VHSL Class 3 Preview: All State Candidates (Part 1)

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 part one of our picks for VHSL Class 3 All State candidates, looking at six players we expect to be in the conversation.   POY: [player_tooltip player_id='999660' first='Dylan' last='Saunders'] | 6'8” C | Cave Spring 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/05/Saunders-Dylan.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/05/Saunders-Dylan-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1468927"/></a></figure>   Saunders may have been left off of the All State team last year as multiple of his Cave Spring teammates made it after winning the state championship, but after the summer he had I fully expect him to make a big jump in production and have them competing for another state championship. The Farleigh-Dickinson commit is a mismatch nightmare as he can step out and is a very good shooter from deep, he can bang in the post and rebound and alter shots defensively and he has fantastic touch from all over. The confidence he's playing with right now makes me give him the nod for preseason POY.    [player_tooltip player_id='999644' first='Stark' last='Jones'] | 6'3” CG | Cave Spring 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Jones-Stark-Cave-Spring.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Jones-Stark-Cave-Spring-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1364071"/></a></figure>   Jones was a First Team All State selection last season, and I expect him to have another big time season on a team that could repeat, putting him in the running for POY as well. Jones is a big time defender who has quick hands and jumps passing lanes easily, he gets downhill where he can use his body and athleticism to finish above the rim consistently and he flat out makes winning plays on both ends of the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='1507865' first='Chris' last='Fields'] | 6'7” PF | Petersburg 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Fields-Chris-CBG-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Fields-Chris-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1594431"/></a></figure>   Fields was last year's Class 3 Player of the Year and could very well do it again this year if the Crimson Wave are to make another run in the state playoffs, and if there's one thing we know for sure it's that he will put up big numbers consistently. At 6'7” he can score the ball from all over the court and is a knock down shooter from deep and in the midrange, he can post up and bang in the paint for offensive rebounds and he just has a knack for scoring the ball in so many different ways he's a matchup nightmare.   [player_tooltip player_id='1403957' first='Lawrence' last='Cole'] | 6'3” PG | Northside 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Cole-Lawrence.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Cole-Lawrence-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1174857"/></a></figure>   Cole was a Second Team selection last year after leading a talented Vikings team all year long, and he's only gotten better as he's gone through a growth spurt and continued to round out his game. He's capable of getting buckets in bunches against the best of the best as he is an athletic finisher above the rim in transition, he can create space and knocks down shots from deep and he has a swagger about him that makes it all look so easy,   [player_tooltip player_id='1139185' first='Finn' last='Irving'] | 6'2” WG | Wilson Memorial 2023   Irving was a Second Team All State selection last year after putting up huge numbers at Memorial, leading them in scoring and leading them to a 16-6 record and winning the Shenandoah District. He's a lights out shooter with deep range and consistency from deep, he moves well off the ball and sets his feet quickly to let it fly and he does all the little things that help his team win.   Bobby Gardner | 6'1” PG | Fluvanna 2023   Gardner transferred to the Flucos from FUMA and was huge for them in their turnaround going 17-9 on the season and he was named First Team All State in the process. The 6'1” point guard is a menace on the defensive end forcing turnovers and getting out in transition where he's am athletic finisher above the rim, he can make shots from deep and in the midrange and he's a very good and unselfish playmaker too.

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.