VISAA D2 Preseason Second Team All State

With the high school season getting underway, we at Prep Hoops VA will be taking a look at some previews for the season in each classification. We'll look at both state title contenders, as well as preseason All State teams. Here's a look at our picks for Preseason Second Team All State in VISAA D2.   [player_tooltip player_id='1782693' first='Dominic' last='Nguyen'] | 5'11” PG | Seton School '26   Nguyen takes over for his brother Patrick who was an All State guard at Seton School last season, and this year he'll be taking over the reigns as the primary ball handler and playmaker for them. He's a highly skilled guard who can run the show and makes great decisions, while also being a scoring threat with the ball in his hands. He shoots it well from deep off the catch, he gets to spots in the midrange where he can make tough shots, he sets the tone on both ends and he makes everyone on his team better too.   [player_tooltip player_id='2470586' first='Jessiah' last='Hines'] | 6'0” PG | North Cross '27   Hines had moments as a freshman where he looked like one of the best players in the Roanoke area, and he's already shown early in his sophomore campaign that he's going to put up big numbers throughout the season. The 6'0” guard is a lethal scorer who can fill it up in a number of different ways, as he's a highly confident shot maker with the mindset that every shot he takes will go in. He has range well beyond the three-point line off the catch and off the bounce, he will let it fly and knock it down in transition, he can get to the rim at will and is a crafty finisher, and he can make plays for others as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='2242402' first='RJ' last='Jones'] | 6'3” SG | Virginia Academy '26   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageqh0ss6.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageqh0ss6.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2548451" /></a></figure>   Jones is one of the more underrated players in the NOVA area, and the junior guard is set to put up big numbers this year for a VA Academy team that's on the rise. At 6'3” Jones is a talented shot maker who can fill it up from multiple levels, and has the ability to get hot quickly and take over games with his scoring ability. He can drill it from deep off the catch or off the bounce, he can get to spots off the bounce with ease, he is an excellent finisher through traffic and he has great instincts defensively too.   [player_tooltip player_id='1956078' first='Xavier' last='Nelson'] | 6'3” SF | Steward School '25   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImagetaF1bd.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImagetaF1bd.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2446865" /></a></figure>   Nelson is the type of player you refer to as an “elite role player,” not that he isn't capable of putting up big numbers but more because he does all the little things to help your team win. The 6'3” wing is a high motor and unselfish guy who works hard on both ends, scores it efficiently in multiple ways and is capable of impacting the game across the board. He's always in the right place at the right time, he's a three level scorer who works well off the ball to get open looks, he rebounds well on both ends and he has an all-out playing style that is easy to love.   [player_tooltip player_id='2767830' first='Jaiden' last='Hunter'] | 6'4” SF | Miller School '29   While it's almost unheard of for an eighth grader to be considered for an All State spot, there aren't many eighth graders who start for a program as talented as the Mavericks and that's the case with Hunter this year. The 6'4” wing is well beyond his years physically, mentally and from a skill set standpoint, and he's able to play with the best of them regardless of class. He is a true level scorer who doesn't need the ball in his hands to be able to score it, he can rebound and finish in the paint against bigger players, he is a very good defender who uses his length to challenge shots and get deflections and he understands his role and thrives in it.   [player_tooltip player_id='1583313' first='Noah' last='Caesar'] | 6'1” CG | Fredericksburg Christian '25   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImage0g9e7b.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImage0g9e7b.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2548563" /></a></figure>   Caesar was a Second Team All State selection last season for Fredericksburg Christian, and this year he's set to be one of the best players in the Fredericksburg area yet again. The 6'1” combo has a mix of strength and skill that makes him tough to defend and makes him a very good defender himself as well. He shoots the ball well from deep off the catch and off the bounce, he has good wiggle and can finish around the rim, he makes plays for others and he can get hot and score it in bunches too.   [player_tooltip player_id='2571786' first='Devin' last='Gaines'] | 6'0” PG | Peninsula Catholic '25   Gaines is one of the more underrated players in the 757 area, and so far in the preseason and the early season he's shown he's capable of putting up big numbers on any given night. The 6'0” guard is a threat to get downhill and to the rim every time down the floor, and he puts constant pressure on the defense in doing so. He's an excellent finisher in traffic, he gets to spots in the midrange well and he has great instincts to jump passing lanes and turn defense into offense.   Kendall Lanier | 5'11” PG | Hargrave '26   Lanier comes to Hargrave from North Carolina this year, and has already made a big impact with his ability to both run the show and score the ball efficiently in different ways. The 5'11” guard may not be the biggest but he's super crafty and skilled, with the ability to break down defenders and create space at will to create opportunities for himself and others. He shoots the ball very well from deep and is able to create his own shots from deep, he touches the paint and makes great reads and he's a very good on ball defender too.

With the high school season getting underway, we at Prep Hoops VA will be taking a look at some previews for the season in each classification. We'll look at both state title contenders, as well as preseason All State teams. Here's a look at our picks for Preseason Second Team All State in VISAA D2.