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Everything about Silas Dzansi’s young football career to this point has been about speed. At 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, the burly Hylton lineman runs the 40-yard dash in a nimble 4.9 seconds. A basketball player with little interest in football his freshman year, he took only two seasons to develop into a college prospect. And when Virginia Tech dealt him a scholarship offer on Monday, he took almost no time to make his college decision.

Previously a Delaware State commit at defensive end, Dzansi flipped his commitment Monday when Virginia Tech offensive line Coach Vance Vice visited the Woodbridge school to make an official offer. Nine days ahead of National Signing Day, the Hokies became the only FBS school to extend Dzansi an offer. Aside from Delaware State, the raw prospect had talked to coaches from Temple, Rhode Island, Virginia State, Virginia Union, Hampton and Shepherd.

“I grew up with Virginia Tech,” said Dzansi, the Hokies’ 19th commitment in the Class of 2016. “They were the first college football team I ever watched. Virginia Tech is my dream school. I’ve always wanted to go there. I love the atmosphere, the coaches.” Continue reading Hylton lineman Silas Dzansi wastes no time committing to Virginia Tech football →

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Fortunes change from year to year, but perhaps no high school basketball team in the area has undergone a reversal as dramatic as the Freedom-Woodbridge boys this season. The Eagles graduated 13 seniors from the 2014-15 squad that marched all the way to the Virginia 5A state semifinals, leaving this year’s group with a 2-5 record entering 2016. Each of those losses came by at least 25 points last month.

On Monday Freedom experienced another major change of fortune. James West IV, a standout point guard who transferred from Freedom to Christ School (N.C.) last summer, transferred back to Freedom this week. He enrolled in the school Monday and played his first game back with the Eagles Tuesday night against Forest Park.

“I’m looking to come in and hopefully put up big points for Freedom, and hopefully we can get more wins,” West IV, the son of Freedom Coach James West, said before the contest. “I’m just excited to be back.” Continue reading Standout point guard James West IV transfers back to Freedom-Woodbridge →

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Losing can affect teams in various ways, depending on its regularity. One loss can galvanize a team and make it stronger. A couple losses here and there can keep a team humble and teach it to get better. Persistent losing, though, can deflate a locker room, sapping the air out of players’ lungs and extinguishing hope.

Stonewall Jackson senior Keaton Simmons knows that dejection all too well. Now considered one the most lethal point guards in Virginia, Simmons endured a 7-14 campaign during his first season on the varsity squad as a sophomore, then guided his team to an 11-11 mark that ended with a demoralizing loss to Fairfax in the opening round of the 6A North region tournament last season.

One year later, Simmons and company feel an entirely different energy in the Stonewall locker room. The Raiders are 9-1, fresh off an unbeaten showing at the L.C. Bird Holiday Hoops tournament in Richmond. A win over Battlefield Tuesday would equal their best start in program history.

“Everybody’s more energetic now,” Simmons said. “We’re winning, and we’re trying to keep that energy going and not lose focus.” Continue reading Keaton Simmons drives Stonewall Jackson boys’ basketball to 9-1 start →