VISAA D-I Final Four Standouts

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.   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-I division.   [player_tooltip player_id='1591317' first='Nate' last='Ament'] | 6'9” WF | Highland '25   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/tempImageX7B3yR.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/tempImageX7B3yR.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2471292" /></a></figure>   Highland moved up to D-I this year after winning D-II two years ago and losing in the state championship last year, and Ament was likely the Player of the Year going into the state tournament and solidified himself after the Hawks won the championship as the 2 seed defeating 4 seed Bishop O'Connell in an overtime thriller. A consensus top 5 player in the country, Ament was simply too much for the other teams, using his unique skillset at 6'9” to dominate the game across the board. He filled it up from all three levels hitting shots from deep and throwing down big dunks, he rebounded in and out of his area well, he protected the rim and switched on ball screens, and he made plays for others on the ball in the way no other 6'9” player in the country ever could.   [player_tooltip player_id='1339892' first='Julian' last='Rivera'] | 6'1” PG | Highland '25   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Screen-Shot-2023-12-04-at-11.48.45-AM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Screen-Shot-2023-12-04-at-11.48.45-AM.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2288361" /></a></figure>   Rivera continues to show that he's perhaps the most underrated and under recruited player in VA, as the 6'1” guard is the definition of a winner, winning his second state championship as the emotional and vocal leader of this team. Many coaches question his athleticism as he has a bit of an “old mans” type of game, but regardless of who he's matched up with he always finds a way to get the job done. He saw the floor well and delivered passes on point, he made shots from deep, he showed crafty finishing ability, he guarded players much bigger than him and he left everything on the floor like he always does.   [player_tooltip player_id='1225266' first='Jeremiah' last='Gorham'] | 5'11” PG | Highland '25   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/tempImage12Ibts.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/tempImage12Ibts.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2636799" /></a></figure>   Gorham emerged as a big part of Highland's team and in turn their success on the season, as he is a guard who can fill it up in bunches and can handle it and make plays as well. While he's the smallest guy on the team, he showed his ability to play on or off the ball and make shots from multiple levels, which he did throughout the weekend and they wouldn't have won it all without him. He made threes off the catch at a good clip, he got to spots and made pull-ups regularly and was great for them in late shot clock situations.   [player_tooltip player_id='2252287' first='Darius' last='Bivins'] | 6'0” PG | Bishop O'Connell '26   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/eZy-Watermark_13-07-2023_10-32-29-7080PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/eZy-Watermark_13-07-2023_10-32-29-7080PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2083600" /></a></figure>   Bivins was the catalyst for this O'Connell team that upset their rival and #1 seed Paul VI to make the state championship, losing in an overtime thriller to Highland, but Bivins did everything he could to will them to victory. The nationally ranked guard controlled the game in so many different ways, using his change of pace and handle to get in the lane and create for others, while also making shots in the midrange over bigger defenders. He controlled the tempo and set the tone on both ends, was a leader throughout the game and came up big every time his team needed him to.   [player_tooltip player_id='2459209' first='Justin' last='Edwards'] | 6'5” WG | Bishop O'Connell '26   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/IMG_2893.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/IMG_2893.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2493804" /></a></figure>   Edwards stepped up in a big way for O'Connell in their semifinal win over PVI, as the 6'5” wing came off the bench to provide tons of energy and produce in a number of different ways. He finished with 14 points making shots from all three levels and using his physicality around the rim, but his motor on both ends made him an even bigger impact too. He showed great hustle fighting for loose balls and keeping plays alive, he guarded well both on the ball and in help and he rebounded well on both ends too.   Matt Dalton | 6'3” WG | Bishop O'Connell '25   Dalton was another player who stepped up in a major way for O'Connell as the senior wing increased his usual production and was their second leading scorer in their semifinal win over Highland. The 6'3” wing made shots from deep and stretched the floor, but also showed his ability to cut off the ball and run in transition for layups and he showed a lot of grit fighting on the glass for big rebounds down the stretch.   [player_tooltip player_id='1494103' first='Jaquan' last='Womack'] | 6'7” PF | Paul VI '25   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/Womack-Jaquan.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/Womack-Jaquan.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1461946" /></a></figure>   Womack was a handful for O'Connell to deal with even though they weren't able to come away with the win, as the 6'7” forward was a mismatch problem that he took advantage of and made plays in a number of ways. He used his size to bully defenders in the paint to score it and rebound, he switched well defensively to stay in front and he was able to work in the high post area when they needed him to.   [player_tooltip player_id='1956071' first='Adlan' last='Elamin'] | 6'8” WF | Paul VI '25   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/unnamed-37.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/unnamed-37.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2025722" /></a></figure>   Elamin was another mismatch for PVI that had himself a good showing against O'Connell, as the 6'8” Utah State commit was able to make shots and use his perimeter skillset to create shots against slower players throughout the game. At 6'8” he played all over the court depending on the look they wanted to run, he made shots from deep including some big ones down the stretch and his versatility was shown defensively too as he had some big time blocks and was able to switch and guard on the perimeter too.   [player_tooltip player_id='2148767' first='Jordan' last='Smith'] | 6'3” CG | Paul VI '26   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Screen-Shot-2022-07-05-at-9.36.29-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/07/Screen-Shot-2022-07-05-at-9.36.29-PM.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1503003" /></a></figure>   If Ament doesn't win Player of the Year it will likely be Smith, and while he didn't have his best showing in their loss to O'Connell he still was impactful on both ends in a way that has become his staple and made him a top 10 prospect in his class. He was fantastic defensively showing his great instincts and using his length to get deflections and challenge shots, he used his athleticism to finish at the rim and he made plays for himself and others off the bounce as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='2340875' first='Colin' last='Pollock'] | 6'10” C | St. Stephen's St. Agnes '25   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/IMG_5130.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/IMG_5130.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2683847" /></a></figure>   Pollock seemed to come into the matchup against Highland ready to prove himself and use his skillset to create plays on the offensive end, and the Navy commit did just that as he led the team in scoring and kept them in it for quite a while. He showed great footwork and used fakes in the post to be able to get looks at the rim, he finished well in traffic with both hands and he showed his ability to step out and make shots and deliver passes on point too.   [player_tooltip player_id='1591318' first='Riley' last='Jacobs'] | 6'8” PF | St. Stephen's St. Agnes '25   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/unnamed-51-1.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/unnamed-51-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2139959" /></a></figure>   The UMBC commit was also a problem for a Highland team whose depth is not in the front court, and he took full advantage when they'd put a smaller or slower player on him. The 6'8” forward showed his inside-out game with the ability to put it on the deck and attack downhill, he posted and finished well in traffic and he made an impact defensively and on the glass as well.

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.