VHSL Class 2 Preview: All State Contenders

With the high school season around the corner, we have been previewing the up coming season in a number of different ways, including our All State teams by class which is only done here at Prep Hoops.   For the more traditional readers, we will be doing a preview of All State teams by classifications too. While most VHSL All State teams have two teams with 8 players on each, we have decided to simply list some of the players we expect to be on the team at the end of the season.   With that being said, here's a look at some of our picks for VHSL Class 2 All State candidates, looking at six players we expect to be in the conversation.   POY: [player_tooltip player_id='992528' first='Dennis' last='Parker'] Jr. | 6'6” WF | John Marshall 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Parker-Dennis-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Parker-Dennis-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1308349"/></a></figure>   Parker is the clear choice for Player of the Year this season as he's the NC State commit is one of the best players in the state on one of the best teams in the state. The 6'6” wing impacts the game in so many different ways as he is a big time athlete who makes energy plays in transition and on the glass, he can guard the other team's best player and he can put it on the deck and attack downhill where he can make plays for himself and others.   [player_tooltip player_id='999634' first='Kaiden' last='Swortzel'] | 6'4” PF | Floyd County 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Swortzel-Kaiden-CHMF.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Swortzel-Kaiden-CHMF-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1364060"/></a></figure>   Swortzel is one of the most productive players in the state over the past few years, and he was a Second Team All State selection last year. The 6'4” power forward is brute strength in the post as he knows how to use his body to create space and score in the paint, he plays with a great motor rebounding on both ends and winning 50-50 balls and he's a very tough kid who brings it on both ends of the floor.   Xavion Walton | 6'4” WF | Greensville 2023   Walton was a Second Team All State selection last season, leading Greensville to a state semifinal appearance and coming into his senior season he'll be one of the top players in all of Class 2. The 6'4” forward is very versatile as he can play and guard multiple positions for his team, he's a natural athlete who gets out in transition and can make plays on or off the basketball and he scores it in bunches when he gets it going.   [player_tooltip player_id='999625' first='Ryan' last='Steger'] | 6'2” WG | James River (Buchanan) 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Steger-Ryan-CHC.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Steger-Ryan-CHC-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1363873"/></a></figure>   Steger was part of a James River team that made a run to the regional semifinals before falling to Radford, and with them losing 3 of their top 4 guys from last season it's going to be Steger's turn to shine and put up big numbers. The 6'2” wing is one of the top shooters in the state, as he moves well off the ball to get open on the perimeter, he has a quick release and deep range from deep and he can catch you sleeping or over pursuing and cuts well to get finishes in the paint too.   [player_tooltip player_id='1259544' first='Damon' last='Thompson'] | 6'2” PG | John Marshall 2024   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Thompson-Damon-CBG-scaled-crop-1920x1261-1663347102.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Thompson-Damon-CBG-scaled-crop-1920x1261-1663347102.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1589467"/></a></figure>   Thompson was one of four John Marshall players to be on the First Team last year, and this year he looks even more confident and should have the ball in his hands more this year. The 6'2” lead guard is a walking bucket who is shifty off the bounce and gets to spots where he's comfortable, he makes shots consistently from deep and in the midrange off the bounce and when he gets it going he can make really tough shots.   [player_tooltip player_id='1259634' first='Gavin' last='Cormany'] | 6'0” CG | Radford 2024   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Cormany-Gavin.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Cormany-Gavin-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1162769"/></a></figure>   Cormany was a Second Team selection last year as a sophomore, and I expect him to take an even bigger jump this year as the go-to guy and one of the top scorers in the NRV and Roanoke areas. He's a very good shooter who sets his his feet and has a quick release, he can create off the bounce and uses hesitations and counters to get open and make tough shots and he brings toughness to his team on both ends of the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='1489098' first='Walker' last='Conrad'] | 6'8” PF | Strasburg 2024   Conrad is one of the best big men you'll find in this class, and he's versatile as a stretch big man who can step out and knock down shots. He's a skilled big who has touch in the paint and out to the three-point line, he can rebound and finish on the offensive glass for extra opportunities and there aren't going to be a lot of players that can match up with him this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1164551' first='Latrell' last='Allmond'] | 6'8” PF | John Marshall 2026   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Allmond-Latrell-CBG-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Allmond-Latrell-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1605082"/></a></figure>   While it's not common to see a freshman on the All State team, there also aren't many freshmen that have the talent that Allmond has already as he's considered one of the top in the country in the 2026 class. The 6'8” power forward is already a monster in the paint who is stronger than most players older than him, he's a big time athlete who plays above the rim and plays with a great motor and he has a budding skillset that allows him to step outside and make shots as well.

With the high school season around the corner, we have been previewing the up coming season in a number of different ways, including our All State teams by class which is only done here at Prep Hoops.