Queens Grant: 17-7-11-20: 55
VCCS: 4-17-10-19: 50
The start of the high school season is here, and we tipped off with an intriguing game at Victory Christian, as they welcomed in a very talented group in Queen’s Grant. Early on, it was Queen’s Grant big man that went to work, as 2028 Chase Smith showed why he is one of the top bigs in the state. His play helped them jump out to an early 17-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. But credit to Victory Christian as they battled back. Shots started to fall as VCCS was able to cut that lead down to 24-21 at halftime.
Second half, Queen’s Grant was able to build a double-digit lead once again led by Smith’s performance down in the paint. Yet again though, the shot-making of Deshawn Coulter and scoring of Carlos Marshall allowed VCCS to make a late run in the game to cut it down to three points before Queens was able to seal the deal from the line. Both teams battled hard, but it was Queen’s Grant that walked away with a 55-50 road victory.
Queens: Chase Smith 28 points, Bobby Montgomery 12 points, Preston Scott 8 points
VCCS: Deshawn Coulter 16 points, Carlos Marshall 11 points
Takeaways
2028 Chase Smith Dominates, Proves Himself to Start the Season
When the Phenom Hoops’ rankings were released for the Class of 2028, Chase Smith was a name that was going to sit high on that list and deservingly so. The power forward continues to produce on the court, no matter what the situation may be. When I talk about Smith’s game, one simply can’t deny that he just finds ways to find success, whether it is running the floor, displaying feel and footwork down in the paint along with touch, or his ability to get on the glass quicker than opponents. Smith was going to work throughout the game and was the key piece throughout. Smith right now holds offers from Georgia, Campbell, California, NC A&T, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Charlotte, Queens, Arizona State, UCF, and Mississippi State. But with performances like that, that list will only continue to grow.
VCCS has players to really watch this season
When you talk about this team, there were two prospects coming in that had produced in the past and they showed some things in a tight game. 2026 Deshawn Coulter continues to fly a bit under the radar but led the ton as a composed guard that could score off the bounce as well as knock down shots from outside. 2027 Carlos Marshall is another, as it seems that he has added more feel to his game, showing his comfort in making plays off the bounce, running the floor, and being a consistent scoring presence. Overall, he looks comfortable in showing more of his game with his ability to put the ball on the deck, make plays and finish on drives, and be impactful in other areas.