Breaking Down the Top 10 Players in the 2028 Class

With the debut of our first Prep Hoops VA 2028 Class rankings, we decided to take a look at some of the players from the class. Here's a break down of the top 10 players in the sophomore class.   10) [player_tooltip player_id='2353668' first='Kamdon' last='Brangman-Cain'] | 6'4” SG | Blue Ridge   Brangman-Cain comes in at number ten after announcing he's transferring to Blue Ridge and reclassifying to the 2028 class after being one of the more impressive young players in Northern VA over the past few years, and he's chock full of big time upside heading to a school known for developing players. At 6'4” he has great size on the wing with long arms and explosive finishing ability, he can handle it in transition and get downhill, and he's improving in his ability to knock down open shots too.   9) [player_tooltip player_id='2916390' first='Ryan' last='Bahr'] | 6'4” SG | Paul VI   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li></li> </ol>   Bahr is the younger brother of Bishop Ireton standout [player_tooltip player_id='2347772' first='Jake' last='Bahr'], and he's known as a top tier baseball prospect as well, but he had a breakout summer with the Panthers at the DMV Live sessions showing his ability to shoot and score the ball at a high clip. The 6'4” off guard has great size and does a good job sitting down defensively and challenging shots, he has a quick release with deep range and the ability to set his feet on the move, and he has good feel and plays with a good motor as well.   8) [player_tooltip player_id='2916383' first='Rashad' last='Shaw'] | 6'2” CG | Landstown   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li></li> </ol>   Shaw is part of a very impressive young Landstown team that surprised a lot of people last season, and he has the potential to be a top tier prospect in the 757 over the next few seasons. He has a great frame already and is an explosive athlete who has impressive above the rim finishing ability for a player his age and his size, he is a true lock down defender who can even switch and use his strength and athleticism on bigger players in the post, and he can play on or off the ball with great instincts to create for himself and others.   7) [player_tooltip player_id='2916382' first='Jajuan' last='Bailey'] | 5'10” PG | Oak Hill   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li></li> </ol>   Bailey is part of a completely new Oak Hill team that debuted at DMV Live this summer, and while he'll have to wait behind some more experienced players he has a lot of tools that he's shown flashes of as a dual threat guard who can score it and make others better as well. He plays with good pace staying under control and changing speeds well, he can create separation and make tough shots from deep and in the midrange, he's a crafty finisher over bigger defenders, and he sees the floor well as a playmaker too.   6) [player_tooltip player_id='2194780' first='Aaron' last='Bryant'] | 6'1” CG | Paul VI   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li></li> </ol>   Bryant had his moments as a freshman for a PVI team that won their second straight WCAC championship and followed it up with a very good summer with Team Takeover and at DMV Live, and while he has more experienced guards over him he's learning from some of the best in an area known for producing top tier guards. He's a fierce competitor that brings it on both ends every moment he's in the game, he has a great first step and good speed in transition to beat defenders, he can score it from all three levels off the bounce, and he is an unselfish playmaker with good feel as well.   5) [player_tooltip player_id='2916372' first='Damien' last='Robinson'] | 6'1” PG/CG | Landstown   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Damien-Robinson.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Damien-Robinson.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-2450287" /></a></figure>   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li></li> </ol>   Robinson was an All State selection as a freshman in the VHSL's largest classification as he helped lead a young Landstown team to an impressive playoff run, and he is one of the most well-rounded and prolific scoring guards you'll come across at this age. He's in the midst of a growth spurt as he's gone from 5'7” to 6'1” over the past two seasons, and as a true freshman with no reclass it wouldn't surprise me if he reaches the same height as his brother Donald Hand Jr. the 6'4” guard at Boston College. He's a dead eye shooter from deep with effortless range both off the catch and off the bounce, he is shifty off the bounce and finishes well over shot blockers when he gets downhill, and he has a natural fire and competitiveness you simply can't teach.   4) [player_tooltip player_id='2884415' first='Devin' last='Ainsworth'] | 6'1" PG | St. Stephen's St. Agnes   Ainsworth started for an SSSAS team that made a run to the VISAA D-I state semifinals this past season, and it's not like he was just out there, he was one of the top playmaking guards in the DMV area as a freshman. The 6'2” guard has all the tools you look for in a young lead guard as he's quick and athletic, he has a tight handle and he has great vision and playmaking ability that you can't teach. He's a strong guard who can take bumps and play through contact, he's shifty with good change of pace and directions, he can hit open shots off the catch, he can get downhill or out in transition to either finish or make plays for others, and he is a very good on ball defender as well.3)   3) [player_tooltip player_id='2548185' first='Kelvin' last='Anderson'] | 6'2" CG | Petersburg   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/743-Kelvin-Anderson.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/743-Kelvin-Anderson.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2552824" /></a></figure>   Anderson was a standout at Catholic High School in Virginia Beach as a freshman, earning himself not just a starting role early in the season, but showing that he was ready physically and skill wise to play with the best of the best. The 6'2” guard has a great basketball build with a strong frame and long arms, as well as a mature game with the ability to score the ball in a lot of different ways and impact the game across the board on both ends of the floor. He is deadly in the midrange as he can post and hit fall-aways as well as get to spots and rise up to make contested pull-up shots, he can get downhill and finish through contact, he improved a lot over the past year in his consistency as a catch-and-shoot threat from deep, and he is a tough nosed defender on the ball and in help side as well.   2) [player_tooltip player_id='2916369' first='Isaac' last='Smith'] | 6'6” SF | Hargrave   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/tempImage3ERkbd.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/tempImage3ERkbd.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2724494" /></a></figure>   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li></li> </ol>   Smith was an All State selection in VHSL Class 3 as a freshman at GW Danville before announcing his transfer to Hargrave this summer where he'll likely play a year or two on varsity before moving to their legendary prep team, and when it comes to pure upside he might have the most in this young class. At 6'6” with long arms he's built to play the game of basketball, and throw in the fact that he's a fluid and explosive athlete at such a young age he is just scratching the surface with how good he can be moving forward. He's deadly in transition with his ability to run the floor and play above the rim with no hesitation, he can guard multiple positions with his length and athleticism, he's a good shooter off the catch who doesn't need much space, he can handle it in transition and work out of the triple threat, and he's a good rebounder for his position as well.   1) [player_tooltip player_id='2548181' first='Isaiah' last='Carter'] | 6'6” SG | Highland School   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/745-Isaiah-Carter-crop-3393x2228-1751678336.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/745-Isaiah-Carter-crop-3393x2228-1751678336.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2895492" /></a></figure>   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li></li> </ol>   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li></li> </ol>   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li></li> </ol>   Carter gets the nod as the top prospect in the first 2028 rankings for Prep Hoops VA, as he came into John Marshall last season as an already nationally ranked player and proved it on their state championship team before having a great summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2226307' first='Team' last='Loaded VA'] and announcing his transfer to Highland School this summer. Carter has the build you look for in a modern day wing, as he has long arms and a frame that will fill out moving forward, and most importantly the type of game that coaches emphasize in today's game. He's a knock down shooter from deep with a quick release and tons of confidence from deep, he's a good athlete in transition who can play above the rim, he has great instincts on the defensive end, and he can create his own shot on the ball as well. He already holds a slew of high major offers and he will only gain more as coaches prioritize older players at this point.

With the debut of our first Prep Hoops VA 2028 Class rankings, we decided to take a look at some of the players from the class. Here's a break down of the top 10 players in the sophomore class.