NEWPORT NEWS —The true measure of a star athlete is what they do in the big games, and Woodside junior Silas Barksdale showed up.
The 6-foot-11 center was at times unstoppable and undefendable as he averaged 17 points and 15 rebounds during the postseason, including a 17-point, 14-rebound performance to help the Wolverines beat L.C. Bird to win their second consecutive Class 5 boys basketball state championship.
Barksdale is the 2024 All-Tidewater Boys Basketball Player of the Year and is the second consecutive Woodside player to win the award, following Trevor Smith. Barksdale and Smith are the only Peninsula-area players to win the award since The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press began selecting teams together in 2020.
“I believe he’s the All-Tidewater Player of the Year because of his consistency,” said Wolverines coach Stefan Welsh, who became the first in Hampton Roads to win back-to-back state titles as a player and coach. “His regular-season stats were from three quarters of action because 90% of the games were blowouts. He saw double- and triple-teams on a nightly basis. He elevated his play in the playoffs.”
His teammates agree: a state title would have been unlikely without Barksdale.
“He means a lot,” said senior Jermaine Detrick. “When he’s as efficient as he is, all the teams tend to focus on him. They’ll try everything. He’s very important. He’s got great size and great skill and he opens up everything for everybody else. It’s good to get to him early.”
Added Woodside’s Jakobe Reed: “Oh my God, he means everything. That’s my dawg. I love Barksdale. He works hard every day. He’s the first person in and the last person out of practice. So he means everything.”
Barksdale, who recorded 25 double-doubles, was named the Class 5 Player of the Year, the Class 5 Region B Player of the Year and the Peninsula District Player of the Year.
“He’s the best player on the best team all year, and he dominated in the playoffs,” said one opposing coach.
Another said, “He was a key piece to the success of a Woodside team that lost only once all season.”
Barksdale, a four-star prospect, is rated the No. 5 junior in the state by 247Sports and No. 7 by On3. He has more than 10 college scholarship offers, including those from Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Pittsburgh.
As dominating as he was this season, it makes you wonder what he’ll do for an encore next season.
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
Boys basketball All-Tidewater Players of the Year
Woodside center Silas Barksdale (21) attempts a shot over L.C. Bird defender Rahjeem Moore (12) during the Wolverines’ 53-33 victory for the VHSL Class 5 state championship at the Siegel Center in Richmond on March 9. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)2023 – Trevor Smith, Woodside
2022 – George Beale, King’s Fork
2021 – No POY named because of abbreviated season
2020 – Jayden Epps, King’s Fork
2019 – Michael Christmas, Landstown
2018 – Dereon Seabron, Lake Taylor
2017 – Kevin Davis, Norcom
2016 – Travis Fields, Norcom
2015 – Chris Clarke, Cape Henry
2014 – Troy Locke, Norcom
2013 – Marcus Evans, Great Bridge
2012 – Rashaun Madison, Norview
2011 – Dorian Finney-Smith, Norcom, and James Michael McAdoo, Norfolk Christian
2010 – Dorian Finney-Smith, Norcom
2009 – JaQuon Parker, King’s Fork
2008 – Corey Law, Deep Creek
2007 – Myles Holley, Booker T. Washington
2006 – Kelly Beidler, Tallwood
2005 – Vernon Macklin, Norcom
2004 – Marquie Cooke, Nansemond River
2003 – Marquie Cooke, Nansemond River
2002 – John Gilchrist, Salem
2001 – John Gilchrist, Salem
2000 – Hassan Robinson, Granby
1999 – David Johnson, Maury
1998 – Carlton Aaron, Atlantic Shores
1997 – David Selby, Indian River
1996 – Jason Capel, Indian River
1995 – Shawn Hobson, Granby
1994 – D.J. Dunbar, Churchland
1993 – Joe Smith, Maury
1992 – Michael Evans, Booker T. Washington
1991 – Petey Sessoms, Cradock
1990 – Darrell Paul, Deep Creek
1989 – Curley Young, Deep Creek
1988 – Alonzo Mourning, Indian River
1987 – Alonzo Mourning, Indian River
1986 – J.R. Reid, Kempsville
1985 – J.R. Reid, Kempsville
1984 – J.R. Reid, Kempsville
1983 – Mark Whitaker, Manor
1982 – Wes Stallings, Deep Creek
1981 – Rolando Lamb, Cradock
1980 – Billy Walker, Booker T. Washington
