VISAA D2 Preview: All State Contenders (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 VISAA All State teams have two teams with between 14 and 16 players between the two, 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 VISAA D2 All State candidates, looking at six players we expect to be in the conversation.   POY: [player_tooltip player_id='977592' first='Austin' last='Ball'] | 6'6” WF | Miller School 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Ball-Austin-CBG-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Ball-Austin-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1581505"/></a></figure>   Ball gets the nod for Preseason Player of the Year as the Mavericks are the overwhelming favorites to win the D2 state championship and the George Mason commit is their senior leader and go-to guy. At 6'6” he has great size on the wing and is bouncy around the rim and in transition, he's a knock down shooter from deep with great range and the size to get his shot off with little to no space and he brings great energy and intensity that is infectious to his team.   [player_tooltip player_id='1403920' first='Jordan' last='Horne'] | 6'2” PG | Miller School 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/06/Horne-Jordan-Miller.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/06/Horne-Jordan-Miller-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1497784"/></a></figure>   Horne is the floor general for this Mavs team, as he's their primary ball handler and the guy who sets the tone on both ends of the floor for them. He's very strong both with the ball in his hands when he's handling pressure and defensively to keep guys in front in their press, he touches the paint a lot and is a strong finisher through traffic and he has good vision and feel as a playmaker off the bounce too.   Curtis Blair | 6'5” WF | Steward School 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Blair-Curtis-CBG-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/Blair-Curtis-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1582217"/></a></figure>   Blair was a First Team All State selection last year while leading Steward to the Final Four, and the way he's played this summer and this fall he's looking better than ever and should have a big senior season. The Liberty commit is a very talented shot maker who has great balance and footwork to be able to rise over defenders and make shots especially in the midrange, he's smooth off the bounce to get to spots and he can knock down shots from deep off the catch and he makes it look very easy when it gets it going.   [player_tooltip player_id='1107884' first='Stylz' last='Gardner'] | 6'0” CG | Peninsula Catholic 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/05/Gardner-Stylz-757.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/05/Gardner-Stylz-757-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1459326"/></a></figure>   Gardner is coming off of one of the best summers of anyone in the state with Team Loaded 757, and now that he's the go-to guy for PC this year I expect him to put up big time numbers this year while they compete for a state tournament run. He's a shifty and crafty guard who just knows how to score it as he creates space well and knocks down shots on the perimeter, he can move off the ball and makes hosts off the catch and he has a great midrange game as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1403918' first='Callum' last='Crossman'] | 6'8” PF | VA Academy 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Crossman-Callum.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Crossman-Callum-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1318441"/></a></figure>   Crossman is part of a VA Academy front court that is going to be a load to handle this year, as they have a lot of size and athleticism most teams can't match up with. Crossman himself is a freak athlete who at 6'8” is one of the most impressive leapers you'll see and plays way above the rim, he can dunk almost everything in the paint and is a big time shot blocker and he plays with a good motor and solid toughness as well.   Cam Cole | 6'1” PG | Highland School 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Cole-Cam.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Cole-Cam-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1341076"/></a></figure>   Cole was a First Team All State selection last season for Highland, and he's their most experienced returner this year and will have the ball in his hands a lot. The Navy commit is a smooth guard who can control the tempo and does a great job handling pressure, he gets in the paint at will and is a good finisher and playmaker when he does and he can score it efficiently from multiple levels with the ball in his hands.

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.