VaPreps 2A All-State Hoops Teams for 2015-16

VirginiaPreps.com is proud to release our 8th 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 2A All-State Basketball Teams for the 2015-16 campaign with bios on each player . . .

2A First Team:
Devonnte Holland - Martinsville - Sr.
Jordan Peebles - Greensville - Sr.
John Reed Barnes - Gate City - Sr.
Robert Tartt - George Mason - Sr.
Roman Workman - Graham - Sr.
Keith Patrick - Bluestone - Sr.

Player of the Year: Devonnte Holland (Martinsville)
Coach of the Year: Jeff Adkins (Martinsville)

2A Second Team:
Mac McClung - Gate City - Soph.
Aaron Martin - Martinsville - Jr.
Jalen Carr - Bruton - Sr.
Darius George - Robert E. Lee-Staunton - Jr.
Zemar Anderson - Dan River - Jr.
Elliot Mercado - George Mason - Sr.

For a second consecutive year, it was a sweep of awards for Holland and another State Championship as he closed out a splendid career before heading on to play his College Basketball at Radford University. He repeated as State Player of the Year in 2A - by VaPreps, the VHSCA and the VHSL - to accompany his Player of the Year honors at the conference and regional levels. Plus, the big man eclipsed 2000 career points scored.

During the regular season, Holland put up huge numbers as a senior with averages of 24.1 points, 15.7 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting an astonishing 71% from the field - a clip better than his free-throw percentage (68%). Without him dominating the middle, it's doubtful Martinsville repeats as State Champs, at least not in the fashion that they did.

In the State Playoffs, Martinsville won three games by a total of 87 points. Their 6-foot-7 rim protector put up 21.7 points, 16 rebounds and 2.7 blocks a contest in those three decisive victories.

The 6-foot-5 senior forward guided the Eagles into their first State Championship game appearance since 2005, which also happened to be their second consecutive trip to the Final Four at VCU. Given that Greensville didn't even qualify for regionals two years ago, that's marked improvement Peebles was a big reason why, improving his scoring average from 19.1 points per game as a junior to 22.1PPG during the 2015-16 campaign.

That progress was also shown in the State Tournament, where Peebles shined with a near triple-double that consisted of 34 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocked shots in a quarterfinal win over Dan River. Not only did he average 22.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.7 blocks a game in the State Playoffs, but he also shot 56.6% from the field in that three-game stretch. Simply put, Greensville doesn't win 24 games without him.

Whenever Head Coach Scott Vermillion and his Gate City team needed a bucket, they knew they could count on Reed Barnes. The 6-foot-6 senior forward averaged 16 points and 8.0 rebounds per game as the Blue Devils finished 23-6 overall with a trip to the State Tournament Final Four.

Throughout his career, Reed Barnes' game evolved from being named Second Team All-Conference as a sophomore, to 2nd Team All-State during his junior year, to earning Conference 40 Player of the Year honors and 1st Team All-State recognition during the 2015-16 campaign. He had a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds in their State Tournament quarterfinal victory over Bluestone as well as 27 points in a key conference triumph over a Union team that was ranked in the 2A Top Ten.

It was a banner year at George Mason, which captured a 2A-East Region Championship and won its first 29 games on its way to a spot in the State Tournament Final Four at VCU. Tartt, a 6-foot-1 senior forward who was chosen 2A-East Region Player of the Year, was the epitome of heart and hustle for the defensive-minded Mustangs. He not only averaged 18 points per game and led the team with 217 rebounds, but became the school's all-time leading scorer, breaking Kenny Wilson's mark of 1167 set back in 2001.

In both of the Mustangs' State Tournament contests, Tartt put up a double-double, averaging 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in the tourney. Most impressive of all was the fact he shot 17-of-19 from the field in those two games, which included a perfect 9-for-9 in the team's semifinal overtime loss to Greensville.

With two of the G-Men's three leading scorers from a season ago graduating in Tony Hill (now at Bluefield College) and Colby Hill, that left Workman to lead a team mostly comprised of underclassmen with expectations that weren't quite as lofty. Nonetheless, all he did was lead Graham into the State Tournament Final Four, the program's first trip that far in the postseason since 2003.

One of the highlight moments for the senior guard chosen First Team All-State by the VHSL as well as All-Region and All-Southern Empire Conference First Team came in their 57-54 opening round regional win over Union. In that game, he banked in a three-pointer late to secure the State Playoff berth. Workman averaged 17.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game.

A four-sport athlete that also participates in baseball, football and track and field, Patrick made a major impact on the basketball court for Bluestone. The 5-foot-8 guard really elevated his play as a senior, averaging 17.4 points, 3.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game this past season. His best outing came in the regional quarterfinals against Madison County.

In that win to put Bluestone into the State Tournament, Patrick scored a career-high 37 points on 15-of-20 shooting from the field. It also came in the midst of a 16-game winning streak, where he scored in double-figures on 14 occasions. Patrick closed out his career with over 1000 points scored and led the Barons to a Quad Rivers Conference 34 Tournament Championship as well as a State Tournament appearance.

Winning consecutive State Championships as a player is great. Capturing back-to-back state titles at your alma mater? Even sweeter for Adkins, the former University of Maryland standout who was a seventh round selection of the Chicago Bulls in the 1985 NBA Draft. Martinsville did that under his direction this season and was purely dominant against 2A foes during the process.

In the playoffs, Adkins' Bulldogs outscored opponents 601-374, an average of nearly 29 points per game in those eight victories. What they did this season that they failed to do in 2014-15 was also capture the 2A-West Region Championship, which came in a 63-40 rout of Dan River. An even more lopsided win was their 69-37 triumph over Greensville in the 2A State Championship game. That capped a 26-3 season where no one at the 2A level beat them (their losses were to 4A GW-Danville, 3A Northside and 1A Radford).

McClung averaged 16.8 points per game and was chosen First Team All-State by the VHSL as well as First Team All-Region and All-Conference 40 First Team. Most impressive is the fact he did that as a sophomore, helping lead the Blue Devils to their eight State Tournament Final Four in program history.

Promise was shown by McClung when he averaged 15.7 points per game in the Clinch Mountain Conference 40 Tournament his freshman year. He came back and continued to have a flair for the big moment, hitting the game-winner vs. conference rival Union plus piled up 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting in their State Tournament quarterfinal victory over Bluestone.

Going from super sub as a sophomore that played the role of unsung hero in the State Playoffs a year ago starting as a junior, Martin developed into a dependable #2 scoring option for a Bulldogs team that won a VHSL-record 15th title. He shot 51% from the field, 43% from three-point range and put up 11.2 points per game.

More than anything though, Martin gave the Bulldogs what they needed when called. If it was outside shooting, he supplied that, but in the title game the demand was for something else and he provided that in the form of 13 rebounds. To go with his 10 points, that gave him his first career double-double in the State Tournament.

For a second year in a row, Carr was tabbed First Team All-Region in 2A-East and Second Team All-State by the Virginia High School League. Both he and 6-foot-2 senior forward Daniel Jones were very influential in the Panthers going on an 11-game winning streak that included a Conference 33 Tournament titles as well as a State Tournament trip.

Overcoming a pelvic contusion he sustained while playing football, Carr eventually got his sea-legs under him on the hardwood in compiling averages of 13.5 points per game, 5.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Safe to say, his presence was extremely vital in Bruton notching 18 victories and a #9 ranking in the final 2A Top Ten.

The lone junior named First Team All-State by the VHSCA at the 2A level, George is well on his way to cementing a legacy as one of the top players in Robert E. Lee-Staunton history. George put up 22.5 points per game and became the 15th player in Lee history to go over the 1000-point plateau. Currently, he's 11th on that list with 1128 career points.

Additionally, George shot 52% from the field and 58% inside the three-point arc. From long distance, he made 49 treys and shot 38%. At least four times he went for 30 points or more. Besides scoring, George led the team in defensive rebounds (115), steals (54), deflections (41) and blocked shots (30), all signs that he's rounded into a complete player for the Leemen.

Chosen First Team All-Region by the coaches and Second Team VHSL All-State, Anderson gave the Wildcats an aggressive presence that was greatly desired. They missed him in 2014-15 due to a torn ACL that kept him sidelined, but he returned from that, led the football team in tackles and then made a significant contribution on the hardwood.

Dan River went 20-5 overall and qualified for the State Tournament for an eighth consecutive time, thanks in part to guys like Anderson, who averaged 12.4 points per contest. He not only had 21 points, 17 rebounds and three assists in the Wildcats' opening round regional victory over Glenvar, but yanked down 20 rebounds to go with 12 points in their State Tournament quarterfinal loss to Greensville.

One year ago, George Mason was ousted in the regional quarterfinals, but felt encouraged about the outlook of the 2015-16 campaign because they brought back a host of key contributors. That included Mercado, a 6-foot-1 guard that averaged 9.3 points, 5.0 assists and 3.5 steals a contest during his junior season.

As a senior, Mercado only upped those offensive numbers by averaging 11.2 points per game, second most on the squad. His 119 assists (4.1 per contest) led the Mustangs. George Mason remained a strong defensive team and won their first 29 games that they played, which included a regional title and State Tournament quarterfinal game with Graham. He was also named First Team All-Region by the coaches.

Matthew Hatfield serves as State Basketball Analyst for VirginiaPreps.com, part of the Rivals.com Network. 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, plus watch him on the Cox 11 Sports Report.