What do you get the college basketball player who has everything? Another national championship. Kenny Williams, a L.C. Bird High graduate, is a senior at No. 1 Midwest seed North Carolina. After already winning a national title in 2017, he’s looking to end his college career on top. With a 81-59 win over ninth-seeded Washington on Sunday, Williams and company advance to the Sweet Sixteen to face Auburn at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Once the apple of then-VCU coach Shaka Smart’s eye, Williams committed to Roy Williams and North Carolina late in the recruiting process after Smart left for the University…

Leon Gholson and Ka’lia Johnson Thomas Dale High alum Ka’lia Johnson had a storied career and will go down as one of the best players to ever suit up in the state of Virginia. She was recently honored by her school by having had her jersey number retired last week. “I’m very thankful to Coach Gholson for making this happen,” Johnson said. “I never believed something like this would happen. It’s something to be proud of.” Johnson won Central District player of the year three times, was regional player of the year as a senior and received first team All-State honors…

Front, Jessica Henderson and Daizjah Brown signed letters of intent; back, from left, varsity coach Leon Gholson, varsity assistant coach Antonio Gilliam, and junior varsity coach Rashad Tims. A duo of talented Thomas Dale High School basketball players recently signed on the dotted line to play college basketball. Jessica Henderson is headed to Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C., and Daizjah Brown will suit up for Pittsburgh-Bradford. “Jessica [Henderson] was the first true point guard I’ve had in the program,” coach Leon Gholson said. “But she could score the ball as well.” He applauded Henderson’s loyalty as well. “In an…

Carver College & Career Academy team after winning their regional tournament. Back, from left, Rome Hudson, coach Luqman Jaaber, Travis Williams, Earl Hill, Wes Powell, head coach Reggie Simon, Kevonte Hornes, Mike McQuinn, Brandon Seay, Zyaire Muhammad, Ryan Johnson, Corey Atkins, Mikael Jaaber, Damian Mosher, and coach Roland Holloway. Front row, cheer squad, Jordyn Black, Naia Braxton, Johari Johnson, Antoinette Williams and Kaylah Smith. BASKETBALL Of the nine high school basketball teams in the Village News coverage area, three made it to state tournaments: Carver Academy’s boys and the boys and girls from L.C. Bird. Carver Academy will be a top seed…

Wes Powell defends against Rome Hudson while Reggie Simon watches. (Caleb M. Soptelean photo) Reggie Simon’s work with the Carver Academy boys basketball program will be put to the test, as the team has its best chance at a lengthy playoff run since Toby Campbell’s tenure at the school when it was still Chesterfield Community High School. “The program had hit rock bottom the season before I got there,” Simon said. “They had only won one game the year before, and there just wasn’t any interest.” Five seasons ago, Carver Academy’s program won a single game. The following season they won five games,…

Malik Johnson Robert Johnson attended L.C. Bird High School before heading to Benedictine College Prep School, Indiana University, and preseason stints with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks before landing with the Wisconsin Herd, the Bucks’ G League affiliate. Johnson is averaging 6.5 points and 19 minutes per game in a reserve role for the Herd. He’s shooting 43 percent from the floor and 33 percent from three-point range. His little brother, Malik Johnson, was a standout for three seasons at L.C. Bird before finishing at Blue Ridge Community College. He took a scholarship to Canisius College, a Division I…

Earl Hill, Wes Powell, Ryan Johnson and Mikael Jaaber practice Feb. 1. It took a while, but Carver College and Career Academy’s boys basketball team has risen near the top. Head coach William “Reggie” Simon Jr. took over at the Chester-based high school four years ago. His first team won five games and lost 12. His teams went 10-12 and 12-9 over the next two years. This year’s edition had a 15-5 record heading into Tuesday’s game with King William. A win in that contest would result in Carver having the top seed in the nine-team 1B Region, Simon said.…

Kylah Webb Taja Cole Angela Caraballo Angela Caraballo L.C. Bird High Shooting guard Junior at St. Augustine’s Caraballo originally committed to Division II Barton College in North Carolina, but decided to transfer to St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, N.C., where she was reunited with high school teammate KeKe Williams. This year, Caraballo has stepped her game up and is the school’s top scoring option in a starting lineup that shows offensive balance. Averaging 10.2 points per game, Caraballo is shooting 31.4 percent from three-point land. Defensively speaking, she is second on the team with 22 steals through 14 games, providing…

Charles Falden in action at Winthrop University. Charles FaldenL.C. Bird High Guard/forward Sophomore, Winthrop Falden was the 2016 Class 5 Player of the Year for L.C. Bird High and posted many memorable performances for the Skyhawks during his time there. Interestingly, Falden didn’t have a single “position,” which made recruiting more difficult for him. After a prep year at Massanutten Military Academy, Falden caught on with Winthrop University, a successful program in Rock Hill, S.C., and a member of the Big South Conference. Falden is getting significant minutes off the bench and has impressed as of late when given increased…