Preseason All Met First Team: RVA
Every year the Richmond Times Dispatch does an All Met team, picking three teams of the top players in the great Richmond metro area. While constructing our previews this year, we decided to do a couple All Met Teams for…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingEvery year the Richmond Times Dispatch does an All Met team, picking three teams of the top players in the great Richmond metro area. While constructing our previews this year, we decided to do a couple All Met Teams for different areas, starting in the capital area of Richmond. We’ll be doing a first and second team, with seven guys on each team. Here’s a look at our preseason predictions for the All Met Richmond First Team.
*Note: All Met selections are based on predicted production and impact at the high school level, not necessarily the best collegiate prospects in the area.
Preseason POTY: Henry Coleman | 6’8” PF | Trinity Episcopal 2020
It’s hard to pick against the Duke commit who was last year’s Richmond Times Dispatch All Met POTY. Not only is Coleman one of the best prospects in the state for the next level, he’s also highly productive on both ends and is a natural born leader as well. Last year, Coleman averaged a very impressive 26 points and 13 rebounds as a junior, and I’m fully expecting a very similar year from him with his style of play and all out motor. With some more experience and new additions, I also expect Trinity to be one of the top teams in VISAA D1 this year as well after a somewhat down year last year.
Joe Bamisile | 6’4” G | Monacan 2020
If there was anyone else to consider for Player of the Year the obvious choice would be Bamisile who unofficially led the state in scoring last year. The Virginia Tech commit came back to Richmond after a short hiatus at Montverde as a sophomore, and tuned teams up regularly with his deep range and athletic finishing ability off the bounce. He continued his impressive showing this summer when he was named to the NBPA Top 100 All Camp team and if all goes accordingly he should be one of the top scorers in the state again this year.
Efton Reid | 6’11” C | Steward School 2021
One of the top big men in the country, Reid is set to explode this year and could be in the conversation for POTY if he puts up big numbers this year. The Steward big man has a unique skill set to his size as he has soft touch with both hands in the paint, he can step out and shoot all the way to the three point line and he’s a good passer out of double teams as well. One of the most impressive parts of his game and him as a person is he’s a natural born leader that is unselfish despite the fact he’s by far one of the best players in the area, but don’t let that fool you as he also has a killer instinct and can dominate at will whenever he gets a chance.
Elvin Edmonds | 6’2” G | Hopewell 2021
A second team All Met selection last year, Edmonds has been a rock for Hopewell over the past two seasons and one of the top scoring guards in the area over that time. He’s a smooth shooting combo guard who can play on and off the basketball, he’s a strong finisher when he gets downhill and can get to the line and once he hits a couple he’s lights out and doesn’t go through long cold stretches when it comes to shooting. Last year he averaged 21.1 points, 3.2 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game, and this year they should be one of the favorites in VHSL Class 3 as well.
Jason Nelson | 5’8” PG | John Marshall 2021
Nelson tranfers to John Marshall after helping resurrect the Varina program the last two years where he won a state championship as a freshman and made it to the state semifinals as a junior last year. Now that he’s at John Marshall, who’s the undisputed favorite to win the Class 2 State Championship, he has a lot of talent to work with, and that’s where Nelson shines as a floor general that can make everyone better while also being a scoring threat when he needs to. While there are multiple guys talented enough on JM to make this list, Nelson is the straw who stirs the drink, and despite his diminutive size he’s a guy who impacts the game on both ends and makes everyone on the team better as well.
Jahme Ested | 6’0” PG | Henrico 2020
Coming off a good junior season and a terrific summer with Team Richmond Garner Road, Ested is an integral part of a Henrico team that is probably the most talented one they’ve had since 2016. A tough nosed and high motor guard who is relentless on both ends, Ested comes at you on every play and finds his way to the cup and to the free throw line at will. He’s improved his jump shot immensely and sets the tone on both ends of the floor, and I’m fully expecting a huge year from both him and the Warriors who will be in the thick of things in Class 5 this year.
Kenard Richardson | 6’3” WG | Life Christian 2021
Richardson saw a lot of success at Varina over the past three years helping to revamp the program and leading them to the state tournament all three years including a state championship as a sophomore two years ago. He’s heading over to the defending VISAA D3 champions where he’ll reclassify and join a stacked program where his toughness and production on both ends will be very welcome. He’s a strong kid with a great motor on both ends of the floor, he can score off the bounce or off the basketball and he brings it on the glass and on the defensive end every time he’s on the floor.