The 10th Annual VirginiaPreps.com Basketball Classic will take place with Session 1 on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at Henrico High School in Richmond, followed by Session 2 at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach on Saturday, January 27, 2018.
VirginiaPreps.com Classic Session 1 - Sat. Jan. 13, 2018 at Henrico HS in Richmond:
12:00 PM – Henrico (7-3) vs. Glen Allen (7-2)
1:40 PM – George Wythe (7-2) vs. Eastern View (4-3)
3:20 PM – Highland Springs (5-2) vs. Green Run (9-2)
5:00 PM – L.C. Bird (6-0) vs. Lake Taylor (10-0)
6:40 PM – John Marshall (6-5) vs. Potomac (9-4)
8:20 PM – Trinity Episcopal (11-2) vs. W.T. Woodson (7-6)
* Note - Records entering play on Thurs. 1/11/18
VirginiaPreps.com Classic Session 2 - Sat. Jan. 27, 2018 at Green Run HS in Virginia Beach:
11:00 AM – Cox (5-1) vs. Churchland (8-5)
12:40 PM – Henrico (7-3) vs. Kellam (7-1)
2:20 PM – Oscar Smith (7-1) vs. Patriot (8-4)
4:00 PM – Norcom (3-5) vs. Stonewall Jackson-Manassas (9-4)
5:40 PM – Phoebus (9-1) vs. Loudoun Valley (9-1)
7:20 PM – Maury (10-1) vs. Blue Ridge (10-3)
9:00 PM – Green Run (9-2) vs. Cape Henry (5-2)
* Note - Records entering play on Thurs. 1/11/18
What to Know About the VaPreps Classic: Two five-star prospects in Trinity junior Armando Bacot and John Marshall sophomore Isaiah Todd will be in action. Three reigning State Champs also take the court in L.C. Bird (5A), W.T. Woodson (6A) and Trinity Episcopal (VISAA) in Session 1, while defending 4A State Champ Loudoun Valley and four-time reigning 3A State Champ Norcom are among the participants for Session 2.
There are several notable Division I commits and signees that will be featured in the event, including future ODU guard Jason Wade of Trinity Episcopal and James Madison signee Matt Urbach from W.T. Woodson in Session 1 as well as Liberty pledge Darius McGhee for Blue Ridge and George Mason signee Jordan Miller with Loudoun Valley in Session 2.
More About Session 1 - Lake Taylor puts its undefeated record on the line against L.C. Bird, the reigning 5A State Champ which suffered its lone loss last season to Landstown in the VaPreps Classic at Green Run HS. Despite graduating all five starters from their title winning team, the Skyhawks - ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 5 and No. 4 by the Times-Dispatch - return a pair of Norfolk State commits in big men Tyrek Williams and Chris Ford, both measuring in at 6-foot-7.
Another future Norfolk State Spartan will be in action in Lake Taylor senior guard Joe Bryant (15.8PPG). Bryant along with seniors Dereon Seabron (20.8PPG) and Jalen Jordan (16.8PPG) lead the way for a Titans team ranked No. 1 in South Hampton Roads by the Pilot and No. 2 in the state in Class 4.
Green Run takes on a Highland Springs team averaging 70.3 points per game. The Springers began the season ranked No. 6 in the state in Class 5. They feature three double-figure scorers in 6-foot-5 senior forward Nathaniel Pollard, 6-foot-2 junior guard Jordan Crump and 5-foot-10 sophomore point guard Christian Wilson. Pollard scored 21 points, while Crump had 20 - with six three-pointers - in their 66-61 win over Hopewell last month to finish in 3rd place in the Times-Dispatch Invitational Tournament.
Green Run counters with the tandem of junior guard Ashley James (19.1PPG) and senior forward Shawn Sanders (15.7PPG, 11.2RPG). James has already been offered by Norfolk State and Hampton University. Sanders was a 2nd Team All-State selection last winter. The Stallions have won at least 17 games in each of the past six seasons.
George Wythe will take on Eastern View, which went 45-6 overall in the previous two seasons. Leading the way for Eastern View is two-sport standout D'Ago Hunter, an All-State performer in football who scored 32 points earlier this season in a victory over King George. Wythe returned four starters from a State Tournament semifinalist team in Jarec Brown, Ikechi Chanitlou, Darrell Purdie and three-point ace Eugene Williams.
The Potomac and John Marshall game will feature two powerhouse programs that have combined to win 10 State Championships. The Panthers won the 5A crown in 2014, defeating Henrico, and again in 2016 when they beat L.C. Bird. Jaylen Williams hit a game-tying shot at the buzzer to force OT in last year's VaPreps Classic loss for the Panthers to Norcom.
Woodson against Trinity matches up two defending State Champs at the public and private school levels, respectively. While most eyes will be on the likes of Bacot, Wade and Urbach, watch out for Woodson senior forward Nate Spurlock as well as Trinity sophomore forward Henry Coleman, who has a handful of D-1 offers, including a recent new one from LSU out of the SEC.
It all gets underway with the host school in Henrico, featuring senior guard Timon Jones (Longwood offer), against a Glen Allen team that won seven in a row earlier this season, highlighted by winning the KSA Classic in Orlando, Florida.
