Freshmen Who Are Already Making a Name for Themselves (Part 1)

The 2029 class has yet to play an official high school game as freshmen, but it already has a number of players who have stood out in the fall and have shown they will be guys to watch this season moving forward. Here's a look at six freshmen to watch for in VA this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='2767487' first='King' last='Bacot'] | 6'3” PG | Petersburg   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/Image-7-12-25-at-12.39-PM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/Image-7-12-25-at-12.39-PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2900112" /></a></figure>   Bacot is considered by many the top player in the 2029 class in the country, and while some question his hype he's done nothing but back it up over the past year. The 6'3” lead guard led a Team Loaded 15U group that was ranked top 5 in the country for the entire summer as their primary ball handler and playmaker, he went to Border League and shined against some of the top high school teams in the country, and he had a good showing at Team USA minicamp, and all of this before he's every played an official high school game. He has fantastic vision and the ability to control the game as far as tempo and handling pressure, he can get to spots and create space and finish over defenders in the midrange with a variety of shots, and he's really improved his outside shooting going from consistent to knock down over the past year or so.   [player_tooltip player_id='2767830' first='Jaiden' last='Hunter'] | 6'7” WF | Miller School   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Jaiden-Hunter-2029.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Jaiden-Hunter-2029.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-2451102" /></a></figure>   Hunter is another player that many consider one of the top players in the country in this class, and he's already won a state championship playing a major role as an eighth grader for Miller School last year, and while he was already impressive he shot up about 3 inches this summer and now stands as a 6'7” wing going into his freshman year. His game is very advanced for his size and age, as he can play both on and off the ball, score it from all three levels, and he's able to play and guard multiple positions too. He's already an explosive athlete when he gets out in transition, he moves well off the ball both on the perimeter and on cuts, and he's a high IQ playmaker on both ends of the floor.   Paxton Oliver | 6'6” WF | Miller School   Oliver is one of the players with the highest upside on this list, and he was also a part of Miller's run to the state championship as an eighth grader. At 6'6” heading into his freshman year, Oliver is already a super bouncy wing who can play above the rim effortlessly and with authority and he's a walking highlight when he's in transition. He has a great motor on the defensive end with the ability to jump passing lanes and challenge shots, he can knock down open shots off the catch, and he's the type of player who is willing to do the little things and the dirty work to help his team win.   KJ Rivers | 5'11” PG | Paul VI   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/8-Kenneth-KJ-Rivers.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/8-Kenneth-KJ-Rivers.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-2880744" /></a></figure>   Rivers may have to wait his turn at PVI with their very experienced backcourt of division one seniors, but it's already well known that he's got a chance to be next in line at a school that puts out division one guards like a factory. The 5'11” lead guard is not only super talented, but he's also savvy beyond his years and has the ability to control the game and run the show. He plays with good pace and changes speeds well with good burst to blow by defenders, he can create space and make shots off the bounce from multiple levels, and he has a high IQ as a playmaker with the ball in his hands.   Christian Towe | 5'10” PG | Hayfield   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/Towe-Christian.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/Towe-Christian.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3041102" /></a></figure>   Hayfield may be a different looking group than they were a few years ago when they won a Class 6 state championship, but Coach Poindexter has a young stud in Towe that could be able to bring them back up over the next few years. While he's only 5'10” now he will continue to grow, and he's got a lot of game to build around as he body catches up over the next few years. He is shifty off the bounce with good counters and change of speed, he can knock it down from deep off the catch or get to spots off the bounce, and he's an efficient but unselfish scorer who can make plays for others as well.   Maxwell Micki | 6'4” WF | St. Stephen's St. Agnes   Micki was impressive when I watched him at the CBG Fall Finale, as he looks like he could be a player who gets a chance to start on day one for a talented SSSAS group. The 6'4” wing already has a great frame that should fill out well, and he's got some old school kind of style to his game that makes him very effective and efficient in his play. He's very good in face ups and in the midrange area off the bounce, he runs the floor and finishes well in traffic, and he can stretch the floor already with a lot of upside to his game moving forward.

The 2029 class has yet to play an official high school game as freshmen, but it already has a number of players who have stood out in the fall and have shown they will be guys to watch this season moving forward. Here's a look at six freshmen to watch for in VA this season.