VHSL Class 6 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 start 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 Class 6, the biggest classification in the state.   <h2>Preseason Favorite: Hayfield</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Jones-Greg-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Jones-Greg-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1301676"/></a><figcaption>American commit [player_tooltip player_id='1115503' first='Greg' last='Jones'] leads the Hawks on their repeat attempt.</figcaption></figure>   The defending Class 6 state champs who went undefeated last year lost 3 of their top guards to graduation who were super important to their team, and somehow this fall they look like they somehow may be even better this year. They return their two top front court prospects in 6'6” senior do it all wing [player_tooltip player_id='1115503' first='Greg' last='Jones'] (American commit) and 6'3” senior super productive forward [player_tooltip player_id='1403962' first='David' last='King'] (Marymount), as well as backcourt starter in 6'0” senior two way impact guard [player_tooltip player_id='1403923' first='Dj' last='Holloway'].   Those three in themselves would make them a contender, but the guards who come in give them even more options and have fit like a glove in their unselfish and get after it style. 6'0” senior [player_tooltip player_id='1256339' first='Donovan' last='Bass'] comes from West Potomac where he was an All Conference selection and has looked fantastic running the show for them, 6'2” senior [player_tooltip player_id='999637' first='John' last='Awoke'] transferred from National Christian and has shown an all-around versatile skillset to impact the game in a number of ways and 6'1” junior [player_tooltip player_id='1259671' first='Jahleel' last='Jackson'] who came from Potomac School has shown he can really fill it up in a lot of different ways.   The Hawks have the depth, experience and coaching that will be hard for anyone to match up with, and with their senior leadership and chemistry they have shown this Fall they're the clear favorite to repeat this year.   <h2>Contenders</h2>   Oscar Smith   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Young-Ulysses.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Young-Ulysses-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1366917"/></a><figcaption>Ulysses "Chubbs" Young will be the floor general for a talented Oscar Smith group.</figcaption></figure>   Smith has had one of the most successful programs in the 757 over the past few years and have a lot of players playing at the collegiate level now, and this team is built to compete now and over the next few seasons as well. The Tigers have one of the best young prospects in the state in 2025 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1494102' first='Kareem' last='Stagg'], a 6'8” athletic post who brings it on both ends of the floor and is rapidly improving every day. They have great depth in the backcourt led by junior point guard Ulysses “Chubb” Young who is one of the best floor generals in the 757, and Head Coach Lavar Griffin always has a lot of talent in waiting which gives the Tigers a lot of depth.   South County   The Stallions were a formidable team last year, but this year they have the depth and the experience to make a real run at a state championship in one of the most competitive regions in the state. Led by the senior duo of point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1483019' first='Jamison' last='Lynam'] and shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1483002' first='Paul' last='Anderson'], both of whom were all district selections last year, the backcourt has a mix of talent, poise and leadership that will hard for other teams to match up with. While they have a lot of talented young pieces, one important player will be junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1489076' first='Jamal' last='Miles'] who is set to have a breakout season this year.   Patriot   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Coleman-Nasir.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Coleman-Nasir-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1355290"/></a><figcaption>Senior guard Nasir Coleman leads a talented and experienced Patriot group.</figcaption></figure>   The Pioneers had a historic season last year with an undefeated regular season and they ran the table through the Region B playoffs before falling in the state tournament just short of an undefeated matchup against Hayfield in the state championship. While they lose some of their top scorers from last year, they still bring back a lot of their core and have the depth, versatility and coaching to make a run. Senior point guard Nasir Coleman is a big time playmaker who brings it on both ends of the floor, senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1483024' first='Jay' last='Randall'] is versatile and impacts the game in a lot of different ways and junior guard Dez Hopkins provides a scoring punch for them on or off the ball. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1489085' first='Isaiah' last='Vick'] could be the key, as he will provide size and athleticism with a unique skillet too.   <h2>Dark Horse Candidates</h2>   Osbourn   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/05/Barbour-Tay.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/05/Barbour-Tay-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1461041"/></a><figcaption>Rising star [player_tooltip player_id='1405408' first='Teyvien' last='Barbour'] is one of the best shooters in the state for Osbourn.</figcaption></figure>   The Eagles are on the up-and-up and have one of the more talented lineups in the NOVA area, and they are primed to make a run at the Region B championship this year. They have an absolute star in junior 6'5” wing [player_tooltip player_id='1405408' first='Teyvien' last='Barbour'] who has great size on the wing and is one of the best shooters in the state, and already has a slew of division one offers to his name. Junior 6'7” big man Brandon Ahlers provides size for the Eagles and is set for a breakout junior season, and they have a lot of chemistry and depth throughout the team.   Freedom-Woodbridge   While the Eagles football team is having a historic season and beating every opponent by scores we've never heard of, the basketball team is also set to have a big season. Guard play will take them as far as they can go as they have one of the best backcourt duos in the state in ultra talented juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1259543' first='Tavarres' last='Riley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1259545' first='Shamar' last='Sisco'] who both have takeover ability and can score it in isolation situations, and I'm sure they're going to have plenty of athletes if the football players decide to hoop this year.    Potomac   Tragedy rocked Potomac this fall with the news that former 4 year starter Kyle Honore passed away at Wingate, and the Panthers are going to come together and play this season for him. They have a talented group led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1115504' first='Jayden' last='Harris'] who is going to be one of the top scorers in the state this year, and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1296604' first='Terrance' last='Bethea'] will provide production and versatility in the post. They got a big addition in junior transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1286684' first='Kenneth' last='DeGuzman'] who will provide playmaking ability at the point guard position.

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 start 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.