VISAA D1 Preview: All State Candidates (Part 1)

We take a look at our preseason preview of the VISAA divisions as the season is right around the corner. We will start with division one, featuring some of the perennial powerhouses throughout the state. Here’s a look at part one of some of the preseason All State candidates. [player_tooltip player_id="815578" first="Knasir" last="McDaniel"] | 5’9” PG | Paul VI 2022 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/McDaniel-Dug.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1201614" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/McDaniel-Dug-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> McDaniel is one of the preseason favorites for POY in the VISAA D1 division as the Michigan commit has been one of the top players in the state over the past few years. The lightning quick guard is a dog on both ends of the floor that sets the tone and runs the show, and with the young group he has with him he’ll have to both be a go-to option as a scorer and distributor while also being a leader for this group. [player_tooltip player_id="902006" first="Devin" last="Ceaser"] | 6’1” PG | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes 2022 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Ceaser-Devin-ECE.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1148101" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Ceaser-Devin-ECE-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Ceaser is as dynamic as they come as he’s one of the fastest and most athletic guards I’ve ever seen play, and the Buffalo commit is coming off of a huge summer where he became one of the hottest prospects on the east coast. He’s an end-to-end menace as he’s a one man fast break, he’s able to blow by anyone and has great finishing ability and he never stops coming at you on either end of the floor and is always capable of making a play when he needs to. [player_tooltip player_id="736190" first="Jaden" last="Daughtry"] | 6’5” WF | Benedictine 2022 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Daughtry-Jaden-ECE.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1148658" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Daughtry-Jaden-ECE-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Daughtry is back at Benedictine after a short stint at AZ Compass, and the way he’s played this fall and over the summer there’s no doubt he’s one of the best available prospects in VA and is one of the most versatile and productive players in the state. The 6’5” forward is able to play and guard multiple positions, he’s a strong and athletic finisher when he gets downhill and he can take over games in a number of different ways. [player_tooltip player_id="897404" first="Paul" last="Lewis"] | 6’1” PG | Bishop O’Connell 2022 [caption id="attachment_1222921" align="alignnone" width="200"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Lewis-Paul-OConnell.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1222921" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Lewis-Paul-OConnell-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a> Photo: @megelee64[/caption] Lewis has been one of the top scorers in the DMV area the past few years for Bishop O’Connell, and heading into his senior year he’s got a lot to prove with a talented group that will compete for a state championship. He’s a tough nosed guard who loves to compete against the best, he can create and make tough shots from multiple levels and when he’s challenged is when he plays his best. [player_tooltip player_id="815613" first="Saxby" last="Sunderland"] | 6’2” PG | Flint Hill 2022 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Sunderland-Saxby-ECE.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1148103" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Sunderland-Saxby-ECE-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Sunderland will thrive this year with the make-up of this Flint Hill team, where he’ll be the first option and have the green light but will also have the right guys around him to be able to make plays for them as well. He’s a big time scoring threat that can fill it up from multiple levels, he can excels in pick-and-rolls as both a scorer and a distributor and when he gets it going he’s very tough to stop. [player_tooltip player_id="815586" first="Greg" last="Melvin"] | 6’7” PF | Cape Henry 2022 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Melvin-Greg-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1308301" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Melvin-Greg-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Melvin is one of the best available players in the state, and the 6’7” forward has been phenomenal in the fall heading into the season and looks ready to lead the defending state champs. He’s built like a high level tight end with his size and athleticism, and he has good versatility as he can play and guard multiple positions, has improved in his perimeter skill set and he is a big time rebounder as well. [player_tooltip player_id="962786" first="Christian" last="May"] | 6’4” WG | Bishop O’Connell 2022 The Towson commit is coming off of a big summer with Team Takeover and looks like he’s ready to help lead this very talented O’Connell team. A two way impact player, May is able to guard the other team’s best player and is excellent off the basketball, he’s able to catch and shoot from deep with consistency and he can put it on the deck and get to spots in the midrange and also get to the rim where he’s an athletic finisher.