VISAA D2 Preview: Contenders

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 some of the contenders for the VISAA D2 classification.   Favorite: Miller School   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Crotty-Ryan.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Crotty-Ryan.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2222343" /></a></figure>   Miller comes in as the defending state champs, and have been to the state championship two years in a row losing one and winning one against Highland, and with Highland moving up to D1 the Mavericks are the clear favorites to repeat this year. Despite losing last year's POY Jason Clarke (Appalachian State) and a bad injury bug that has star senior [player_tooltip player_id='1259633' first='Elijah' last='Kelly'] (Longwood) sidelined perhaps for the year, Head Coach Jack Meriweather still has a great lineup to repeat this year. Senior star [player_tooltip player_id='1546447' first='Ryan' last='Crotty'] (Oklahoma State) broke the VA single season three-point record last season and is one of the best shooters in the country which he showed this summer on the EYBL Circuit. 6'5” senior [player_tooltip player_id='2242375' first='Shane' last='Crissman'] transferred from Riverside and is another dead eye shooter, 6'2” senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1494121' first='Anthony' last='Saunders'] is a physical and productive guard, senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2548302' first='Jaylen' last='Dyer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1588502' first='Jordan' last='Hairston'] provide depth and experience while 2029 (yes eight grader) [player_tooltip player_id='2767830' first='Jaiden' last='Hunter'] is a star in the making!   Other Contenders   Norfolk Collegiate   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageNNQuvs.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageNNQuvs.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2566627" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1494098' first='Justin' last='Burrough']</figcaption></figure>   NoCo has been one of the best teams in D2 over the past few years, even making a state championship appearance a few years ago, but Head Coach Junior Burrough hasn't been able to get over the hump and win the whole thing yet. However, this year he has a roster that is experienced and has a lot of weapons and versatility across the board. 6'7” senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1494098' first='Justin' last='Burrough'] may be their biggest player but he's able to play on the wing and also take smaller defenders to the paint, 6'4” senior [player_tooltip player_id='1343624' first='Khalil' last='Caple'] is a do-it-all guard who impacts the game across the board, senior guard Savion Samilal brings experience in the backcourt and sophomore Taberon Hawkins is another scoring weapon for them.   Hargrave   Hargrave is most known for their post grad team, but in the past few years their varsity team has been on the up and up and made some deep runs in the state tournament. Head Coach Alan Petty has done a great job recruiting and reloading with both local and out of state talent, and has put together groups with collegiate prospects every year. 6'4” sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2470582' first='Will' last='Mancine'] returns after a great freshman season as one of the best young players in the state, junior guard Kendall Lanier transferred from NC and has already had a great start to the season, senior local guard [player_tooltip player_id='2780028' first='Jalen' last='Carter'] is another steady ball handler and knock down shooter and they are a deep team that can play a lot of different ways.   Peninsula Catholic   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageSTT12g.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageSTT12g.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2566630" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2571731' first='Jaylen' last='Wynn']</figcaption></figure>   PC has been a program on the up and up the past few years under former coach Trevor Dorsey who left to take a job in Charlotte, but new Head Coach Tim Sparks has had a lot of experience winning at multiple levels and has already put together a nice roster to compete right away. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2571731' first='Jaylen' last='Wynn'] is coming off a breakout summer where he showed he's one of the best players in the 757, and the 6'5” wing is capable of taking over games at any point with his three level scoring and playmaking ability. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2566558' first='Zyon' last='McGlone'] transfers from King's Fork and is one of the most exciting and dynamic players in the state, senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2571786' first='Devin' last='Gaines'] can score the ball in bunches, junior big man [player_tooltip player_id='2618834' first='Gabe' last='Christian'] provides size in the paint and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2618840' first='Jordan' last='Carr'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2618846' first='Khristian' last='Peebles'] provide depth as well.   North Cross   North Cross is on their way back up, and while they may be a couple of years away from making a run at the whole thing they will be a team that can beat anyone on any given day if everything is clicking. Head Coach Jamiel Allen has a team that may lack size compared to some of the other teams on this list, but he has a ton of firepower and a system that allows him players to play fast and free and put up a lot of points. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2470586' first='Jessiah' last='Hines'] is an absolute killer who can light it up from deep and create off the bounce, his backcourt mate sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2470581' first='Antonio' last='Mack'] is another elite scorer who is physical and athletic, 6'5” junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2880104' first='Kaleb' last='Robinson'] provides athleticism and a high motor and freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='2395088' first='Carlos' last='Lanier'] provides another ball handler and scoring threat.    Steward School   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Richardson-Donnie-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Richardson-Donnie-CBG.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1905339" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1494105' first='Donovan' last='Richardson']</figcaption></figure>   Steward is another school that has been right in the thick of things over the last few years, and Head Coach TJ Grimes may have his best chance this year with a senior ladened group that has been playing together for a while now. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1494105' first='Donovan' last='Richardson'] (Richmond) is one of the best players in the state, and at 6'5” he's a walking mismatch as a ball handler who can create for others and score it from all three levels. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1956078' first='Xavier' last='Nelson'] is a crafty and productive player who plays much bigger than you would think at 6'4”, 6'2” senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2452134' first='Ben' last='Vaughn'] is an athletic shot maker and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2571805' first='LJ' last='Vaughn'] provides another ball handler and playmaker 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 some of the contenders for the VISAA D2 classification.