VHSL Class 6 Top Contenders

<p>While some areas are still up in the air about whether they’ll be playing and some that have already shut it down, there was a large portion of public school teams in VA that started their seasons this past week. We’re cautiously optimistic that we will have an entire high school season, and with that we will take a look at some state contenders in each of the classifications. Here’s a look at seven teams in Class 6 that we expect to be contending come late in the season.</p> <p><strong>Preseason Favorite: South County Stallions</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_1099662" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/Picott-Trent.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1099662" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/Picott-Trent-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> 2021 Trent Picott[/caption] <p>While the reigning Class 6 co-champions do lose last year’s Class 6 State Player of the Year in [player_tooltip player_id="954023" first="William" last="Wilson"], the Stallions still return a plethora of talent and have the mix of talent, size and experience to make a run at another title this year. Led by the senior duo of 6’3” [player_tooltip player_id="798699" first="Andre" last="Speight"] (Mount St. Mary’s commit) and 6’7” Trenton Picot, South County has the perfect balance of scorers, defenders and creators to compete with pretty much anyone. They’re well coached and hungry to get a chance to get back to the state championship and actually play it this year.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Other Contenders</strong></p> <p><strong>Western Branch</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_1063292" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Johnson-Efrem-CBG.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1063292" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Johnson-Efrem-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="815585" first="Efrem" last="Johnson"][/caption] <p>Branch was one of the top teams in the state last season and return pretty much the same group that has great chemistry and a hunger to prove themselves this year. They were the other team in the running for favorites, as they have a talented group that plays fast, plays hard and plays unselfishly. They have one of the best backcourts in the state with seniors [player_tooltip player_id="957897" first="Cam" last="Edmonds"] and [player_tooltip player_id="798738" first="Bobby" last="Johnson"], along with junior [player_tooltip player_id="815585" first="Efrem" last="Johnson"] who’s a top 10 prospect in the 2022 class. They bring it on both ends and any one of those guys above have the ability to take over games when they need to.</p> <p><strong>Lake Braddock</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_1029188" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/David-Solomon.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1029188" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/David-Solomon-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="815581" first="David" last="Solomon"][/caption] <p>Braddock made the state championship in 2019 where they fell in a close one to Landstown, and while they had somewhat of a rebuild last year they showed they’re still talented and play a fun style that is tough to guard. They’re a young group with their best returners being junior big man David Soloman and sophomore wing Jamie Kaiser, but they also have a talented backcourt that allows them to play fast and free. They’re a team that’s hard to game plan for and can run anyone out of the gym when they’re on.</p> <p><strong>Centreville</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_1069806" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Kuzemka-Chris-Head-Shot.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1069806" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/Kuzemka-Chris-Head-Shot-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="798711" first="Chris" last="Kuzemka"][/caption] <p>An experienced and gritty group that’s led by two senior division one football commits in big man [player_tooltip player_id="798687" first="Avery" last="Ford"] and point guard [player_tooltip player_id="798711" first="Chris" last="Kuzemka"], Centreville has great balance and could be one of the hardest teams to score on. The 6’7” Ford is one of the top post defenders and rim protectors in the state, and Kuzemka is a natural floor general and leader who will make everyone on the team better while setting the tone.</p> <p><strong>James River</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_1018182" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Hill-Neil.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1018182 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Hill-Neil-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="798759" first="Neil" last="Hill"][/caption] <p>The Rapids have slowly built a very good team and program in the last three years and made the state tournament last season, and they return a ton of their production from last year as well. They have great size and versatility on the wing with 6’5” seniors [player_tooltip player_id="957900" first="Kaleb" last="Bingham"] and jack-of-all-trades forward [player_tooltip player_id="798759" first="Neil" last="Hill"], and their senior 6’7” big man Cole Grubbs is a two way impact guy that owns the paint on both ends. They’re experienced, well coached and versatile, and their size will make them tough to matchup with.</p> <p><strong>Oscar Smith</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_1025493" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Giles-Kenyon-2.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1025493" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/Giles-Kenyon-2-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="815590" first="Kenyon" last="Giles"][/caption] <p>The Tigers have been a very steady program over the past few years despite losing very talented guys every year, but their next man up approach always keeps them competitive. Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="815590" first="Kenyon" last="Giles"] is set to have a breakout year as he’ll be the go-to guy with the ball in his hands and he can score it from all over, and senior [player_tooltip player_id="1091487" first="Geremy" last="Robinson"], a transfer from Hawaii, gives them even more firepower in the backcourt. Guards are big when it matters the most, and they have some very good guards on their team.</p> <p><strong>Potomac </strong></p> <p>Potomac has been one of the most successful programs in the Northern VA area over the past few years, and they have an experienced and talented group that no one will want to match up with when it matters. 6’6” senior [player_tooltip player_id="798715" first="Tyrell" last="Harris"] could be the state player of the year and is a walking mismatch, senior sniper [player_tooltip player_id="798734" first="Caleb" last="Satchell"] has been a starter from day one and junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="815623" first="Kyle" last="Honore"] is a floor general who can both score it and run the offense and make plays for his teammates. Head Coach Keith Honore has had great success in the playoffs in his career and he has a perfect team to compete this year.</p>