By Joey LoMonaco March 11 at 10:52 PM

Its nearing 8 p.m. Tuesday, and James West entreats his up-and-coming point guard to get on up. At his coachs behest, the gangly sophomore currently writhing on the business end of a ball screen manages to lift himself off the hardwood at Freedom High School in Woodbridge much like hes helped resurrect this Eagles program to its first state tournament appearance since 2007.

The young mans name is also James West.

Several hours earlier, Potomac (Va.) Coach Keith Honore made the drive back from Charlottesville following the 5A North region coaches meeting at Albemarle High. It was a good haul for the Panthers head honcho he claimed the coach of the year honor, and Belgium transplant Armond Griebe his offensive-minded center made the second team.

Yet, Honores pride brimmed most for a four-year player he described as having worn many different hats during his Potomac career. From humble origins as a freshman backup whose sole responsibility was to not make mistakes during the scant minutes he saw, to a valued role player, to a starter and state champion last season, the freshly minted 5A North player of the year joined Honores staff as a coach on the floor in 2014-15. The pair also shares a Dumfries home and a surname.

In fact, for Keijon Honore and James West IV the pair of starting point guards who will represent area squads Potomac and Freedom-Woodbridge in the Thursdays Virginia 5A state semifinals at VCUs Siegel Center, the head coach also goes by another name Dad. The Eagles (15-12) take on defending state-runner up Henrico at 7 p.m., followed immediately by the No. 5 Panthers (22-3), who have a 9 p.m. date with Norview.

Sitting inside the kitchen of his comfortable Woodbridge home a few hours ahead of Tuesdays practice, West III Freedoms seventh-year coach is quick to brush away any inkling of nepotism.

Hes not the first freshman to make our team as a varsity guy, he starts, referring to his son, slouched in a chair opposite him.

But hes certainly the one whose name entails the highest expectations.

On the nearby living room wall, a framed newspaper clipping from 2012 hangs bearing the headline Making the best choice.

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Potomac, Freedom reach Va. 5A basketball semifinals with father-son combinations