PHVA Expo 2026 Standouts (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Hoops VA Expo took place at Rock It Sports in Richmond on Sunday, September 31, with players from all over the state ranging from seniors to sophomores attending to compete and get their names out there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a great day of competition with 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 games played intensely throughout the day. Here's a look at part one of the many 2026 standouts from the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1588112' first='Cole' last='Murdock'] | 6'1” CG | New Covenant</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2548437,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagePgjGV0.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagePgjGV0.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2548437" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Murdock is coming off an impressive sophomore season where he helped New Covenant win the VISAA D4 State Championship, and he's improved quite a bit since his first Prep Hoops Expo two years ago. He was getting pretty much everywhere he wanted to go off the bounce, he used his strong frame to finish though contact, he scored the ball efficiently playing both on and of the ball and he showed great instincts on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dean Quaye | 6'0” CG | Life Christian Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2548441,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageH4FnnJ.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageH4FnnJ.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2548441" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quaye was impressive throughout the event and particularly in the 5-on-5 sets where he showed the ability to create off the dribble and score it in a variety of ways. He's a strong and physical guard that can initiate contact and create space when he gets in the lane, he has excellent footwork when he gets to a jump stop to get good looks at the rim, he finishes well with floaters in the midrange and he can create for others as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayden Johnson | 6'2” WG | Roanoke Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2548449,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagecXavEA.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagecXavEA.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2548449" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson is a prospect that is trending in the right direction and should have a big junior season for a young but talented Roanoke Catholic team. He impressed at the camp with his ability to use hang and float dribbles to change speeds and catch defenders off guard, he made shots from all three levels, showed good finishing ability and used his length defensively to challenge shots and get deflection as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2242402' first='RJ' last='Jones'] | 6'3” CG | VA Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2548451,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageqh0ss6.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageqh0ss6.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2548451" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones was one of the more impressive guards in the entire event, and showed he's ready to make a big leap during his junior season to become a formidable scorer this year. The 6'3” combo showed impressive shot making from deep both off the catch and off the bounce, he has good burst and can stop on a dime to get into his shot, he doesn't need a screen to create for himself and when he gets it going he can make some very tough shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2548290' first='Cole' last='Forbrich'] | 5'10” PG | Evergreen Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forbrich is part of a very good Evergreen Christian backcourt that is going to be tough for teams to matchup with, and while he may not look he part he can flat out hoop. He has a great understanding of the game and knows how to move off the ball to get easy shots, he has an unorthodox shot but he can really knock it down from deep, he is shifty off the bounce and sees the floor well and he exudes toughness on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1630997' first='Elijah' last='Brandon'] | 5'10” PG | St. Chris</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2548452,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagenHXNjs.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagenHXNjs.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2548452" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brandon had one of the most impressive performances of anyone at the camp, filling it up in a number of different ways and showing a lot tools that you like to see out of a smaller lead guard. He's a strong guard who is surprisingly quick and shifty for someone his size, he's an absolute driller from deep with in the gym range and the ability to create space and get his shot off, he has good instincts and vision and he's demoralizing to guard because you can play great defense on him and he'll still hit tough shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->