Predicting the Top 25 Players in RVA Next Season (Part 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the summer over it's time to look ahead to the season, and we thought it would be fun to predict (subjectively of course) who would be the top players in different areas of the state. With that being said, here's a look at part two of my prediction for the top 25 players in the Richmond area this next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Editor's note: This is a list of who I think will have the best individual seasons next year, not the best prospects. So depth of team, production rate, team success, etc are all considered.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#16) [player_tooltip player_id='2470573' first='Cam' last='Claiborne'] | 5'11” PG | Petersburg '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3699160,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Claiborne-Cam-crop-964x633-1784578731.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Claiborne-Cam-crop-964x633-1784578731.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-3699160" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Claiborne has quietly been a big part of John Marshall and Petersburg's runs the past three years, winning three state championships with them, and while he isn't the biggest name prospect for them he is easily one of the top guards in the Richmond area. He's one of the more pure and true floor generals you will come across, impacting winning on both ends of the floor in a lot of different ways. He has great command of the game and vision as a playmaker, he can knock it down from deep and is a crafty finisher when he gets downhill, and he's a scrappy and tough on ball defender too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#15) [player_tooltip player_id='2898030' first='Abram' last='Schrinel'] | 6'6” PF | Freeman '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3316559,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/IMG_3056.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/IMG_3056.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3316559" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Schrinel has quietly been one of the most productive players in the Richmond area over the past few years, and going into his senior year this Freeman team will be indisputably his team as their senior leader. He's a true Swiss-army knife with versatility on both ends off the floor, playing and guarding multiple positions and impacting the game in a lot of ways. He brings toughness on both ends of the floor competing across the board, he's an excellent rebounder especially on the offensive end of the floor, he can score it from all three levels, and while he puts up big numbers it's his hustle and high motor that allows him to do it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#14) [player_tooltip player_id='3538911' first='Kane' last='Winiarski'] | 6'2” PG | Trinity Episcopal '29</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winiarski was one of the top freshmen in Richmond last season, and coming off a summer where he won the 15U 3SSB Championship with Team Loaded his confidence is riding high and he's ready to take over. He's a shifty and skilled guard who can score it from all over the floor and he can make plays for others as well. He hits angles and gets to spots effortlessly where he has good footwork and lift on his pull-up, he's a surprisingly athletic and strong finisher when he gets downhill, he can bury it from deep off the catch, and he is an unselfish playmaker as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#13) [player_tooltip player_id='3275771' first='Jovin' last='Johnson'] | 6'7” PF | Collegiate '28</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3625091,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Johnson-Jovin.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Johnson-Jovin.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3625091" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson had a breakout season at Glen Allen last year, and after a big summer with Team [program_tooltip program_id='2416185' first='Loaded' last='804'] he transferred to Collegiate where he reclassified to the 2028 class, and will be one of the best players in the area over the next couple of years. The amount of improvement we've seen from him is as vast as anyone in the area, as he went from a project big to an athletic two way impact guy with a budding skillset and versatility to boot. He plays with a great motor using his athleticism to block shots and rebound, he runs the floor hard and finishes above the rim with athleticism, he is starting to show improvement in his perimeter skillset becoming a reliable shooter and able to attack off the wing, and he is a rebounding machine on both ends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#12) [player_tooltip player_id='3571138' first='Jackson' last='Rutley'] | 6'4” WF | Benedictine '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rutley is perhaps the most underrated next level prospect in the Richmond area, and if he has the senior season I believe he will Benedictine will be a tough team to beat and he will get a lot of recognition from coaches too. At 6'4” he has a great frame that allows him to be physical when he gets downhill, and he's an athletic finisher as well. He can drill it from deep both off the catch and can create space off the bounce, he gets to spots in the midrange where he can score it, he works well off the ball reading screens and getting open, and he has a ton of potential on the defensive end too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#11) [player_tooltip player_id='2898023' first='Christian' last='Tabb'] | 6'3” CG | Grace Christian '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2861141,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <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> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tabb put up big numbers last year after transferring to Grace Christian, and he'll likely be one of the top scorers in RVA as their go-to guy without a lot of help this season too. He is a talented scoring guard who uses his blend of positional size, athleticism, and skillset to create and make tough shots from multiple levels. He's very good at creating space off the bounce using step backs and side-steps, he can get downhill where he uses his length and athleticism to finish at the rim, he can drill it from deep off the catch, and he is very good at drawing contact and getting to the line too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#10) [player_tooltip player_id='2470566' first='Brady' last='Burnette'] | 6'3” WG | St. Chris '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3724727,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Burnette-Brady.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/Burnette-Brady.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-3724727" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burnette had one of the best Scholastic Live Periods of any player in VA, showing tremendous confidence at multiple events while putting up big numbers and earning a D1 scholarship to Lafayette in the process. He's in a great spot for a St. Chris team where he'll be one of the top options to score it, with a couple of guard that can create for the sharp shooter where also being able to create for himself as well. He shoots it as well as anyone you can find off the catch with good range and a quick release, he can walk you down off the bounce or use his change of speed to get past defenders where he's a good finisher, he has a great IQ as a defender and secondary playmaker, and his confidence has been through the roof and should carry through to next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#9) [player_tooltip player_id='3275748' first='Bodi' last='Corley'] | 6'7” PF | James River '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3653076,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Corley-Bodi.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Corley-Bodi.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3653076" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Corley has quietly been one of the top big men in the Richmond area over the past couple of years, and going into his senior season he will be a tough matchup for anyone in the Chesterfield area. At 6'7” he is a pogo stick of a big who looks to finish everything above the rim that he can, while also making an impact across the board as well. He is a ferocious finisher when he catches in the paint or is running in transition, he has good touch out to 18 feet to draw defenders out, he is a good passer for his size and position, and he is a good rebounder and rim protector in the paint defensively too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8) [player_tooltip player_id='2966558' first='Shamir' last='Williams'] | 6'1” CG | LC Bird '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams was one of a number of breakout players for LC Bird last year, and will be the go-to guy on a team with one of the deepest backcourts in all of VA this year. The Skyhawks are going to play a lot of guards, they are going to play uptempo and fast while pressuring the ball, and they're going to shoot a lot of three's this year, all which play right into the hands of Williams which he showed last year. He has a dead eye shooter from deep with a quick release and good range, he can play on the ball working in ball screens where he can drag out defenders and attack mismatches, he can get downhill and is a good finisher around the rim, and he thrives in their pressing style with his active hands and ability to jump passing lanes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->