Updated 2026 Rankings: New Faces (Part 3)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The wait is finally over as we have realized our updated class of 2026 rankings in the state of Virginia! We are up to 105 prospects ranked throughout the state in this class, making things look a lot different than they were before!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We added over 30 new prospects to the rankings after seeing new ones and the development of some over the last few years! Here's a look at part three of the new additions to the group!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#69 [player_tooltip player_id='2175333' first='Mannie' last='Villegas'] | 6'6” PF | Benedictine</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Villegas is an intriguing up and coming prospect in the Richmond area, as he has a lot of very good physical and athletic tools and a lot of room to continue to improve on an already budding skillset. At 6'6” he's likely still growing and will become even more athletic as he grows into his body, he has good touch around the rim and out to the elbows and solid ball skills already too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#72 Janathan Jennings | 6'5” SF | Fairfax Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jennings transfers to Fairfax Christian and will reclassify to the 2026 class, which could be very good for him and see him move up the rankings if he develops through that extra year. The 6'5” wing has shown a lot of improvement with his ball handling and shooting, he's a good athlete with long arms who runs the floor and he's a good defender as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#74 [player_tooltip player_id='2242402' first='RJ' last='Jones'] | 6'3” CG | Virginia Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2221410,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Jones-RJ.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/Jones-RJ.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2221410" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones is one of the more underrated players at a revamped VA Academy school that should see his stock continue to rise with the program getting better. The 6'3” combo has good size on the perimeter, he's shifty off the bounce and knows how to create space to get shots off and he can move off the ball where he's a good shooter from deep too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#79 [player_tooltip player_id='2459367' first='Shivas' last='Taylor'] | 6'3” SG | Highland School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor is an underrated player on a very good Highland School team, and while he wont be the go-to guy with all their firepower he should be a very important role piece for them this year. The 6'3” wing is a high IQ player who makes the right play and is always in the right spot defensively, he can knock down shots from deep when he's left open and he's a surprisingly good athlete who can make plays on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#80 [player_tooltip player_id='2459400' first='Amir' last='Savage'] | 6'3” PG | St. Michael's</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Savage makes his debut after a great sophomore season for an up and coming St. Michael's program, and he could see his stock rise in this class with the rise of the program. The 6'3” guard has long arms and is quick off the bounce allowing him to live in the paint, he can score the ball with an array of floaters and pull-ups, is a good finisher at the rim and he makes plays for others as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#82 [player_tooltip player_id='2148774' first='Jayden' last='A Johnson'] | 6'1” SG | Roanoke Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson is emerging as one of the better players in the Roanoke area on an RC team that continues to improve and has a very good young core. The 6'1” guard is a talented shot maker who shoots it at a high clip from deep, he relocates well and uses pump fakes and relocation dribbles to get open looks and he makes good decisions with the ball in his hands as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#83 [player_tooltip player_id='2459370' first='Kevin' last='Mayo'] | 6'1” CG | Henrico</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2451358,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImageWb1lXa.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImageWb1lXa.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2451358" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mayo is emerging on a young Henrico team as one of the future pieces for this group that could have them competing in the next year or so. A true combo guard Mayo is able to create shots off the bounce using change of speed and directions, he can move off the ball where he can catch-and-shoot from deep and he has a toughness to him that allows him to step up against good competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#93 [player_tooltip player_id='2459375' first='Cason' last='Fitch'] | 6'2” SG | Oscar Smith</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2451360,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImagePD6Hr5.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImagePD6Hr5.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2451360" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fitch is a new name to watch in the 757 as he could be a very integral part of a talented Oscar Smith team, and by his senior year I expect him to be the go-to guy for the Chesapeake powerhouse. The 6'2” off guard has great fundamentals and understanding of the game, he gets to spots off the bounce, he can make shots on the move from deep and he can break down and get to the lane in isolations as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#96 [player_tooltip player_id='2459380' first='Matiok' last='Deng'] | 6'5” SF | Peninsula Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2451361,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImagepNXQnh.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImagepNXQnh.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2451361" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deng is an intriguing prospect we learned about late in the spring, as he has a lot of upside moving forward if he continues to develop. At 6'5” he has a basketball frame with long arms and good mobility, he has an excellent midrange game along with good touch around the rim and he is a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#104 [player_tooltip player_id='2459383' first='Mchale' last='Lancaster'] | 5'11” PG | Henrico</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2451357,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImageqxnOOS.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImageqxnOOS.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2451357" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lancaster is another piece in the young Henrico backcourt that should help them in the future, as he is both a floor general and someone who can score the ball in different ways. He handles pressure well and is able to break down defenders to make plays for others, he can knock down open shots off the catch and off the bounce and he has a high IQ and good feel for the game too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->