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In the coming days, the 2021 high school season will finally get underway in Virginia/DC with many VISAA members beginning competition. While the VHSL, DCSAA, and WCAC teams will not get underway until later on in the spring, we didn't want to shy away from the opportunity to share with you who we expect to be some of the top teams in 2021. We will wait to release our first Power 25 until near the start of the VHSL season, but in the meantime, we give the VA/DC Private School Top 10, which will be updated regularly as the season progresses:

PRIVATE SCHOOL TOP 10

Rank	School	Classification	Record
1	Miller School	VISAA I	0-0
2	Highland School	VISAA II	0-0
3	St. John's College	WCAC	0-0
4	Cape Henry Collegiate	VISAA I	0-0
5	Walsingham Academy	VISAA III	0-0
6	St. Christopher's School	VISAA I	0-0
7	Benedictine	VISAA I	0-0
8	Greenbrier Christian	VISAA II	0-0
9	Nansemond-Suffolk Academy	VISAA II	0-0
10	Gonzaga	WCAC	0-0

Also in Consideration: Atlantic Shores Christian, Bishop O'Connell, Carlisle, Collegiate School, Fredericksburg Christian, Trinity Episcopal School

 

VISAA Division I

Miller School of Albemarle is in what was meant to be their second year of moving up to Division I this spring, and the Mavericks check in at the top spot in our rankings. Miller graduated three big time arms last year, but nevertheless they are loaded as usual, with seven current Division I commits on roster. Look for Landon Abrahamson (2022, Dayton), Henry Cooke (2022, Virginia Tech), and Nathan Fink (2022, Virginia) to anchor the offense with Drue Hackenberg (2021, Virginia Tech), and Noah Murray (2023, Duke) poised to contribute at the plate and on the mound.

Cape Henry is poised to do some damage this spring with a strong core to their offense led by speedy outfielder Bryce Jones (2021, Old Dominion), who will be flanked in the lineup and the outfield by Kenneth Schaedel (2022) and Harper Cox (2023, Virginia), putting the Dolphins in the argument for most talented outfield in Virginia/DC. Keep an eye out for Tanner Schaedel (2024), who could force his way into some playing time.

St. Christopher's is a team with a few key pieces in the lineup and a couple high end arms that will make the Saints dangerous against any opponent. Shortstop Griffin O'Ferrall (2021, Virginia) is the centerpiece to the offense and a very good defender on the infield with game-changing speed. On the mound, the left-right duo of Harrison Coble (2021, Pittsburgh) and Cam Nuckols (2022, Virginia Commonwealth) will give the Saints the top end arms that they usually feature. Nuckols also brings a power bat to the middle of a roster that has depth behind that core trio as well.

Benedictine has been hanging around the top of Division 1 for a while, and look for 2021 to be no different. The Cadets have arguably the top two-way talent in the Commonwealth in SS/RHP Jay Woolfolk (2021, Virginia), who on his own will give them a chance against any opponent. Uncommitted RHP Michael Aleksa (2021) and Connor Handy (2021, New Orleans) are solid pieces in a rotation that has veteran depth behind Woolfolk.

 

***Look for notes on Gonzaga and St. John's College and all of the WCAC schools in an upcoming WCAC preview, which will be released closer to the start of their season***

 

VISAA Division II

Highland School has been consistently near the top of Division II for the last half decade and has been a regular at Shepherd Stadium, and 2021 appears to be no different for the Hawks as the look to capture their first State Title. The lineup is deep 1-9, with Blake Cuddington (2021, Virginia Wesleyan), Eric Wilson (2021, Charleston Southern), and Garrett Pancione (2022, Radford) forming a powerful core to the order. The rotation is very deep and features a trio of D-1 bound arms in Tyler Kaltreider (2021, VMI), Ed Wagner (2021, George Washington), and Jackson Gimbel (2022, James Madison). Kaltreider and Wagner will contribute in the lineup as well, and look for transfers Julian La Bella (2022) and Connor McAuley (2022) to add some impact in the outfield and McAuley should also help out on the mound too. Keep an eye out for some talented youngsters behind the veteran Hawk core, as Highland is on paper the most balanced team in Division II this year.

Like Highland, Greenbrier Christian has been a pretty regular participant at Shepherd Stadium for Championship weekend, and the Gators look to be a solid team again in 2021. The Gators, as usual, look to be loaded offensively, with Austin Younce (2022, Virginia Commonwealth), Ethan Ott (2021, UNC Pembroke), and James McGrady (2021, Western Carolina) forming the core of the offense. The Gators do have some questions in the rotation, where they have talent but lack experience, Bailey Matella (2022) is one to watch on the mound who could take a big step forward for Greenbrier.

Nansemond-Suffolk Academy is a team to watch this season and are a year or two away from starting the season at the top of these rankings. The Saints have a trio of high-end youngsters that should form the core of their roster for the next three years, and could power them to make a run in May. Jordan Crosland (2023, Maryland) and Riley DeCandido (2023, Maryland) are the offensive pieces to watch this spring, with classmate Christian James (2023, Virginia) having ace potential on the mound this spring.

 

VISAA Division III

Walsingham Academy has plenty of talent in the underclass group, but the roster will be led by the contributions of a pair of two-way players this spring in Lincoln Lubsen (2021, Radolph-Macon) and Jacob Miller Bopp (2022). Keep an eye on youngsters Joey Masiak (2023), Justin Smith (2023), and Trey Christman (2023) this spring as they could become key contributors as well.