STARTERS
G-F. Margad Choijisuren, Fairfax–Choijilsuren had a great senior season as the Lions stayed atop the Patriot District for a good chunk of the season. With all the very good players we’ve seen in that district over the years, Choijilsuren stacks up to any of them. He averaged about 18 and 8 this season, with the Lions offense flowing through him. The do-it-all guard-forward with tight handle will play at Randolph-Macon next year.
G. Nasir Coleman, Patriot–With all the Pioneers’ great players, perhaps nobody could create his own offense like Coleman, who will play at the University of District Columbia next season. The point guard averaged well into double figures this year, still making sure everyone on his team stayed involved and got theirs as well. We’ll especially remember several big defensive plays the VHSL all-state selection has made over the years.
F. David King, Hayfield–We have no doubt Hayfield will continue to be very good, but the master finisher and rebounder in the paint just cannot be replaced. On those nights when outside shots weren’t falling, the Hawks could still count on King getting them 20 and 10. Strong and relentless though undersized, we’d take him over a good many softer, taller players getting DI schollies. Marymount got an absolute steal in King.
G. DJ Holloway, Hayfield–Like King, Holloway is simply a winner. When the combo guard wasn’t on a hot streak, he was still contributing mightily with his ball-handling and strong defense. When he was hot, he could carry the Hawks on offense, torching opponents from both inside and out. The Belmont Abbey signee was recognized for his great season by VHSL, which named him Class 6 Virginia State Player of the Year.
F. Greg Jones–As good as the rest of the Hawks were, it was fair to wonder if Hayfield could have been as dominant against the top teams in the DMV and Virginia without Jones, a 6’5″-or-so forward. Jones guarded tall posts in big games, plus regularly defended potent perimeter threats. He was an efficient scorer who racked up rebounds and delivered dimes when necessary. Jones, who is playing at American next season, has a chance to be even better at the next level.
RESERVES
G. Matthew Lenert, Marshall–His supporting cast was very underrated and talented, but still you could make the case that Lenert meant as much to his team as anybody around. The tall guard got it done defensively both on-ball and weak side, and had several games where he couldn’t be stopped on offense, like when he had 31 against Oakton.
G. Donovan Bass-Briscoe, Hayfield–Bass-Briscoe fit in like a glove with the returning “Big Three” returning Hayfield members, delivering solid play at the point guard position. In fact, Bass-Briscoe was extremely clutch, making several big plays in the relatively few games where Hayfield was in danger of losing. He’ll play at Bridgewater next season.
G. Hasan Hammad, Battlefield–Battlefield was a physical team from top to bottom, and it was appropriate that Hammad was a part of that. The rugged guard, comfortable on-ball or off, put up some monster games for Randy Bills’ squad–triple-double-type games with points and rebounds, and sometimes assists. He’ll play at Christopher Newport next season.
G. Paul Anderson, South County–There’s no shortage of defense on this team, and Anderson might even be the crown jewel. The athletic wing isn’t small, but he plays even longer than he is, bothering posts down low and guards on the perimeter. He can score inside and out as well. Next year he’ll play with teammate Kalab Afework at Virginia Wesleyan, who is also deserving of all-NOVA.
G. Jack West, Loudoun County–Talk about a guy who just got it done this year. When Nick Alexander went down to injury West stepped up his game, providing the game-in, game-out double-digit (and then some) scoring the Captains needed. A key three-pointer here, a driving and-one there and suddenly, he’d have 20 points and LoCo another win.
F. Gavin O’Malley, Tuscarora–O’Malley was a rock down low for Tuscarora this season. His veteran presence produced double-digit scoring more often than naught, but it was his defense and rebounding that really was invaluable to the Huskies. The athletic forward will further his basketball career at Roanoke College next year.
G-F. Sam Whitehead, Stone Bridge–Whitehead has considerable basketball skill, and paired with his constant hustle that makes him one of Northern Virginia’s best. The wing was named first team all-state this season after a year in which he really powered the Bulldogs as their main scoring threat. A very good shooter and rebounder, he will be missed in Ashburn next season.
F. Savion Gowder, West Potomac–The bouncy Gowder was one of the strongest rebounders in the area, averaging well into double figures. Tough, athletic, and able to reject taller players at the rim, Gowder was a major reason West Potomac once again won in the rugged Patriot District. Also, we enjoyed watching him dunk this season.
G. Maddux Tennant, Battlefield–Tennant led the Bobcats in scoring this season, delivering some huge performances in big wins. His most noticeable skill was again his shooting prowess–in a win over Patriot he hit six three-pointers. High motor is a term used mostly for post players in basketball, but that characterization applies to Tennant as well.
G. Brian Weiser, Washington-Liberty–Weiser recently signed to play at Christopher Newport, which is a great get for the National Champion Captains. The tall guard’s bread and butter remains his defensive play. Weiser was named Liberty District Defensive Player of the Year and is known for pickpocketing well, almost everyone in the district at some point.
As always, many tough omissions. Jayden Harris of Potomac averaged almost 20 points a game this season and if this were a draft, he probably would go in the top five. Weiser’s teammate James McIntyre is as deserving as Weiser. Winston Raford of Forest Park can shoot as well as anyone. If we had Seth Langford of Wakefield and Jay Randall of Patriot in our frontcourt the opposition would be hating life. Kalab Afework of SoCo and Joey Chalabi of Madison had MVP-type seasons…we could go on forever.
Congrats to all on excellent careers!
HONORABLE MENTION
James McIntyre (Washington-Liberty), Elijah Hughes (Washington-Liberty), Jayden Harris (Potomac), Winston Raford (Forest Park), Jay Randall (Patriot), Kaden Bates (Patriot), Kalab Afework (South County), Joey Chalabi (Madison), Daniel Fimbres (McLean), Seth Langford (Wakefield), Ben Coulam (Yorktown), Charlie McDermott (Marshall), Cam Jones (Marshall), Kashantis Anderson (Westfield), Jaden Haile (Westfield), Kullen Robinson (Alexandria City), Andrew Nields (Annandale), DJ Kennard (Falls Church), Brendan Mansinne (Langley), Jakob Luu (McLean), Dayvon Demby (Herndon), Jack Kaminski (Madison), Hanish Gajula (Oakton), Jaylon Surell (West Springfield), Markus Showalter (Lake Braddock), Abdullahi Yassin (Robinson), Owen Lathrop (W.T. Woodson), Grant Hartzell (West Potomac), Braelen Cage (Hayfield), John Awoke (Hayfield), Davida Raharinivo (Annandale), Sam Dailey (Annandale), Ruben Garces (Edison), Cameron Lewis (Lewis), Ryan Derderian (Battlefield), Alex Bokman (Freedom-South Riding), Jack Robertson (Freedom-South Riding), Ben Woodward (John Champe), Mahad Yusef (Unity Reed), Josh Okuadido (Osbourn Park), Sean Panjsheeri (Gainesville), Skyler Smith (Colgan), Dylan Simmons (Woodbridge), Eamon Welsh (Briar Woods), Wesley Williams (Independence), Tai Schaeffer (Riverside), Jaden Frazier (Riverside), Joey Fitzpatrick (Loudoun County), Jack Holland (Heritage), Blake Rorrer (Heritage), Dom Duncan (Stone Bridge), CJ Schaeffer (Woodgrove), Gavin Plunkett (Potomac Falls), Cole Lechner (Lightridge), Matin Perdue (Broad Run), Basit Qadri (Rock Ridge), Wyatt Trundle (Meridian)