GW Danville Observation

[DanvilleSportsHead]

TOOOOOOUGH! Huge improvement from what I seen when they played EC Glass last month. Their whole team played tonight and though they played Tunstall and won by 40, I was impressed. No let downs and I like the senior leadership. Patrick Robinson is playing out of his mind right now, Cam Lewis plays with posse and in control, Amardius Jones played a hell of a game and freshman Kapone Barley is gonna be a special player for years to come. I can't wait to see how they do during this stretch with Martinsville, Heritage Lynchburg, and Heritage Newport News coming up this week.

 

[Lewis918777]

They will be in the final 4!!

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

They will be in the final 4!!

I think so too bro. I think that this could be their year.

 

[blackknight_pride]

Certainly not an easy path for GW, in the Conference they'll have to get past Glass and winner of Amherst/Cville, then you got to get past the region with Loudoun Valley, John Handley etc...then the likes of Lake Taylor and Monacan in states, but these all are teams GW has the talent to beat.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

Certainly not an easy path for GW, in the Conference they'll have to get past Glass and winner of Amherst/Cville, then you got to get past the region with Loudoun Valley, John Handley etc...then the likes of Lake Taylor and Monacan in states, but these all are teams GW has the talent to beat.

You're right. Definitely won't be an easy task but this team is built pretty well. They've lost in the state semifinals the past 3 years and the once sophomores who were thrown into the fire against Norcom are now seniors. The mission for these guys is simply to win the conference, 4a West and then states. A lot more ball left.

 

[AntGZee]

I think GW Danville has a legit chance at cutting down the nets.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

I think GW Danville has a legit chance at cutting down the nets.

I do too bro. Think this is there most talented team since they had J. C. Chaney and Ridge McKeither back in 05-07. No where near the size of those teams and no NBA players, but they have a chance to do special things if they stay focused. Wish GW and the Dawgs played back then. Probably would've been 5,000 people trying to see that game.

 

[cutnjump]

I do too bro. Think this is there most talented team since they had J. C. Chaney and Ridge McKeither back in 05-07. No where near the size of those teams and no NBA players, but they have a chance to do special things if they stay focused. Wish GW and the Dawgs played back then. Probably would've been 5,000 people trying to see that game.

If GW wins the state it will say more about the overall quality of basketball in the state than GW talent. They have a decent team with some good players but, no real size and no really exceptional players. I would put several GW teams since the McKeither teams well above this current version and those teams with Chaney and McKeither are the last ones that would even have a chance to be competitive with many of GW's earlier teams. Basketball, like football, continues to experience a decline in the overall level of play from historical levels in this state.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

If GW wins the state it will say more about the overall quality of basketball in the state than GW talent. They have a decent team with some good players but, no real size and no really exceptional players. I would put several GW teams since the McKeither teams well above this current version and those teams with Chaney and McKeither are the last ones that would even have a chance to be competitive with many of GW's earlier teams. Basketball, like football, continues to experience a decline in the overall level of play from historical levels in this state.

Understandable. I forget about the 08 undefeated team (until they played Petersburg in the state quarterfinals) with Terrence Townes, Nick Barber (who had a shot at the NBA in the D League), Stevie Coles, and Mike McGeough (who had a nice career at Roanoke College). The 09 team underachieved imo with Coles, CJ Barksdale who went on to play for VT, Paul Stone who signed with ECU but now plays for Union in Kentucky and Hot Sauce Howerton. Those were the last GW teams who had size and skill. The 2013 team which a lot of people talk about has been the most talented team of this new wave of GW basketball since the J. C. and Ridge days but that 2013 team lacked the discipline it took to win. They had the combination of size and next level players to be mentioned with some of GW's better teams with Ahmad Thomas (6'4 UNC Asheville), Jarod Williams (6'3 Detroit Mercy), Burton (6'4 Cincinnati football), Keenma Jones (6'3 Bluefield), K Cobbs (6' Bluefield), and Jamarcus Hairston (6'7 Cleveland State). That team should've no doubt played Henrico for the last triple A state championship in 2013 but they had about as much discipline as you and I are brain surgeons. I give this current team credit.. Not the biggest, but they are very resilient and they play hard and have talent. Cam Lewis, imo, is a D1 point guard. Patrick Robinson, if he keeps his mouth shut and plays ball, he can get a free education at the next level and have GW one of the toughest teams to beat at all levels. Kid has serious game. Amardius Jones is a nice wing player (GW uses him more as a PF/C) and could play at the D2/D3 level. Cayman Wilson, when in control, can make GW a very dangerous team and he too can play at the next level (D2-D3). And last but not least Devonte Grasty is the do it all type of player. He's the glue to them winning it all. If he would've played against Monacan last year I think GW would've got over the hump and would've at least played in the big game. Not sure if you've seen their JV team but if you get a chance go watch them! They have 16 players on the team but they're about 8 deep. Size man! They got a couple of players who should definitely be on varsity.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

@cutnjump but you're absolutely right.. There's no Jerry Beck's, Victor Coleman's, Charles Stephens', Johnny Newman's, Antonio Fitzgerald's type players or teams.

 

[wikki]

Understandable. I forget about the 08 undefeated team (until they played Petersburg in the state quarterfinals) with Terrence Townes, Nick Barber (who had a shot at the NBA in the D League), Stevie Coles, and Mike McGeough (who had a nice career at Roanoke College). The 09 team underachieved imo with Coles, CJ Barksdale who went on to play for VT, Paul Stone who signed with ECU but now plays for Union in Kentucky and Hot Sauce Howerton. Those were the last GW teams who had size and skill. The 2013 team which a lot of people talk about has been the most talented team of this new wave of GW basketball since the J. C. and Ridge days but that 2013 team lacked the discipline it took to win. They had the combination of size and next level players to be mentioned with some of GW's better teams with Ahmad Thomas (6'4 UNC Asheville), Jarod Williams (6'3 Detroit Mercy), Burton (6'4 Cincinnati football), Keenma Jones (6'3 Bluefield), K Cobbs (6' Bluefield), and Jamarcus Hairston (6'7 Cleveland State). That team should've no doubt played Henrico for the last triple A state championship in 2013 but they had about as much discipline as you and I are brain surgeons. I give this current team credit.. Not the biggest, but they are very resilient and they play hard and have talent. Cam Lewis, imo, is a D1 point guard. Patrick Robinson, if he keeps his mouth shut and plays ball, he can get a free education at the next level and have GW one of the toughest teams to beat at all levels. Kid has serious game. Amardius Jones is a nice wing player (GW uses him more as a PF/C) and could play at the D2/D3 level. Cayman Wilson, when in control, can make GW a very dangerous team and he too can play at the next level (D2-D3). And last but not least Devonte Grasty is the do it all type of player. He's the glue to them winning it all. If he would've played against Monacan last year I think GW would've got over the hump and would've at least played in the big game. Not sure if you've seen their JV team but if you get a chance go watch them! They have 16 players on the team but they're about 8 deep. Size man! They got a couple of players who should definitely be on varsity.

They lost to Heritage last night, I was surprised

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

They lost to Heritage last night, I was surprised

Good for GW. They resort back to old habits then you get similar results, which has not been good. They still have to play Martinsville twice, Halifax twice, go to Franklin County (a place where they couldn't buy a win), Heritage NN and then conference. Not easy one bit. They need to stop playing down to their competition and play GW Basketball. Glass, Amherst, LCA, and Charlottesville are all looking to end their season come conference time.

 

[Lewis918777]

They lost to Heritage(Newport News) in overtime tonight!!! Beat Martinsville last night. Playing 4 games in a week looks like it's taking its toll! I still think they will be a tough out.

 

[mbonape1]

GW Dan. can win it this year. I'd say there are 4 or 5 teams that can win it and GW is probably in the top half of tht discussion.

To update you on Monacan, the Dominion district is super hard for bball. So don't let a few losses fool you. Greg parham is really good. We have a few other ballers too. Our biggest problem is we are small in the paint. If the jumpers aren't falling its rough. Too inconsistant for my taste at this point. Lost 2 games that we should have won on paper for sure, which worries me

I do think we could win it again if we get on a roll but I would say we are in the bottom half of those 4 or 5 teams that can win it at this point. Stay tuned!

 

[robbiecano]

Was it Heritage Lynchburg or Heritage Newport News that they lost to?

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

Was it Heritage Lynchburg or Heritage Newport News that they lost to?

Both! GW could lose another 2-4 games this year. They have Martinsville again in Danville, Halifax twice and LCA. Not a cupcake schedule like previous years.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

GW Dan. can win it this year. I'd say there are 4 or 5 teams that can win it and GW is probably in the top half of tht discussion.

To update you on Monacan, the Dominion district is super hard for bball. So don't let a few losses fool you. Greg parham is really good. We have a few other ballers too. Our biggest problem is we are small in the paint. If the jumpers aren't falling its rough. Too inconsistant for my taste at this point. Lost 2 games that we should have won on paper for sure, which worries me

I do think we could win it again if we get on a roll but I would say we are in the bottom half of those 4 or 5 teams that can win it at this point. Stay tuned!

What's Huguenot looking like? I think they could be in the convo for a state run. They have the kid from Wythe, Shabaz. Saw him on JV the year Wythe won it all.

 

[mbonape1]

What's Huguenot looking like? I think they could be in the convo for a state run. They have the kid from Wythe, Shabaz. Saw him on JV the year Wythe won it all.

Huguenot is 9-6... to put it in perspective they are in the bottom half of the dominion district. Talent wise they could win the 4A state and they are huge in terms of height.

I would't want to draw them in regionals. Could ruin someones season for sure. They have a good shot at making regionals... we shall see about states. Wont be an easy game I can tell you tht, plus they will be battle tested.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

Yeah one thing I've learned is you can be fooled by Richmond team's records. That's why Monacan won it all last year. When you play Bird twice, Wythe twice, and play these RVA teams, you're battle tested. As much as I love and follow sports on my side of the state, IMO RVA area sports are the best in VA.

 

[AntGZee]

The Tidewater Area is pretty tough in sports as well.

 

[mbonape1]

The Tidewater Area is pretty tough in sports as well.

I agree with you and DSH bc in both areas there are hardly any 4A teams so you play against 5A & 6A teams all season. On average it is going to be a tougher schedule.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

I agree with you and DSH bc in both areas there are hardly any 4A teams so you play against 5A & 6A teams all season. On average it is going to be a tougher schedule.

I miss the old Double A & Triple A days. That was the best high school ball. VHSL ball started getting terrible when they started awarding 4 and 5 teams state championships. It used to be 3 state champs and you could go to the Siegel all day and watch great basketball. It was win or go home. Not any more. The best public school team I think I've seen was that 07 Highland Springs team with Brandon Rozzell, Jamar Abrams and Jay Threat. Holy cow!!!!! GW didn't stand a chance in the 07 final. Second I'd give it to the Booker T Washington Booker team in 2006 with Myles Holley. Lost 8 games that year, came down to Danville where 700+ people were turned away from the gym and beat that 27-0 GW team in OT... Probably GW's best team since the 98 state championship team. The 2010 and 2011 Norcom teams and the William Fleming teams of 07-09 with my boy Troy Daniels were the last of a dying breed of elite VA high school ball. They just don't make em like that anymore.

 

[AntGZee]

I saw that 2006 Booker T. Washington team. They beat Herndon lead by Scottie Reynolds. IMO, they best team in AAA that year was the Tallwood Lions. Tallwood lost to Herndon because the big men 4got how to play. Tallwood had given BT Wash the business earlier in the regionals. That Booker T team was good. I remember there was almost a fight afterwards due to Herndon fans throwing trash at the Booker T team and fans. Great AAA game!!!

 

[AntGZee]

I.C. Norcom team lead by Dorian Finney-Smith back in 2010. I saw them beat a very good Petersburg team, with a young Frank Mason.

 

[mbonape1]

@DanvilleSportsHead & @AntGZee totally agree. 6 state champions is a joke IMO.

Don't sleep on what John Marshall might be in a year or 2. They have lots of D1 talent and the number 1 freshman un the nation. They could work their way to being a legendary team.

 

[AntGZee]

Mbonape1, I agree with you wholeheartedly. 6 state champs is too much. I think 4 would suffice. I will mos def keep my eyes open for John Marshall. I have made it a habit to go to Richmond for states most every year. If Martinsville doesn't make it I still go. I have seen great girls and boys games. I get a thrill out of watching teams from other areas of Va. I really don't care much for 6A girls or boys. I think 5A is a better brand than 6, @ least the past few years it has been.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

I agree fellas. Marshall has built something special here in Richmond. I work on Chamberlayne Ave right down the street from John Marshall and that's the talk around that community. They have a great team over there this year but I feel like they'll only get better over the next few years. @AntGZee my pops and I go every year as well. Sure we've met before. I've been at all of the big ones!!! And yes sir you are right about that 2010 Petersburg team with young Frank. I thought that they were a lock to win it. Didn't make that game but I however went to the Patrick Henry Roanoke/Petersburg semi's that year. I thought after P-Burg beat PH it was a wrap... Little did I know it was start of a dynasty for IC Norcom! Saw Norcom the next year about 5 times but the most memorable was when they played #1 in the world Findlay Prep. We sat in Woodrow Wilson High School for 9 hours just to see that particular game that night. Norcom upset Findlay that night and I knew they were for real. That 06 state game was the best state championship I've ever been to. Booker T pulled off a big one against Scottie Reynolds who went on and had a great college career at Nova. Holley, a junior that year, played on one leg as he tore his ACL the previous year. Kid was a MAN! I think he plays overseas now after playing for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. That night is when the Dawgs shocked the world and ended Robert E. Lee's 88 game winning streak. One of the best games I've ever seen. They don't make it like that no more!!

 

[mbonape1]

The craziest game I have seen on the high school level was when JJ reddick scored 43 points in the State Championship game against George Wythe. He was cash from 25-28 ft on the regular... Splash... Splash... the other team was like what are we suppose to do about that? Check out the below footage..



I played against JJ at summer camp at Hampton Sydney but he was only a Soph at the time but could still shoot.

I can only imagine how frustrating it must have been for GW to get to the State Championship and run into a guy hitting 30 ft 3's on the regular.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

The craziest game I have seen on the high school level was when JJ reddick scored 43 points in the State Championship game against George Wythe. He was cash from 25-28 ft on the regular... Splash... Splash... the other team was like what are we suppose to do about that? Check out the below footage..

View embedded media

I played against JJ at summer camp at Hampton Sydney but he was only a Soph at the time but could still shoot.

I can only imagine how frustrating it must have been for GW to get to the State Championship and run into a guy hitting 30 ft 3's on the regular.

GW used to play Cave Spring as they both was in the Western Valley District. They played JJ that year for the WVD championship at Averett. GW was LOADED. JJ and Antonio Fitzgerald went at it. Fitzgerald who was getting looked at by UNC and Duke (didn't have the grades and had some legal trouble) signed with Boise State before going to St. Aug's in NC. He was a better overall player than JJ but that doesn't even matter now. That particular game GW didn't have a counter for JJ. He was too good!! Everything he put up went in. As good as GW and Fitzgerald was, they couldn't overcome JJ.

 

[one man]

The craziest game I have seen on the high school level was when JJ reddick scored 43 points in the State Championship game against George Wythe. He was cash from 25-28 ft on the regular... Splash... Splash... the other team was like what are we suppose to do about that? Check out the below footage..

View embedded media

I played against JJ at summer camp at Hampton Sydney but he was only a Soph at the time but could still shoot.

I can only imagine how frustrating it must have been for GW to get to the State Championship and run into a guy hitting 30 ft 3's on the regular.

I was there for that one, remember it fondly. Redick was unreal that night. I think they won 56-49 or something like that, JJ almost outscored GW's whole team. That Cave Spring team has the dubious most losses ever by a AAA state basketball champ. JJ had a foot injury that kept him out for half the season and Cave Spring was somewhere around 12-10 in the regular season, he came back for postseason play and he carried them to the title, averaged 30+ in the playoffs. If you went to that game, do you remember late in the game as the CS student section was haggling GW players that a GW female fan walked over to the student section and gave them a piece of her mind to say the least, was escorted back to the other side by Lynchburgs finest. Demographically, CS and GW are polar opposites and she was quite fed up the student sections petty antics. GW had a kid named Evans I think that was pretty legit, was a great basketball final and personally, best single game performance I've seen from a single player.

 

[mbonape1]

I was there for that one, remember it fondly. Redick was unreal that night. I think they won 56-49 or something like that, JJ almost outscored GW's whole team. That Cave Spring team has the dubious most losses ever by a AAA state basketball champ. JJ had a foot injury that kept him out for half the season and Cave Spring was somewhere around 12-10 in the regular season, he came back for postseason play and he carried them to the title, averaged 30+ in the playoffs. If you went to that game, do you remember late in the game as the CS student section was haggling GW players that a GW female fan walked over to the student section and gave them a piece of her mind to say the least, was escorted back to the other side by Lynchburgs finest. Demographically, CS and GW are polar opposites and she was quite fed up the student sections petty antics. GW had a kid named Evans I think that was pretty legit, was a great basketball final and personally, best single game performance I've seen from a single player.

Vaguely remeber that fan incident... but yeah i think JJ had tore his platars fasciitis... i heard they called the preacher over to the house and blessed the bucket his foot was in... tru story! Aparently it worked!

 

[Lewis918777]

@DanvilleSportsHead
Best public school was the 96 GW state Champs not 07 springers! Look it up they ranked #1 public school in the USA that year! Just wanted to add that!!

 

[mbonape1]

@DanvilleSportsHead
Best public school was the 96 GW state Champs not 07 springers! Look it up they ranked #1 public school in the USA that year! Just wanted to add that!!

Who was on tht team?

Better than the 1993 Bethel team? What about the the petersburg teams with Moses Malone?

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

@DanvilleSportsHead
Best public school was the 96 GW state Champs not 07 springers! Look it up they ranked #1 public school in the USA that year! Just wanted to add that!!

I got you bro! I was 2 years old in 1996 so I don't remember that squad. Heard many stories of that 1996 and 1998 squad. I didn't start following GW until T.O's sophomore year in 2000.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

Who was on tht team?

Better than the 1993 Bethel team? What about the the petersburg teams with Moses Malone?

Correct me if I'm wrong @Lewis918777 but the 96 team had 2 NFL players in Nate Poole and Tyrone Robertson, DeMarcus Morrison (THE BEST player to ever play at Averett University and current varsity assistant), Reggie Morris, David Lee (who is also an assistant on GW's varsity team)...Lewis can tell you the rest. Jerian Younger, Charles Stephens and Marques Cunningham all played on the 98 team.

 

[AntGZee]

My opinion on one of the best public school team in Va; I would say the 86 Bulldogs. They finished ranked 8th in the nation that year.

 

[DanvilleSportsHead]

I think it's safe to say that between GW and Martinsville our area has had its share of great teams. I've heard stories of those Martinsville teams from the 80's. Though GW doesn't have the banners that the Dawgs have, I'd still say that both programs have rich histories. Can't argue those 15 state championship banners hanging in Martinsville Middle School gym.

 

[Lewis918777]

@mbonape1 sorry it took me so long to respond but that's the argument they still have today about the 93 bethel team and the 96 GW team. Because we know AI was the best player on that team. But GW had 15 starters that year. They would rotate 5 in at a time and play full court press defense the whole game. I watched the 93 bethel team play they were great but they didn't have the depth that the 96 GW had. @DanvilleSportsHead Marques and Charles were called the Super Sophomores that year! You have some of the players correct for the 96 GW team! I will post more facts....

 

[mbonape1]

Def a lot of talent coming out of that area... the per-capita talent level is crazy out there!

 

[mbonape1]

@mbonape1 sorry it took me so long to respond but that's the argument they still have today about the 93 bethel team and the 96 GW team. Because we know AI was the best player on that team. But GW had 15 starters that year. They would rotate 5 in at a time and play full court press defense the whole game. I watched the 93 bethel team play they were great but they didn't have the depth that the 96 GW had. @DanvilleSportsHead Marques and Charles were called the Super Sophomores that year! You have some of the players correct for the 96 GW team! I will post more facts....

Yeah the GW team was awesome.. when you go undefeated in the 90's.. tough to do!

It crazy how legendary virginia sports were in the 90's. So many transcedent athletes. Back then nearly every able bodied male played sports. Now days half of them play video games all day. Imagine Grant hill, AI, alonzo, all in the 90's just to name a few. Football was even crazier! Not sure if tht talent level will ever be dupplicated