VHSL Class 5 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 5 classification.   <h2>Preseason Favorite: Woodside</h2>   <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><figcaption>Richmond commit [player_tooltip player_id='992530' first='Trevor' last='Smith'] leads a stacked Woodside group this year.</figcaption></figure>   While Woodside has struggled in the past when the playoffs come around, the Wolverines are absolutely loaded this year and provide so much depth it will be hard to see anyone matching up one through five with them. Senior point guard leader and University of Richmond commit [player_tooltip player_id='992530' first='Trevor' last='Smith'] is a dynamic threat to score the ball at all times, sophomore big man [player_tooltip player_id='1494107' first='Silas' last='Barksdale'] is set to have a breakout season and they got a big transfer from North Carolina in 6'5” do-it-all junior [player_tooltip player_id='1265970' first='My'Kel' last='Jenkins'] on the wing. Senior big man [player_tooltip player_id='1241879' first='Christian' last='Greenlaw'] and sophomore point guard Masaiah Stevens will likely round out the starting lineup, and they have a lot of options off the bench including Smith's younger brother junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1489102' first='Travis' last='Hamilton'] who can score it in bunches and give them a punch off the bench.   <h2>Contenders</h2>   Menchville   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Strothers-Etienne-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Strothers-Etienne-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1307776"/></a><figcaption>App State commit [player_tooltip player_id='999649' first='Etienne' last='Strothers'] will be part of one of the top backcourts in the state.</figcaption></figure>   The two Newport News schools are looking like they're on a collision course in Region B, and whatever team can best each other is likely in the driver's seat come state tournament time, and it could be a situation where they both meet in the regional and state championship games. The Monarchs are a cohesive group that have been together for years led by the senior backcourt duo of Appalachian State commit [player_tooltip player_id='999649' first='Etienne' last='Strothers'] who is one of the top scorers in the area, and athletic and dynamic two way wing [player_tooltip player_id='999636' first='AJ' last='Clark'] who is one of the top defenders in the state. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1241928' first='Devin' last='Keasey'], junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1489067' first='Jordan' last='Watlington'] and senior guards Eric Turner and Andre Carter give them a lot of experience and depth this year.   LC Bird   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Manns-Yuri-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Manns-Yuri-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1302372"/></a><figcaption>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='999619' first='Yuri' last='Manns'] will be one of the top scorers in the state this year.</figcaption></figure>   Bird takes a big loss with last year's starting point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1231823' first='AJ' last='Wills'] transferring, but the Skyhawks have a proven track record to make it to the playoffs and make runs in them as well, and they have a hungry group that wants to prove themselves. Senior shooting [player_tooltip player_id='999619' first='Yuri' last='Manns'] will be leaned upon heavily to score the ball and as a junior he averaged over 20 points per game and was named All State so we know he's capable of doing it.The Skyhawks are big up front with 6'9” senior [player_tooltip player_id='1241881' first='Brett' last='Dent'] and 6'6” senior [player_tooltip player_id='1241906' first='Logan' last='Hoit'], senior point guard Brandon Wade is a capable floor general and will slide in as the primary ball handler and they have a lot of young guys who have been waiting in the wind.   Green Run   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Miller-David-CBG-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Miller-David-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1605058"/></a><figcaption>Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1494114' first='David' last='Miller'] will be one of the top players in the 757 this year.</figcaption></figure>   The Stallions are a young group but they're the likely favorite in Region A and with their fast paced, get after it style they can compete with anyone. They lost their two top scorers from last year and will rely heavily on their sophomore duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1494114' first='David' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1494116' first='Kassidy' last='Jackson'] to grow up quickly and take the reigns for this team. Miller showed as a freshman he's a mismatch nightmare who can play inside-out and Jackson has “cat like” quickness on the ball and is a good on ball defender, and they always have athletes to play with.   <h2>Dark Horse Candidates</h2>   Highland Springs   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Coles-Danzelle-CBG-1-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Coles-Danzelle-CBG-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1602909"/></a><figcaption>All state guard [player_tooltip player_id='1489070' first='Danzelle' last='Coles'] returns for the defending state champs.</figcaption></figure>   The Springers upset their way to an improbable and movie worthy state championship last year, and they will again be one of the better teams in the Richmond area this year. They lost their top scorer from last season but they do return All State junior combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='1489070' first='Danzelle' last='Coles'] as well as a number of either key pieces from last year's team.   Patrick Henry (Roanoke)   PH has been the best team in Region D over the past few years and has made a number of runs in the state tournament despite being only one of two Roanoke area teams in the region. They will rely heavily on junior [player_tooltip player_id='1259628' first='Abu' last='Yarmah'], a 6'5” freak athlete who has been a key contributor since he was a freshman and will likely have the ball in his hands more this year.   Maury   The Commodores surprised a lot of people last year on their run in Class 5, and despite losing their two top scorers from last year they have a lot of pieces that will make them a tough out in Region B. They're big up front with the junior duo of 6'7” Tyler Bell and 6'6” [player_tooltip player_id='1259670' first='CJ' last='Parker'], both who can step out and shoot it, and they have a budding star in 6'0” sophomore point guard Adrean Newton.

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.