Rankings Shakeups: Transfers/Reclass (Part 2)

One thing that makes Prep Hoops so different than others that cover high school basketball is our in depth state rankings that we update three to four times a year. With a new update coming in the next month or so, we decided to take a look at some of the shakeups as far as transfers and recluses will have on the rankings.   To be clear, this list is only for transfers coming into the state, not transfers within or out of the state. It also won't include post grad players who have already graduated high school and will be doing a fifth year at the powerhouse military academies we have in our state.   With that being said, here's a look at part two of some of the players we are aware are transferring in or moving classes.   Donovan Williams Jr. | 6'3” PG | Oak Hill '26   Williams Jr. will transfer to play for Oak Hill's Gold National Team next year on the EYSL, coming in from Florida after being one of the top stock risers playing up in the Nike EYBL league this summer. The 6'3" guard is a tremendous athlete with quick burst and explosive finishing ability, he's a big guard who can play through contact when he gets downhill, he's smooth with the ball and changes speeds well and he can make other players on his team better as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1767550' first='Andrew' last='Maria'] | 6'4” CG | Bethel Academy '26   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImagevar5tG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImagevar5tG.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2448639" /></a></figure>   Maria is reclassifying and transferring to Bethel Academy from Yorktown where he had a big junior season and followed it up with a great summer with Washington Warriors HGSL group. At 6'4” Maria has great size for the guard position as well as terrific vision as a passer, he's super fundamentally sound as he often uses fakes and footwork to get his shot off and he can score it efficiently from multiple levels too.   [player_tooltip player_id='2309825' first='Tiberius' last='Fields'] | 6'3” WF | Stuart Hall '26   Fields is part of a large group of transfer and reclassification guys at Stuart Hall, coming in from Harrisonburg where he was one of the top players in the Shenandoah Valley the last few years. The 6'4” wing is a load to handle when he gets downhill as he can use his strength to finish through contact, he shoots the ball well from deep and can get to spots in the midrange and he's an unselfish playmaker as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1598944' first='Xavier' last='Bland'] | 6'1” PG | Stuart Hall '26   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/562-Xavier-Bland.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/562-Xavier-Bland.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2167201" /></a></figure>   Bland is another transfer and reclass to Stuart Hall joining his brother Wade in the backcourt coming from Blacksburg where they were one of the better duos in the NRV the last few years. Bland is a scrappy guard who gets after it on the defensive end and plays with a good motor, he can make plays for others in transition and in the half court and he can knock down open shots too.   Kendall Lanier | 5'11” PG | Hargrave Varsity '26   Lanier comes to Hargrave to play on their varsity high school team and will reclassify to the 2026 class after being a standout at Apex Friendship in North Carolina the last few years. He has a lot of qualities you want in a point guard as he doesn't get sped up and handles pressure well, he can beat defenders and make plays for others going both directions, he shoots it very well from deep and he sets the tone defensively.    Derek Daniels | 6'8” C | Paul VI '27   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/1-6-1.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/1-6-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2187323" /></a></figure>   Daniels will likely be in consideration for the #1 spot in the next 2027 rankings update after transferring from DeMatha to WCAC foe PVI, making him the third big time transfer in the sophomore class the Panthers have picked up. As a freshman last year in one of the top leagues in the country Daniels showed tremendous potential with his big bruising size in the paint, his athleticism as an above the rim finisher, his elite shot blocking ability and the fact that he still has so much room to improve makes him one of the most intriguing prospects in the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='1574509' first='Jayden' last='Brown'] | 6'3” CG | STAB '27   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/644-Jayden-Brown-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/644-Jayden-Brown-scaled.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-1599492" /></a></figure>   Brown announced his will reclassify to the 2027 class at STAB where he's been a solid role player behind perhaps the best backcourt in the state, and this summer he showed a lot of improvement and that he is very talented as well. At 6'3” Brown may still be growing and he has great length and athleticism at the guard position, he embraces his role as a lock down defender, he's improved a lot in his perimeter shooting and he understands his game and plays to it.   CJ Rissmiller | 5'11” PG | Woodberry Forest '27   Rissmiller is a three sport athlete who is one of a number of incoming transfers to Woodberry Forest, and he had a good showing in the VA Live Period session with them. He's a smooth lefty who can handle it and uses his change of speed ability to get by defenders, he can make shots from deep and in the midrange and he's a good point of attack defender too.

One thing that makes Prep Hoops so different than others that cover high school basketball is our in depth state rankings that we update three to four times a year. With a new update coming in the next month or so, we decided to take a look at some of the shakeups as far as transfers and recluses will have on the rankings.