VHSL Class 4 Preview: Contenders

With the high school season right around the corner, it's time for us to do some previews for who we think will compete for some of the state championships. We continue with public school, taking a look at our picks for who we think will win the state championship and who could possibly compete with them.   Here's a look at our picks for contenders in the VHSL Class 4 classification.   <h2>Preseason Favorite: King's Fork</h2>   <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><figcaption>Senior guard Sam Brannen leads an experienced and hungry King's Fork group.</figcaption></figure>   The Bulldogs were on a crash course for Varina all last year, meeting them in the state semifinals at Varina before losing to them. While they graduated top scorer and All State selection George Beal (Norfolk State), they still return too many pieces and they're too deep not to be considered the favorite this year.   King's Fork is loaded in the backcourt, led by All State second team selection from last year Sam Brannen, a senior guard who can fill it up with the best of them and is one of the most skilled guards in the state. He's joined in the backcourt by two others seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='999620' first='Kaleb' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='999633' first='Ryan' last='Hite'], who both are tough nosed two-way impact players who can all three play on or off the basketball. They've had a number of players waiting their turn, including junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1259632' first='Zekhi' last='Darden'] who will slide into that role that Beal has left. They have a lot of talented young players who will provide depth off the bench, and that mix of experience and hungry younger players will prove tough for many teams to match up with.   <h2>Contenders</h2>   Varina   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Wyche-Kenard-crop-2898x1903-1611940521.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/01/Wyche-Kenard-crop-2898x1903-1611940521.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1123926"/></a><figcaption>Returning All State junior Kennard Wyche Jr. leads the defending state champs Varina.</figcaption></figure>   The defending state champs may have lost the original group that came together four years ago to go on this run, including last year's player of the year in Alphonzo Billups (VCU), but the Blue Devils have plenty of talent to make a real run at repeating this year. Junior guard Kennard Wyche Jr. is coming off a breakout season where he was an All State selection and he's coming off a big summer as well, and he looks to be the go-to guy for them this year. Senior guard Jerome Conway has looked great for them this fall, senior big man [player_tooltip player_id='1117680' first='Josh' last='Hughes'] who transferred from Benedictine provides size up front and a scoring option in the post and I expect freshman Daion Jones to make a big impact for them throughout the season.   Western Albemarle   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/Sime-Josh.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/Sime-Josh-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1136764"/></a><figcaption>Senior big [player_tooltip player_id='999635' first='Josh' last='Sime'] leads a Western Albemarle team that is always competitive.</figcaption></figure>   Western is the type of team that is always in the mix come playoff time, and they always have a group of players who are ready to step up when the time is right. They're a well coached group who know their assignments and roles, they play the right way and they usually have a lot of size. This year's team is no different, led by 6'8” senior [player_tooltip player_id='999635' first='Josh' last='Sime'], an athletic and skilled big who was named an All State selection last year.   <h2>Dark Horse Candidates</h2>   Churchland   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Jones-Paul-CBG-1-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Jones-Paul-CBG-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1602908"/></a><figcaption>Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1259838' first='Paul' last='Jones'] is set for a huge season for the Churchland Truckers.</figcaption></figure>   In a down year in Class 4, it could all come down to having someone who is going to break out and surprise everyone, and that team could be Churchland. The Truckers are led by junior [player_tooltip player_id='1259838' first='Paul' last='Jones'] who is expected to have a big time season as he can score the ball from anywhere on the floor, he's a big time athlete who plays above the rim and he's able to create plays for himself and others at will.   Loudoun Valley   Loudoun Valley is another team that is just always in the mix come playoff time, and this year's team should be no different. While they lose All State selection Ben Hall from last year, the Vikings will be one of the toughest teams in Region C with their junior backcourt duo of sensational scorer Jayden Johnson and pure point Landen Conrad who will reek havoc on teams this year.

With the high school season right around the corner, it's time for us to do some previews for who we think will compete for some of the state championships. We continue with public school, taking a look at our picks for who we think will win the state championship and who could possibly compete with them.