Preseason All 757 Candidates (Part 1)

With the high school season right around the corner, we will take a look at some preseason All area teams, focusing on the different parts of the state. Here's a look at part one of some of the players we think could be on the All Hampton Roads (or 757) teams.   Preseason POY: [player_tooltip player_id='992530' first='Trevor' last='Smith'] | 6'0” PG | Woodside '23   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/Smith-Trevor-Loaded.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/Smith-Trevor-Loaded-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1438616"/></a></figure>   Smith gets the nod as the preseason player of the year from us as he's not only one of the most experienced players in the 757 but he's also improved every year and has a team around him that gives him a shot at winning a state championship. The Richmond commit is a dual threat at the lead guard spot as he can make tough shots from multiple levels and makes his teammates better, he is very tough to guard in isolation situations and runs the pick-and-roll well and he sets the tone on both ends of the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='999649' first='Etienne' last='Strothers'] | 6'2” PG | Menchville '23   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Strothers-Etienne-CBG-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Strothers-Etienne-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1584921"/></a></figure>   It looks like the two Newport News schools are going to be on a collision course this year, and there's a good chance whoever can come away with a state championship the point guard for their team will likely be state player of the year. Strothers is a dynamic lead guard who has improved a lot and is coming off of a good summer and fall, he can score the ball in bunches off the bounce and he's a big time athlete and playmaker as well. He's committed to Appalachian State and is set for a huge senior season.   [player_tooltip player_id='999636' first='AJ' last='Clark'] | 6'3” WG | Menchville '23   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Clark-AJ-2.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Clark-AJ-2-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1371591"/></a></figure>   If there's going to be any team that has multiple players on the All 757 team, it's going to be Menchville as the backcourt duo of Strothers and fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='999636' first='AJ' last='Clark'] may be the best in the area. They compliment each other perfectly as Clark is an all-out energy guy who guards the other team's best player, makes athletic plays above the rim and on the defensive end and he moves well off the ball to get open off of screens and cuts where he's really improved as a scorer.   Sam Brannen | 5'11” PG | King's Fork '23   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Brannen-Sam-CBG-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Brannen-Sam-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1583804"/></a></figure>   Brannen is one of the most skilled guards in the entire state, and after a good junior season he's going to be moving into a role where he's the go-to guy for a King's Fork team that is a preseason favorite to win the Class 4 State Championship. He's a very talented shooter who can create space off the bounce or work off the ball to get open, he's a crafty finisher who can finish over bigger defenders and he's a maestro in the pick-and-roll.   [player_tooltip player_id='1107884' first='Stylz' last='Gardner'] | 5'11” CG | Peninsula Catholic '23   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Garnder-Stylz.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Garnder-Stylz-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1082850"/></a></figure>   Gardner has shown over the past few years that he's one of the top scorers in the 757, and coming off of the summer he had with Loaded 757 he's primed for a big senior season on a PC team that will be a tough out for anyone. He's a smooth combo who plays with good pace and knows how to create space, he gets hot quickly and can fill it up in bunches and he's a big time shooter from deep too.   [player_tooltip player_id='1241926' first='Justin' last='Bass'] | 5'11” CG | Kecoughtan '23   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/Bass-Justin-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/Bass-Justin-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1421167"/></a></figure>   Another guy coming off of a big summer with Team Push, Bass will step into the go-to role and the primary ball handling role this year with a Kecoughtan team that will lean on him to make plays. He's a lightning quick guard with a great first step and he's able to get in the lane at will, he can drill shots from deep both off the catch and off the bounce and he has shown a much more aggressive mindset as a scorer over the past six months.

With the high school season right around the corner, we will take a look at some preseason All area teams, focusing on the different parts of the state. Here's a look at part one of some of the players we think could be on the All Hampton Roads (or 757) teams.