RVA Dominant Paint Presence Prospects to Watch For

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.   Today, we take a look at 7 of the best paint presence forwards in the Richmond area, players who can protect the paint, dominate the glass, score it on the block, and do all the dirty work for their team.   [player_tooltip player_id='1782682' first='Latrell' last='Allmond'] | 6'8” PF | John Marshall 2026   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Allmond-Latrell-TL.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Allmond-Latrell-TL.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2857497" /></a></figure>   Allmond is one of the top forwards in the entire country, as he's won three state championships, has been a focal point on [program_tooltip program_id='2226307' first='Team' last='Loaded VA'] 17s the past two seasons, and has been invited to many different prestigious camps over the past few years. When it comes to dominating the paint there aren't many better as Allmond is physically strong enough to body even bigger defenders, he's quick and explosive off his feet to get on the rim and block shots, and he can face up and take defenders off the bounce as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='2459212' first='Jamese' last='Jordan'] | 6'9” C | Hopewell 2026   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageoyg8Hk.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageoyg8Hk.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2560961" /></a></figure>   Jordan is a player we've watched develop over the past few years, and he's the epitome of a throwback big man who physically dominates the paint with his strength and touch around the rim. He clears out space in the paint when he catches it on the block, he boxes out and is able to rip rebounds from opponents on both ends, he's surprisingly quick laterally and off his feet for his size, and he isn't afraid to put you on the deck when you attack the basket to keep you from an easy layup.   [player_tooltip player_id='1963396' first='Travis' last='Holloman'] | 6'7” PF | Life Christian 2026   Holloman has been one of the best bigs in the Richmond area since he was a freshman, and his mix of strength and touch for his size makes him a big time threat to impact the game in a number of ways. He can use his frame to box out for rebounds and clear out space to score it in crowds, he's a good athlete who can block shots and finish above the rim, and his ability to work out of the mid-post area is very good too.   Emmanuel Villegas | 6'7” PF | Benedictine 2026   Villegas is an up and coming big man to keep an eye out for next season, as he's having a great summer with Local Legends and has shown good improvement over the past few years too. At 6'7” he has long arms and may still be growing and he's able to use his length to challenge shots at the rim, he has good touch around the rim with both hands and can step out and take slower defenders off the bounce, he attacks the glass hard and he continues to get stronger to bully defenders in the paint too.   [player_tooltip player_id='2548297' first='Gart' last='Heller'] | 6'7” PF | Powhatan 2026   Heller is part of a Powhatan group that had a surprisingly good season last year, and he's a mix of old and new school with his ability to score in the paint and run the floor as well. He's an absolute load in the paint and can clear out space and finish around the rim, he's a good athlete who can challenge shots and hits the glass well and he's able to run the floor and get buckets in transition too.   [player_tooltip player_id='2880003' first='Anthony' last='Creecy'] | 6'7” PF | James River 2026   Creecy has been a big part of a James River group that has been very good over the past few years, and he he knows his role as an old school big man who dominates in the paint on both ends of the floor. He plays with a great motor attacking the glass and getting his team extra opportunities on the offensive end, he challenges shots and has good timing as a shot blocker, and he has no problem getting physical in the post and he finishes very well through traffic.   [player_tooltip player_id='2370724' first='Keaton' last='Gregory'] | 6'9” C | Trinity Episcopal 2027   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/tempImagecsCKRM.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/tempImagecsCKRM.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2502942" /></a></figure>   Gregory is one of the best young prospects in the Richmond area, and while he may not be the most physically dominant big on this list his mix of length and touch from both the paint and the perimeter makes him a very intriguing prospect. He's improved his consistency as a shot maker from deep to stretch the floor, defensively he's very vocal and uses his length to protect the rim, he finishes well with both hands around the rim and as he fills out he'll be able to play in the post a lot more.

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.