On Friday night, the Victory Christian Center Kings won their first state title since 2021, knocking off the United Faith Christian Falcons by a score of 48-44. The Kings were led by Xavier Perry with 12 points, followed by Justyn Whitfield and Myles Smith with 10 points each. The Falcons were led by a game-high 17 points from JD Bowden, followed by nine points from Dylan Deluca.
Victory Christian Center
Marshall had an incredibly intriguing performance, finishing with 6p, 10r, and 1b in the win. The 2027 prospect was the most impactful defender in the game, displaying his ability to guard multiple positions, anchor the paint, and initiate the break off a rebound. He made multiple intriguing passing reads, both in transition and in the half court. He had a clear effect on opponents around the rim as he always found a way to alter their shot and keep them off the glass. Given his high impact on winning, elite physical tools, and offensive upside, it’s easy to make the case that Marshall is one of the top 2027 prospects in the state.
Whitfield shined as a big-time shot maker, hitting a huge transition three to tie the game with under two minutes left and the game-sealing free throw on the Kings’ last possession. He finished the game with 10p and 2r while shooting 3/4 from beyond the arc. He has good length which he used to bother opponents at the point-of-attack. He was consistently involved in the action defensively, finding ways to come up with loose balls, get deflections, and apply pressure in multiple areas. His 3&D floor and shot creation upside makes him an interesting player to monitor going forward.
5’9″ 2024 Xavier Perry
Perry came alive in the second half of Friday’s win, propping his team up with tough shot making during stretches where the rest of his team went cold. He finished with 12p, 4r, & 2s while shooting 5/8 from the field. He displayed the craft and space creation that’s necessary for a guard of his size, getting to his spots with relative ease and forcing defenses into tough decisions. As an unsigned senior, there is a clear path for him to become a contributor at the next level and it shouldn’t be surprising to see him flourish as a productive combo guard later down the line.
United Faith Christian
6’1″ 2025 JD Bowden
Despite the loss, Bowden was the best player in the game, finishing with 17p, 8r, 3a, & 2s while shooting 8/15 from the field. He was impressive working off of ball screens, manipulating defenses with his change of pace and making high-level read after high-level read. He lived in the paint and proved over and over again that he can finish at an elite level through larger defenders, something that is quintessential for a 6’1″ guard. He’s been as proficient as a creator as any point guard at the top of the 2025 class, with Friday’s state championship loss being no exception.
6’6″ 2025 Dylan Deluca
Deluca was all over the place in Friday night’s loss, filling up the stat sheet with 9p, 6r, 5a, 2s, & 2b. Despite shooting struggles (something that was consistent throughout all four championship games), Deluca found himself involved in the action on virtually every possession. He was a constant and focal presence on defense, switching onto a variety of positions and attacking the glass at a high level. Offensively, he was incredibly important as a connective piece, making the right reads when attacking advantages and consistently being in the right spots at the right times.
