VISAA D-II Final Four Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The VISAA, Virginia's private school association, held their championships last weekend at Benedictine, and the Friday and Saturday have become known as one of the best weekends for high school basketball every year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I called the games on the CBG Live Network on YouTube (and they're still up there for anyone who wants to watch), and the action was nothing short of fantastic. Here's a look at some of the standouts from the D-II division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2242375' first='Shane' last='Crissman'] | 6'5” WG | Miller School '25</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2731745,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/tempImageOOJxpF.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/tempImageOOJxpF.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2731745" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crissman was fantastic for Miller all season, and his big showing in their semifinal matchup against Hargrave helped get them to the championship. The 6'5” wing did what he does best, which is move off the ball and find openings on the perimeter to let it fly, while also using his length to rebound and defend as well. He finished with 13 points and hit three 3-pointers in that game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1494121' first='Anthony' last='Saunders'] | 6'3” CG | Miller School '25</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2803870,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/tempImageaFunaC.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/tempImageaFunaC.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2803870" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saunders would have been Miller's MVP of the weekend if there was an award, as he was instrumental in helping them win their second straight state championship, and he absolutely took over in the fourth quarter of the title game. The big and physical guard used his strength to his advantage posting smaller guards and getting downhill to finish through contact, while also making big plays on the defensive end and hitting the glass too. He was stellar in the semifinals scoring 11 points and making plays for others, but in the championship he finished with 16 points and scored 11 of them in the fourth in what was a low scoring defensive affair.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1546447' first='Ryan' last='Crotty'] | 6'5” WG | Miller School '25</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2222343,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <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> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Oklahoma State commit will likely win State Player of the Year, and while he didn't have his best game in the championship he hit timely shots and commanded a ton of attention that helped free up others. The 6'5” wing competed throughout the game even without his shot falling, and after getting to the line to start the fourth he hit some big shots down the stretch and helped seal it for his second straight title. In the semifinals he was his usual self going for 15 points in a balanced affair, and in the championship he finished with 12 points with 7 of them coming in the fourth to help them complete the comeback.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2571731' first='Jaylen' last='Wynn'] | 6'5” WF | Peninsula Catholic '25</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2566630,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <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></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wynn was absolutely fantastic for PC all season, and that didn't stop in their run to the state championship where they dropped a heart breaker to Miller, but he proved why he's one of the best in the 757. The 6'5” Virginia State commit was dominant in many ways, particularly in the midrange and when posting up, he hit the offensive glass for extra possessions and he made plays for others as well. The senior leader left it all on the floor, finishing with 23 points in their semifinal win over Hargrave and a team high 13 points in the championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zyon McClone | 5'11” PG | Peninsula Catholic '26</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2561018,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagecK8VYz.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagecK8VYz.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2561018" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McClone will be the guy who takes over next year at PC as the go-to guy, and he showed all of that ability in their run to the championship making plays across the board and on both ends. While he's one of the smaller guys on the court he is extremely quick and explosive and showed it with some highlight reel worthy finishes and blocks, he touched the paint at will, he scored it in different ways and he was a menace on the defensive end too. He finished with 18 points in their semifinal win over North Cross and 12 in the championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2879990' first='Justin' last='Hunter'] | 6'2” WG | Peninsula Catholic '26</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hunter was a new name who emerged for PC on their run and became a very important part of their team, and he was huge for them in the semifinals to help them get to the championship. The 6'2” off guard was perhaps their best shooter and made some huge shots for them down the stretch of that game, and he also contributed defensively jumping passing lanes and hitting the glass as well. He finished with 18 points in their win over North Cross, with 13 of those coming in the second half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2470586' first='Jessiah' last='Hines'] | 5'11” PG | North Cross '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While North Cross lost in the semifinals to PC, they are a team that has a very bright future with most of their top players returning, including Hines who filled it up in so many different ways to the tune of 19 points as just a sophomore. The 5'11” guard showed his ability to shake and bake off the bounce and blow by defenders to get to the rim, he shot it well from deep both off the catch and off the bounce and he made plays for others as well racking up a number of assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carlos Baxter-Lanier | 5'10” CG | North Cross '28</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2552812,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/716-Carlos-Lanier.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/716-Carlos-Lanier.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2552812" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baxter-Lanier came off the bench for North Cross as their two sophomore studs start in the backcourt, but he showed absolutely no fear as a freshman on the biggest stage as he provided huge minutes and shot the absolute cover off the ball for them. The freshman connected on five three-pointers and totaled 15 points, as he showed a savvy understanding of how to get open working off the ball, and he showed great energy on the offensive end too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2780028' first='Jalen' last='Carter'] | 6'0” PG | Hargrave '25</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter was one of a number of transfers that came in for Hargrave and he played a huge role leading them to the Final Four, and while they were overmatched by Miller he showed he's one of the up and coming guards in VA in the 2026 class. The 6'0” guard went for 17 points in the game, showing his ability to get to spots and make tough shots whether it was from 25 feet or at the rim, and he showed a great motor competing on the defensive end too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Te'Shawn Ricks | 6'7” PF | Hargrave '25</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ricks turned a lot of heads in their semifinal matchup against Miller, as the 6'7” Virginia Beach native showed a great motor and was highly productive as he ran the floor and made plays on both ends of the floor. He finished with 17 points and showed his ability to finish through contact at the rim, draw contact and convert at the free throw line and defensively he showed he can switch and guard multiple positions while also protecting the rim too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->