Thorne
6'1" | PG
Catholic | 2024
State
VA
and junior combo guard Aiden Filiapiano.