High Flying Rim Rockers in NOVA!

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With new rankings in the work and the grassroots season in full swing, we decided it was time to take a look at some of the particulars that make certain prospects excel at specific parts of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we take a look at 7 of the most highlight worthy finishers in the NOVA area. These are the type of players that you don't want to jump with when they get downhill!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1782696' first='Jordan' last='Smith Jr.'] | 6'3” CG | Paul VI 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2333372,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/Smith-Jordan-crop-3226x2118-1706383041.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/Smith-Jordan-crop-3226x2118-1706383041.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2333372" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is considered a consensus top 10 prospect in the country, and that obviously means he has a lot of things to his game that make him very effective, but one thing that has stood out from the beginning is his dynamic athleticism. The 6'3” combo has very long arms and explosive leaping ability allowing him to get downhill and put it down with ease, he's fearless when attacking the rim and is capable of putting someone on a poster at any time, and possibly even more impressive is his shot blocking ability he has as a guard coming help side or in chase down situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1767550' first='Andrew' last='Maria'] | 6'5” WG | Bethel Academy 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2856348,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Maria-Andrew.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Maria-Andrew.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2856348" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maria has been a very impressive and skilled wing for the past few years, yet over that span we've seen him become more and more explosive and he's starting to put together highlight reel finishes on a game by game basis. The 6'5” wing really started to show his leaping ability last fall when we saw him throw down a few dunks on the break, and now he's starting to hunt bodies when he gets downhill and attack the glass on put backs, and couple that with his shot making and playmaking ability and he's becoming an intriguing prospect for coaches to take a look at.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dominic Mason | 6'6” PF | Fairfax Christian 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mason was part of a Fairfax Christian team that won their third straight VISAA D-III state championship, and he's had a really good spring so far with [program_tooltip program_id='2078812' first='VA' last='Playmakers'] as well. The 6'6” forward shut down Southern Jam Fest in April in a game where he had six dunks, showing explosiveness in transition and in the half court particularly off of two feet, and with his strength and leaping ability he's one you might want to think twice about jumping with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2353620' first='Troy' last='Tomlin'] | 6'5” WG | Paul VI 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2192875,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/IMG_7855.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/IMG_7855.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2192875" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tomlin has been on a tear this spring with [program_tooltip program_id='2226307' first='Team' last='Loaded VA'], showing elite athleticism while also showing improved consistency in his outside jumper, making him a very intriguing “3 and d” archetype prospect that coaches should be on now. He's quite the explosive athlete as he attacks the rim with ferocity and gets way above the rim when he gets a head of steam, he's able to catch lobs in transition, and he's shown no issues attacking bodies when he gets downhill and putting it on defenders heads.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2353668' first='Kamdon' last='Brangman-Cain'] | 6'4” WG | Gainesville 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brangman-Cain is one of the most explosive young prospects in NOVA public schools, and he showed that with a big sophomore season where he was a walking highlight reel all season. He's very good at getting north-south off the bounce and getting downhill where he finishes with authority above the rim, he can run the floor and play above the rim in transition, and he is only going to get more explosive as he finishes growing into his body.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2847084' first='Blake' last='Fitzgerald'] | 6'7” F | Flint Hill 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2870667,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Fitzgerald-Blake.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Fitzgerald-Blake.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2870667" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fitzgerald put himself on the map this past season with Flint Hill, and has continued that on Higher Level 17U where his athleticism and versatility at his size has made him a very intriguing prospect moving forward. He's not only explosive but he's quick off his feet as he can catch on cuts and get to the rim quickly before help defense can get there, he can handle the ball in transition and in the half court to get downhill and put it down, and he has great hang time and body control to be able to play through traffic as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2853450' first='Farrell' last='Djossinou'] | 6'5” WF | Lightridge 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2857519,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Djossinou-Farrell.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Djossinou-Farrell.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2857519" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Djossinou had a great season last year at Lightridge and has continued that with VA Elite this season, and the 6'5” wing has a mix of size, length and athleticism to go along with a budding skillset that makes him quite intriguing moving forward. He's really good at making shots from deep and in the midrange so he uses that to attack closeouts and get to the rim where he can finish with his length and athleticism, and he seems like he may still be growing into his body so it wouldn't shock me if he became even more athletic moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->