Throughout the month of November, VirginiaPreps.com will begin previewing the upcoming 2017-18 High School Basketball season. As part of our comprehensive coverage, we will be counting down the Top Ten rankings for each classification.
#10 - Goochland Bulldogs
What to Know: Coach Preston Gordon’s Bulldogs got a hot streak late last season, winning 12 of 13 games before dropping their final two contests to Amelia County and to Brunswick in the Quad Rivers Conference 34 Tournament quarterfinals. Even though Second Team All-Region performer Jack Twombly graduated and a slow start could occur as they get some players from the football team into basketball shape, several ingredients from that group which finished 17-7 overall are back.
Headlining Goochland’s attack will be 5’10” junior shooting guard Deion Harwood (13.4PPG, 5RPG, 2.6SPG), a two-year starter who is regarded as one of the top defenders around. Harwood also shot 86% from the foul line, so Gordon certainly will have plenty of confidence putting the ball in his hands in crunch time of a close game. One of the most improved players in the James River District figures to be 6’3” senior forward Keiston Carter (5.1PPG, 4.5RPG), who could double his scoring and rebounding totals this winter.
Another returning starter the Bulldogs expect a lot from is 5’7” sophomore point guard Quincy Snead (3.7PPG). Junior 6’3” forward Sam Brooks, an All-State member from the football team, gives them another consistent foul shooter in that he converted nearly 80% of his tries from the charity stripe last season. Junior 6’0” guard JaMel Allen and 5’8” freshman guard Kameron Holeman round out a backcourt that looks to be one of the strong suits for this team.
In a 14-team Region A field that is maybe more wide open than any other in the state, Goochland looks to be the top contender as long as they can build depth in the front-court by February.
Final 2A Rankings for 2016-17:
#1 – Robert E. Lee-Staunton (25-5)
#2 – Dan River (21-4)
#3 – Gate City (23-5)
#4 – Amelia County (23-5)
#5 – Madison County (26-3)
#6 – Martinsville (20-5)
#7 – Richlands (21-5)
#8 – East Rockingham (22-5)
#9 – Graham (21-5)
#10 – Chatham (18-9)
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