Early Breakout Players in Richmond

The high school season is still relatively young, but there's already been some players who are making quite the name for themselves across the state. Here's a look at seven of the top early breakout players in the Richmond area.   Tai Bowler | 6'3” WG | Monacan '26   Bowler has had one of the best starts of any player in the Richmond area, going for 30 in his first game and with his backcourt mate [player_tooltip player_id='2459244' first='Amare' last='Cooper'] they make up one of the top backcourts in the area. The late bloomer has been a walking highlight reel with his above the rim finishes, his ability to shoot it out well past the three-point line, and his ability to create shots for himself and others off the bounce.   [player_tooltip player_id='2898030' first='Abram' last='Schrinel'] | 6'6” PF | Douglas Freeman '27   Schrinel came on our radar this summer playing up with Team [program_tooltip program_id='2416185' first='Loaded' last='804'] 17U group, and he's had a huge start to his junior season and is a big reason Freeman is looking like a dark horse team in the Richmond area. The 6'6” forward is a dream player for any high school coach as he plays with a terrific motor on both ends of the floor, his length and athleticism allows him to rebound and play bigger than he is, and he impacts the game across the board without so much as having to run a play for him.   [player_tooltip player_id='2966558' first='Shamir' last='Williams'] | 6'1” CG | LC Bird '27   Williams emerged this fall with LC Bird as a breakout candidate, and he has lived up to that bill as he's been putting up big numbers and making clutch plays for the new look Skyhawks so far this season. The 6'1” guard has been shooting the cover off the ball from deep showing confidence and deep range, he's been exceptional in their press flying all over the place and jumping passing lanes, and he's emerging as a go-to option for them in their uptempo system.   [player_tooltip player_id='2780068' first='Eric' last='Thompson'] | 6'1” PG | Highland Springs '26   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/tempImageCkWwbr-rotated.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/tempImageCkWwbr-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-2716531" /></a></figure>   Thompson has continued to improve year after year, and after a big junior season where he saw himself take over as their primary ball handler and playmaker, he has continued that strong showing going into his senior year with some big games as their go-to scorer now. The 6'1” lead guard is quick off the bounce and dynamite in transition, he puts pressure on the rim and makes good decisions when he gets downhill, and he can make open shots off the catch and off the bounce too.   [player_tooltip player_id='2898023' first='Christian' last='Tabb'] | 6'3” CG | Grace Christian '27   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Tabb-Christian.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Tabb-Christian.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2861141" /></a></figure>   Tabb transfered to Grace Christian from Manchester this summer, and after a breakout summer it's no surprise that he's one of the top scoring guards so far in the Richmond area. The 6'3” combo is turning potential into production as he is a walking bucket who is shifty and athletic off the bounce and as a finisher when he gets downhill, he can hit tough shots off the bounce both in the midrange and from behind the arc, and he is very good defensively jumping passing lanes and getting easy buckets on the other end too.   Obi Pinn | 6'2” CG | Mills Godwin '27   Pinn emerged last year for a Godwin team that came out of nowhere to have a very good year, and to start his junior season he's shown he's their go-to guy and one of the more complete two way guards you'll find in the Richmond area. The 6'2” guard plays with great pace and controls the tempo, he scores it efficiently off the bounce from all three levels, he's a very good playmaker with vision and the ability to create for others, and he sets the tone defensively with his on ball pressure and great instincts off the ball too.   Jovin Johnson | 6'7” PF | Glen Allen ‘27   Johnson is part of a solid group of up and coming forwards in the Richmond area in the 2027 class to keep an eye on, and his inside presence coupled with good guard play has Glen Allen looking like one of the best teams in the area so far this year. Johnson is a player who has always been intriguing and is starting to figure it out as he's a bouncy finisher who is athletic enough to run in transition, he's a good rebounder who gets a lot of second chance points, he is a good rim protector, and his high motor coupled with his rapid improvement makes him a player for coaches to watch.

The high school season is still relatively young, but there's already been some players who are making quite the name for themselves across the state. Here's a look at seven of the top early breakout players in the Richmond area.