Updated 2025 Rankings: Forward (5-1)
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We recently updated our 2025 class rankings for Virginia heading into the season, and we have a lot of new faces and movement in the class. Heading into their junior year, we have a lot of movement and new additions…
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Continue ReadingWe recently updated our 2025 class rankings for Virginia heading into the season, and we have a lot of new faces and movement in the class. Heading into their junior year, we have a lot of movement and new additions to this group. However, there will always be omissions and debates regarding placement among the rankings.
Here’s a look at the top five power forwards and centers in the rankings.
5) Riley Jacobs Riley Jacobs 6'8" | C St. Stephen's & St. Agnes | 2025 State VA | 6’8” C | St. Stephen’s St. Agnes (#18 Overall)
Jacobs had a monster summer both with New World and with SSSAS in the DMV Live series, and he picked up double digit offers this summer solidifying himself as one of the best bigs in the state. The 6’8” center has a new age game as he thrives with his ability to run the floor and play above the rim, and the fact that he can step out and knock it down when he’s open. He handles the ball well in the open floor and gets downhill to finish above the rim, he’s a good rim protector and rebounder defensively and he is a walking double-double with room to continue to improve.
4) Jaquan Womack Jaquan Womack 6'7" | PF Paul VI | 2025 State #284 Nation VA | 6’7” PF | Paul VI (#15 Overall)
Womack has steadily improved over the years, getting his body right and adding to his game, and while he sometimes gets overshadowed playing on one of the top teams in the country he has a unique blend of skills that makes him very intriguing to coaches at the next level. The 6’7” forward has a strong frame and has slimmed down making him quicker and more athletic when he catches and goes, and when he gets downhill he can bully smaller defenders and finish through traffic. He is a walking mismatch though because he can move to the perimeter where he can make shots from deep or put it on the deck, he moves his feet well defensively to guard multiple positions and he is a good passer and unselfish teammate too.
3) Martez Harris Martez Harris 6'10" | PF Cape Henry | 2025 State #269 Nation VA | 6’10” PF | Oak Hill (#14 Overall)
When we first saw Harris at Cape Henry he was a 6’5” wing who could stretch the floor and showed promise as a three and d player moving forward, and the next year he had grown to 6’9” and the expectations went through the roof. He’s had to change the way he played and has shown strides in it, adding a good mid-post game and getting stronger to be able to compete in the paint as well. At Oak Hill he should get reps against some of the best and if he can show his mix of interior post moves along with his ability to step out on the perimeter to shoot it and make plays for others, he could see his recruitment take off moving forward.
2) Silas Barksdale Silas Barksdale 6'7" | PF Woodside | 2025 State #176 Nation VA | 6’8” PF | Woodside (#9 Overall)
Barksdale saw his recruitment skyrocket this summer splitting time with Boo Williams 16 and 17U group, and showing his big time potential moving forward. He’s young for his grade and likely still growing, and his frame should fill out nicely as we move forward, but it’s his high motor and budding skillset that makes him so intriguing as a next level prospect. He has great instincts and always seems to be around the ball as a rebounder and defender, he has good hands and feet to catch tough passes and make moves in the paint, he shows soft touch out to the 18 feet and he still has a lot of room for improvement moving forward.
1) Marcus Jackson Marcus Jackson 6'8" | C John Marshall | 2025 State #161 Nation VA | 6’8” PF | John Marshall (#3 Overall)
Jackson moved to Richmond from Baltimore this summer and joins a John Marshall team that will yet again be one of the top public schools in the country, and while he’s still got a ways to go he has things you can’t teach and is showing that he is moving in the right direction. At 6’8” Jackson is already ripped and looks like a college player as just a junior in high school, and he’s one of the most explosive and natural athletes you’ll come across. He runs the floor hard and plays well above the rim with authority and ease, he is a big time shot blocker and interior defender who can also switch in pick-and-rolls and he shows a mean streak with a competitive edge too. He is showing improvement in his touch to the perimeter that will take his potential to the next level, and as he continues to learn the game and improve he’ll become one of the premier two way forwards on the east coast.