Predicting the Top 25 Players in RVA Next Season (Part 3)

<!-- 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 three 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>#7) [player_tooltip player_id='2548293' first='Conner' last='Wilcox'] | 6'6” PF | Atlee '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2861140,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Wilcox-Conner.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Wilcox-Conner.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2861140" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilcox has been one of the biggest reasons for Atlee's turn around and success over the past few years, being an All Region selection and a big part of their state championship two years ago, and he's been one of the more consistent big men in the Richmond area. At 6'6” he is a walking mismatch with his inside-out ability, as well as his willingness to make plays for others as well. He can knock it down from deep with good efficiency and attack closeouts, he can post smaller defenders and does a good job on the offensive glass, he is very good at initiating contact and finishing through it, and he is a good passer for his position too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6) [player_tooltip player_id='3275784' first='Donovan' last='Stinney'] | 6'7” PF | Henrico '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3653085,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Stinney-Donovan.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Stinney-Donovan.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3653085" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stinney was one of the biggest breakout players in the Richmond area last year, as he was an All Region selection and put up big numbers for Henrico throughout the year. He is a naturally gifted athlete and is oozing with raw talent, and at 6'7” that makes him one of the toughest players to game plan for in RVA. He runs the floor like a gazelle and gets above the rim effortlessly both when he gets downhill and off a drop step, he can work at the high post where he can make shots and take defenders off the bounce, and he owns the glass and is a good rim protector as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5) [player_tooltip player_id='2370724' first='Keaton' last='Gregory'] | 6'9” C | Trinity Episcopal '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2310848,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Gregory-Keaton.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Gregory-Keaton.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2310848" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gregory has been a starter at TES since he stepped on campus as a freshman, and coming off a good summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2226307' first='Team' last='Loaded VA'] he's ready to lead a very talented team to make a big run this season. At 6'9” he brings versatility to the offensive end, as well as being one of the best back line anchor defenders in the state as well. He has really improved his consistency from deep to become a reliable stretch forward, he has gotten stronger and more physical to finish around the rim and through contact, he is a good passer who sees the floor on the perimeter and passing out of double teams, and he's very vocal defensively with the ability to come help side and challenge shots at the rim too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4) [player_tooltip player_id='3538906' first='Niles' last='Mason'] | 6'6” F | Steward '29</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2967827,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Mason-Niles.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Mason-Niles.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2967827" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mason was perhaps the most productive freshman in a loaded class in RVA last year as he was immediately the go-to guy for them, and with another year of development and confidence I expect him to be one of the most productive players in the area regardless of class this year. The 6'6” forward brings a mix of athleticism, versatility, and motor that makes him an absolute nightmare for teams to game plan for and matchup with. He runs the floor and is finishes above the rim in transition, he can post smaller defenders and face up slower defenders and take them off the bounce, he has a great midrange game, and he's relentless on the offensive glass and draws contact to get to the line often as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3) [player_tooltip player_id='2767487' first='King' last='Bacot'] | 6'3” PG | Petersburg '29</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3592911,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Bacot-King.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Bacot-King.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3592911" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bacot was the starting point guard for Petersburg's state championship group as a freshman, and with the departure of their three top scorers from last year he's going to have the ball and in his hands and be their go-to playmaker as well. While he may not be a guy who puts up big scoring numbers every game, he has improved in that area and he's also one of the top floor generals and makes everyone's life so much easier when he is on the floor. He controls the game from the point of pace and getting them into their sets, he has excellent vision and feel with the ability to put every type of pass on the money and in tight spaces, he has improved in his ability to knock it down from deep, and his instincts on both ends of the floor are second to none.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2) [player_tooltip player_id='2958182' first='Damari' last='Smith'] | 6'1” PG | St. Chris '29</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2552831,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Damari-Smith3.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Damari-Smith3.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2552831" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith started for St. Chris as a freshman at the point guard spot, and he quickly became one of the best guards in the area regardless of class, and followed it up with a fantastic summer with CP3 as well. He's in the midst of a growth spurt and is sitting at 6'1” now, and with that he's become super explosive over the past few months, making him even more dangerous with the ball in his hands than he already was. He's got blazing speed in the open floor and a quick first step to blow by defenders, he can create separation and make shots from multiple levels, he's an excellent finisher when he gets downhill and has good vision to create shots for others, and he's also a very good on ball defender too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1) [player_tooltip player_id='2353620' first='Troy' last='Tomlin'] | 6'6” WF | John Marshall '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tomlin put up absurd numbers after transferring to John Marshall from Paul VI last season, earning Class 2 State Player of the Year and being one of the top scorers in the state in the process. At the high school level, Tomlin is simply too much for most teams to be able to keep in check, as he has great positional size with elite level athleticism and the ability to score it in a number of ways. He's super dynamic in transition and when he gets downhill as he plays above the rim with authority, he knocks it down at a good clip from deep with good range, he plays with a good motor on both ends of the floor and is very good at jumping passing lanes to turn defense into offense, and he has a green light with the confidence and ability to hang 30 on any night for this group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->