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VaPreps 3A All-State Hoops Teams for 2016-17

VirginiaPreps.com is proud to release our 9th Annual All-State Basketball Teams.

There are a total of 12 honors with six players, including a Player of the Year, for First Team and six more on the Second Team.

So what are the factors that go into the choices that are made? All selections are made by me with no consultation of the coaches simply because that’s what the VHSCA Teams are designed for in my opinion. However, we try to study individual statistics (some supplied by coaches upon request) as well as factor into the equation team success and overall impact.

Once everything is weighed, we try to blend it all together and make the best choices possible, even though there’s no such thing as a perfect team or right and wrong picks.

It’s never an easy process because there are always many deserving players who don’t get recognized on First or Second Team.

Without further ado, here’s the VirginiaPreps.com 3A All-State Basketball Teams for the 2016-17 campaign with bios on each player . . .


3A First Team:
Kevin 'K.J.' Davis - Norcom - Sr.
Greg Jones - John Marshall - Sr.
Travis Ingram - Norcom - Sr.
Antwan Miles - Phoebus - Jr.
Ryan Ingram - Western Albemarle - Sr.
Jordan Hamlette - Heritage-Lynchburg - Sr.

Player of the Year: K.J. Davis (Norcom)
Coach of the Year: Leon Goolsby (Norcom)

3A Second Team:
Nick Price - Northside - Jr.
Cameron Irvine - Spotswood - Sr.
James Sullivan - Spotswood - Sr.
Julien Wooden - Northside - Soph.
Jarec Brown - George Wythe - Jr.
Isaiah Todd - John Marshall - Fr.


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K.J. DAVIS, NORCOM (PLAYER OF THE YEAR)

K.J. Davis put up 20 points per game on a Norcom team that won the 3A state title as a #4 seed
K.J. Davis put up 20 points per game on a Norcom team that won the 3A state title as a #4 seed (Bob Lanum (BobLimages.com))

Signed to play his College Basketball at East Carolina, Davis did a lot of winning during his prep career, which started with a 19-4 record as a freshman at Nansemond River before finishing 69-18 overall with three rings over three seasons at Norcom. Among his many marquee performances was scoring 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field, 5-for-10 from long distance with eight rebounds and five blocks in an overtime victory over reigning 5A State Champ Potomac to earn MVP honors at the VaPreps Classic.

This 6-foot-6 small forward brought an array of skills to the table for the Greyhounds, who overcame three playoff losses to win the 3A crown. Davis routinely filled the stat sheet with season averages of 20 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, two steals and 1.2 assists per game on his way to being chosen Conference 27 Player of the Year as well as First Team All-Region in 3A-East.


GREG JONES, JOHN MARSHALL

JMU signee Greg Jones recorded 41 double-doubles in a superb John Marshall career
JMU signee Greg Jones recorded 41 double-doubles in a superb John Marshall career (Matthew Hatfield)

Not many players around Virginia have enjoyed as successful a career as Jones, who registered 41 double-doubles and wound up making the State Tournament three times in four years, winning the title as a freshman. His senior season was nothing to sneeze at as he averaged 18.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game while reaching in double-figures in 22 of the 24 games he played.

In addition, Jones - the 3A-East Region Player of the Year and Conference 26 Player of the Year - shot 52% from the field, 68% inside the arc, knocked down a team-best 46 three-pointers and converted 111-of-142 free-throws (78%). The 6-foot-6 senior forward scored a season-high 27 points in a comeback win over Armstrong early in the season where he nailed the game-winning three-pointer.


TRAVIS INGRAM, NORCOM

Travis Ingram made history by becoming the first VHSL boys basketball player to win four rings
Travis Ingram made history by becoming the first VHSL boys basketball player to win four rings (Bob Lanum (BobLimages.com))

Set to play his College Hoops at Towson, Ingram became the first VHSL boys basketball player to capture four rings and put forth yet another efficient stretch during the State Tournament. Over those three games, he averaged 15.3 points per game while converting 77.3% of his field goal tries, a surprising 71.4% on three-point shots and 70% at the foul line to go with six boards and two assists a contest.

Those postseason numbers were an uptick from his overall numbers as a senior, where the 6-foot-3 combo guard put up 13.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game to earn All-Conference 27 First Team honors. Also chosen First Team All-Region in 3A-East, Ingram will forever be known for his electric highlight-reel dunks and the fact he was the greatest winner in Norcom history.


ANTWAN MILES, PHOEBUS

Antwan Miles was a model of consistency and a lethal scorer for the 3A-East Region Champs
Antwan Miles was a model of consistency and a lethal scorer for the 3A-East Region Champs (Matthew Hatfield)

Not even a scary right knee injury in June could slow down this Phoebus scoring machine who has already eclipsed 1000 career points in just two seasons on the varsity level. Averaging a team-high 23.2 points per game as a junior, Miles scored in double-figures every time out and went for 30-plus points on seven separate occasions, his high being 45 in a win over Woodbridge.

The 5-foot-11 guard was a big reason why Phoebus won its first ever State Tournament game this year and beat the likes of the past three Group 3A State Champs - Norcom (2016), George Wythe (2015) and John Marshall (2014) - during the playoffs on their way to capturing a regional title. Miles also made 44 three-pointers and averaged three steals a game as the Phantoms enjoyed their best season since 2010-11.


RYAN INGRAM, WESTERN ALBEMARLE

Ryan Ingram was the catalyst in Western Albemarle making back-to-back State Playoff trips
Ryan Ingram was the catalyst in Western Albemarle making back-to-back State Playoff trips (Matthew Hatfield)

One season after averaging 15.9 points per game and earning Second Team All-State honors, Ingram was even better as a senior for the Warriors on his way to earning 3A-West Region Player of the Year and Conference 29 Player of the Year honors. The 6-foot-tall senior guard averaged 19 points, 4.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Committed to play basketball at the next level at D-3 Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, Ingram became Western Albemarle's all-time leading scorer with 1426 points, surpassing the mark previously set by 1997 grad Billy Baber, a former NFL tight end with the Kansas City Chiefs who starred at UVA. He was a catalyst in leading Western Albemarle to consecutive 3A State Tournament appearances with a 45-15 record over the past two seasons.


JORDAN HAMLETTE, HERITAGE-LYNCHBURG

Jordan Hamlette was the Seminole District and Conference 30 Player of the Year
Jordan Hamlette was the Seminole District and Conference 30 Player of the Year (Matthew Hatfield)

The 6-foot-2 senior guard had a lot to do with the Pioneers reaching the State Tournament in Richmond for the first time since 2012. Hamlette became just the third player in Heritage-Lynchburg history to surpass the 1000-point plateau as he concluded his career with 1133 points with 578 of those during his final campaign.

To go with his 22.2 points per game, Hamlette also averaged 5.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists a contest on a Pioneers team that went 19-8 overall and won the Conference 30 Tournament - where he scored 37 points in the wild 99-94 triple-overtime triumph over a much improved Liberty-Bedford squad. The Lindsey Wilson College (KY) commit was named both Conference 30 Player of the Year and Seminole District Player of the Year, putting up 21 points with five treys in their narrow quarterfinal loss to George Wythe.


COACH OF THE YEAR - LEON GOOLSBY, NORCOM

Leon Goolsby has now guided Norcom to six State Championships, including four in a row
Leon Goolsby has now guided Norcom to six State Championships, including four in a row (Bob Lanum (BobLimages.com))

Call him the King of the Siegel Center. Goolsby moved to 12-0 all-time as a Head Coach in State Tournament games held at VCU as Norcom won its sixth title, this time achieving history along the way. His Greyhounds not only became the first program ever to win four straight State Championships, but they also became the first to hoist the trophy in spite of three playoff losses (to Phoebus in the conference tourney, plus George Wythe and John Marshall in the regionals).

Norcom responded behind stifling defense, long a trademark of theirs. They held top-seeded Spotswood 13 points below their season average in the quarterfinals, then limited George Wythe to 32 points in the semifinals (the Bulldogs had scored 68 one round earlier) and beat Northside 51-41 for the crown (and the Vikings were averaging 72.5PPG in the State Playoffs).


NICK PRICE, NORTHSIDE

With Nick Price at point guard, Northside has gone 74-14 over the past three seasons
With Nick Price at point guard, Northside has gone 74-14 over the past three seasons (Bob Lanum (BobLimages.com))

Price averaged 13.3 points per game and led a Northside team that finished 24-6 overall in assists as well. The 6-foot-1 junior point guard played an enormous part in the Vikings earning their third straight trip to the 3A State Tournament Final Four and their first appearance in the Championship round since 1995.

Surprisingly only chosen Second Team All-Region in 3A-West, Price really raised his level of play during the State Playoffs with averages of 15.3 points, five rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 50% from the field and 76.2% at the charity stripe. His stat line of 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go with eight rebounds, five assists and one turnover in a quarterfinal win over John Marshall got plenty of people's attention.


CAMERON IRVINE, SPOTSWOOD

Senior Cameron Irvine led 3A-West Region Champ Spotswood in scoring, 3's and free-throws
Senior Cameron Irvine led 3A-West Region Champ Spotswood in scoring, 3's and free-throws (Matthew Hatfield)

For the eighth time in the past nine years, Spotswood made it to the State Tournament and Irvine has been a valuable cog in their attack. The 6-foot-2 senior forward averaged a team-best 15.6 points per game to go along with 3.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists a contest as he was named First Team All-Conference 29 and First Team All-Region in 3A-West.

The Blazers, who went 24-5 overall and won the 3A-West Region Tournament, also benefited a great deal from his accurate shooting. Irvine's 57 three-pointers and 98 made foul shots were tops on the team, plus he shot 44% from the field 40% behind the arc.


JAMES SULLIVAN, SPOTSWOOD

James Sullivan joined a new team in 2016-17 and continued to produce in a variety of ways
James Sullivan joined a new team in 2016-17 and continued to produce in a variety of ways (Matthew Hatfield)

Transferring in from Turner Ashby, where he earned All-Conference and All-Region accolades as both a sophomore and junior, Sullivan helped enable Spotswood to capture the 3A-West Region title that also included the program's eighth State Tournament trip in nine years. The 6-foot-3 senior guard averaged 14.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 steals per game on a Blazers team that notched as many victories as any program in 3A with 24.

Additionally, Sullivan shot 43% from the field and 73% from the foul line with 28 makes from three-point range. Bright lights didn't disturb the Millersville (D-2 in PA) signee who poured in 24 points in a regional semifinal win over Heritage-Lynchburg, followed by a game-best 20 points in defeating Northside.


JULIEN WOODEN, NORTHSIDE

Sophomore Julien Wooden opened eyes in playoff wins over John Marshall and Phoebus
Sophomore Julien Wooden opened eyes in playoff wins over John Marshall and Phoebus (Bob Lanum (BobLimages.com))

No Group 3A State Tournament player scored more points than Wooden did with 58 in those win-or-go-home postseason matches. The 6-foot-6 sophomore forward averaged 19.3 points and five rebounds per game during the State Playoffs while shooting 73.3% from the field and 76.5% at the foul line.

Wooden was consistent during the season, too, averaging 14 points and 6.3 rebounds to go with 55% shooting from the field and 73% at the charity stripe, plus recorded 27 blocks. The First Team All-Region selection proved to be a matchup problem for opponents with his inside-out versatility.


JAREC BROWN, GEORGE WYTHE

Jarec Brown helped George Wythe earn its third State Tournament Final Four trip in four years
Jarec Brown helped George Wythe earn its third State Tournament Final Four trip in four years (Matthew Hatfield)

Effective at finishing around the basket under pressure against bigger defenders, Brown averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in his first season with the Bulldogs, who reached the 3A State Tournament Final Four round for the third time in four years. The 6-foot-3 junior forward transferred in from Huguenot and it didn't take him long to make his presence felt, earning First Team All-Region and First Team All-Conference 26 recognition.

In the State Tournament quarterfinals against Heritage-Lynchburg, Brown put up a team-best 18 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, 8-for-11 from the foul line and collected six rebounds. Other notable performances in the playoffs included 17 points against John Marshall in the Conference 26 Tournament Final, 16 in a win over Hopewell and 14 in the regional semifinal triumph over Norcom.


ISAIAH TODD, JOHN MARSHALL

Isaiah Todd made an immediate impact as a freshman for John Marshall
Isaiah Todd made an immediate impact as a freshman for John Marshall (Matthew Hatfield (VirginiaPreps.com))

One of the most sought after recruits in the nation for the Class of 2020 with a serious chance to be the country's top-ranked freshman, Todd lived up to the lofty billing with averages of 12.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. From the field, he made 121-of-239 shots (51%) and even knocked down nine three-pointers.

The 6-foot-10 forward was chosen Second Team All-Region in 3A-East and First Team All-Conference 26. Even though John Marshall was denied its third trip to the State Tournament Final Four in four years, Todd turned in a solid performance in their quarterfinal loss to Northside with 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench.



Matthew Hatfield
serves as Publisher for VirginiaPreps.com, part of the Rivals.com Network, and is a regular contributor to the ACC Sports Journal. Check out Hatfield’s Twitter page for more sports related updates, and you can also read his work in the Suffolk News Herald. To contact Matthew, please e-mail hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com, and don’t forget to listen to him every Saturday at 10AM on ESPN Radio 94.1.

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