Updated 2028 Rankings: RVA Juniors on the Rise (Part 3)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We recently updated our class of 2028 rankings in the state of Virginia, going to 142 prospects from across the state we believe will be players to keep an eye on moving forward. Obviously the list will change plenty over the next two seasons, but for now here's a look at part 3 of some of the top juniors in the Richmond area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2919030"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa44d081ef91"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Murphy will transfer to Carmel School this season after spending the last couple of years at TPLS, and he'll fit in well there as yet another versatile piece that can play multiple positions. The 6'4” swing man can really light it up from deep with a quick release and good range, he moves well off the ball and can knock down shots on the move, he's a good secondary ball handler with a high IQ, and he can play and guard multiple positions as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3659463"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa44d081f034"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Utah transferred to St. Chris from Deep Run and reclassified to the 2028 class, which will bold well for him to spend another year developing at a program with multiple division one prospects right now. At 6'4” he has great positional size and is an above average athlete, his shot mechanics may be a little unorthodox but he makes shots at a good clip from deep, he brings a ton of energy defensively and can guard the other team's best player, and he does all the little things to help his team win that doesn't show up on the stat sheet all the time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3483210"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa44d081f0b7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pleasants had a huge summer where he not only went through a growth spurt but also showed a lot of improvement in his game, and he's capable of being a breakout player this year if he continues to play with the confidence and aggression he played with this summer. At 6'2” he's long and bouncy with the ability to play above the rim in transition and when he gets downhill, he can knock down shots from deep off the catch, he has a good midrange game off the bounce, and he can make plays for others as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3728051"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa44d081f134"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jones had a good sophomore campaign with the Springers, and followed it up with a very good summer with VA Havoc where he showed a lot of development and upside as he continues to grow into his body and polish his skillset. He's got a great frame with long arms and is very strong when he bangs in the paint or on the defensive end of the floor, he's a good rebounder for his position and plays with a good motor on both ends of the floor, he gets downhill aggressively and is a good finisher through contact, and he still has a lot of room to develop with a good trajectory so far in his young career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3659537"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa44d081f19d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Zaudtke is one of the more intriguing prospects in Richmond in this class, and it will be interesting to see the leap he takes this year after showing a lot of improvement this summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2248971' first='River' last='City Reign']. At 6'5” he has great positional size and as he's grown into his body he's starting to get on the rim effortlessly, he can attack in straight lines and use his frame to finish through contact, he can step out and knock down open shots, and he has a lot of untapped potential moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3319022"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa44d081f213"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Friday has quietly been one of the better big men in the Richmond area, and he's still just a pup who is learning the game and developing every day. At 6'6” he's likely still growing and will get more explosive and coordinated as he grows into his body, he has great touch around the rim and in the midrange area, he attacks the glass and challenges shots well at the rim, and his trajectory is going on the right line as he's started to take the game seriously over the past few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->