Preseason All Richmond First Team

<p>The high school season in Virginia would usually be started by now, however it’s still up in the air in many areas are some school districts have already announced that they will cancel winter sports this year. However, we will remain optimistic that we will have some sports this year, and we will look forward as if we will.</p> <p>We will take a look at our picks for preseason all area teams as if everyone will play, looking now at the 804 area which features some of the top talent in the state. This made it very difficult to pick the teams, but we did our best on what we’ve seen over the past few years and what we saw this summer and fall.</p> <p>Here’s a look at the eight guys we chose as the preseason All Richmond First Team.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="798691" first="Jason" last="Nelson"] | 5’9 PG | John Marshall 2021 (Preseason POTY)</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Nelson-Jason-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1061581" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Nelson-Jason-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>The University of Richmond commit has been as successful as anyone over the past three years, winning two state championships and showing he’s one of the top lead guards in the state. While it doesn’t look like JM will play this year, Nelson still gets the nod for Preseason Player of the Year if everyone were to play as he is the reigning Class 2A State Player of the Year and is as important as any singular player to his team in the state. Nelson is highly skilled and cerebral at the point guard position, he can run the team by scoring or making others better at will and he has this competitive chip to him that makes him an absolute monster and a true winner.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="798682" first="Elvin" last="Edmonds"] | 6’2” CG | Hopewell 2021</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Edmonds-Elvin-MVP.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1023817" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Edmonds-Elvin-MVP-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>From a sheer numbers standpoint, Edmonds is a guy who could be in the running for Player of the Year as he’s been one of the most productive guards in the 804 over the past three seasons and has helped Hopewell see a ton of success as their leader since his freshman season. He’s committed to Patriot League powerhouse Bucknell where he’ll fit in perfectly with his high IQ and ability to let it fly from anywhere on the court. He’s a strong guard who can play on or off the basketball, he scores it in bunches from all over the floor and he’s a tough minded kid who will play through injury and trash talk without blinking an eye.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="687573" first="Kenard" last="Richardson"] | 6’3” CG | Life Christian 2021</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/IMG_0872.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1065187" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/IMG_0872-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Richardson is another guy you have to consider for POTY as he was the VISAA D3 POTY last year after leading LCA to another state championship, and there aren’t many kids who bring it the way he does every single game. Richardson is a skilled combo guard with good size and athleticism, but it’s his toughness and competitiveness that separates him and makes him a nightmare to matchup with. At 6’3” he has good size and strength and will bully guys on either end of the floor, he comes at you over and over again offensively and he’s a guy who can score it from multiple levels and will let you know about it the entire time.</p> <p><strong>Mac MacDonald | 6’3” WG | Collegiate 2021</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/McDonald-Mac.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1034582" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/McDonald-Mac-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>MacDonald was the leading scorer in a Prep League conference last year with some very talented players, and the recent Navy commit has some more pieces around him this year at Collegiate who could contend for a Prep League championship if they play this year. He’s a perfect fit in the Patriot League as he’s a highly skilled off guard who shoots the lights out, has improved on the ball to be able to create separation and make shots and he’s tougher than he looks and loves to be challenged. He’s a guy that’s almost always good for 20 a game and he’s a refreshing guy to watch who plays the game the right way and is a natural leader as well.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="815588" first="Alphonzo" last="Billups"] | 6’7” WF | Varina 2022</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Billups-Alphonzo-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1063289" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Billups-Alphonzo-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Last year’s breakout player in the Richmond area, Billups is no longer a secret as he was named All Metro and All State last year, and he’s become a hot ticket on the recruitment trail as he’s picked up offers from schools in multiple high major conferences including the ACC, SEC, AAC, A10 and more. One of the most versatile guys on this list, Billups is someone who plays all over the court for Varina as he can handle and initiate the offense, he can guard every position on the floor and he’s a true stat sheet stuffer who scores, rebounds and distributes. He has the tools to play the game at the highest level and is a true two way guy as well.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="697137" first="Caleb" last="Kenney"] | 6’6” F | Douglas Freeman 2021</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Kenney-Caleb.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1034578" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Kenney-Caleb-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Kenney has been one of my favorite guys to watch develop in the Richmond area as he came on the scene as a sophomore and has just gotten better and better every year since. A versatile forward that can handle the ball in transition and shoot it out to the three-point line as well as post up smaller players and score around the rim, he impacts the game on both ends with his length, athleticism and high motor and is a mismatch nightmare at this level. He was a Second Team All-Met selection last year, and this year the Holy Cross commit is set to be one of the best players in the Richmond area.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="736190" first="Jaden" last="Daughtry"] | 6’5” F | LC Bird 2022</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Daughtry-Jaden-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1075135" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Daughtry-Jaden-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Daughtry dealt with some injuries his sophomore year at Benedictine, but when he was on the floor he was an absolute game changer and he transferred to LC Bird where he’ll fit their system perfectly and his versatility will allow him to play multiple positions and impact the game in a number of ways. Daughtry is built like a grown man already and he plays with a great motor that allows him to get downhill and use his size to finish through contact, and he really thrives in transition where he can handle the ball and is a good playmaker as well as finisher through traffic. He has a budding skill set that includes the ability to shoot it out to three-point line and make plays for others, and he should be right around a double-double this season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="992529" first="Curtis" last="Blair III"] | 6’5” WF | Steward School 2023</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Blair-Curtis-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1067931" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Blair-Curtis-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Blair is emerging as one of the top prospects in the 2023 class in the entire state, and he’s in a great position at Steward School to step into a leading role and take over the scoring that was left behind by Efton Reid who moved on to IMG Academy. Blair has improved his body and skill set to go from a stretch four kind of prospect to a guy who can be a mismatch on the wing with his size and ability to put it on the deck and get to the rim or shoot the midrange and three ball with little space. He’s already getting recruited by a lot of programs across the country, and this will be his year to show that he can be the go-to guy and after the summer and fall that he had I believe he’s ready for that.</p>