Predicting the Top 25 Players in the 757 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 Hampton Roads 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='3538907' first='Mike' last='Banks III'] | 5'8” PG | Manor '29</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Banks was thrown right into the fire as a freshman, and he showed he's more than capable as he not only held his own but showed he's going to be one of the better guards in the area moving forward. While he isn't the biggest he is a guard who can control the game by himself, as he is a true floor general who controls the tempo and gets his team into sets. He has a wicked first step and is shifty off the bounce, he uses floaters and pull-ups to negate his size, and he sees the floor well to make his teammates better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#15) [player_tooltip player_id='3035379' first='Trent' last='Smalling'] | 6'3” WG | Woodside '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3625085,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Smalling-Trent.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Smalling-Trent.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3625085" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smalling is one of the more talented players in the 757 and if this list was based on that he would be higher, but Woodside is one of the deepest teams and he'll be a big part of them making a push for a title run this year. He's a big wing who can impact the game across the board, and is a player who can fill it up when they need him to. He can play on or off the ball and knock down shots from all three levels, he can work in isolation to get to spots or get to the rim and finish, and he is a very good rebounder and defender as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#14) [player_tooltip player_id='3554526' first='Daevon' last='Reed'] | 5'11” PG | Maury '28</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reed had a breakout season for Maury as a sophomore last year, and he'll have the reigns for this new group that's up and coming in Norfolk. The 5'11” guard showed a lot of growth as he got more confident throughout the year, and he's a dual threat guard who can run the show and fill it up. He is shifty off the bounce and strong when he gets in the paint, he can create shots for himself and fill it up from all three levels, and he controls the game and makes his teammates better too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#13) [player_tooltip player_id='2353676' first='Quimar' last='Crittendon'] | 6'0” PG | Portsmouth Christian '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crittendon started last season at Miller School before transferring to Portsmouth Christian where he showed he's one of the best scoring guards in the 757. He's an extremely talented guard who can fill it up from all over the floor, and he'll be the primary ball handler and creator for this group with their top guards graduating from last season. He's super shifty off the bounce with good change of pace, he can blow by defenders and put pressure on the defense and is a very good finisher in traffic, and he can sit down and guard the ball very well too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#12) [player_tooltip player_id='2896969' first='Josiah' last='Law'] | 6'4” WF | Landstown '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Law will be given a much bigger role on this Landstown team this year, and his versatility makes them a very tough team to matchup with. At 6'4” he is able to play and guard multiple positions for his team, while also giving them a mismatch with his guard skills and ability to fill it up. He can knock it down from deep with consistency, he works well off the ball on cuts and is an athletic finisher above the rim, and he can handle it and create in isolation situations as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#11) [player_tooltip player_id='3275759' first='Christian' last='Lynch'] | 6'3” CG | Kempsville '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lynch had a great junior season for a Kempsville team that caught fire and upset their way to the Class 5 state tournament, and he will be in the running for Beach District Player Of the Year this season. The 6'3” combo guard is an old school style bucket getter, as he plays at his own cadence and can make tough shots from all over the floor. He is excellent in the midrange with an array of pull-ups and floaters, he does a good job playing off of two and using fakes to draw contact, and he is very good at jumping passing lanes for easy buckets as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#10) [player_tooltip player_id='2353664' first='Namarqus' last='Byrd'] | 6'4” WF | Princess Anne '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Byrd will be the go-to guy for PA this year after the departure of a few of their top players from last year, and he'll be another guy who will be in contention for Beach District Player of the Year in a season where there's about 5-6 guys who will be vying for it. At 6'4” he has great size on the perimeter and it makes him one of the best two way perimeter players in the 757. He's a big time athlete who can get out in transition and play above the rim or finish through contact, he can drill it from deep with consistency, and he can guard the other team's best player too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#9) [player_tooltip player_id='3538908' first='Shaquantay' last='Evans Jr.'] | 6'1” PG | Lake Taylor '29</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Taylor was one of the best teams in the 757 last year, and while they have one of the best backcourts in the area it will be Evans who will be running the show as he's perhaps the best underclassman in the area. He's an absolute nightmare of a matchup with his mix of speed, shiftiness and positional size that allows him to make plays across the board. He thrives in transition with his speed and does a great job making reads, he can create for himself and make tough shots from all three levels, and he is a very good on ball defender too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8) [player_tooltip player_id='3651524' first='MJ' last='Montague'] | 6'2” CG | Woodside '27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3625084,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Montague-MJ.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Montague-MJ.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3625084" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Montague is coming off a big summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2416185' first='Loaded' last='804'] where you saw his confidence just take off, and he's going to bring that back to a Woodside team that is one of the favorites to win a Class 5 state championship. The 6'2” combo is a talented shotmaker who can fill it up in different ways, but he really brings an all-around game and produces across the board. He can play on the ball and is a good finisher when he gets downhill, he can move off the ball and knocks it down consistently from deep, he is unselfish and has a good IQ as a playmaker, and he brings good energy on the glass and the defensive end too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->