Who are some Underrated Playmakers in RVA?

Jack Herron February 17, 2026 @ 02:58 PM

Everyone wants to talk about scorers and stars in today's game, but there are still plenty of players out there that make their teammates better with their passing ability. Here's a look at some of the best underrated playmakers in the Richmond area.   Izaiah Robinson | 5'8” PG | Banner Christian 2026   Robinson was a big part of Banner Christian's run to the VISAA Final Four last year, and and this year he's been even better as one of the top guards in the Richmond area. While he isn't the biggest guy he's lightning quick in transition and finds guys running with him, he can turn the corner on ball screens and break down defenses and find shooters, and his ability to get steals and pitch ahead for easy buckets is highly underrated.   [player_tooltip player_id='2470591' first='Jaylen' last='Tyler'] | 5'10” PG | LC Bird 2027   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/tempImageig9ai1.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/tempImageig9ai1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2479581" /></a></figure>   Tyler has been great for a surprisingly good Bird team this year, emerging as their leader on the floor and their best playmaker as well. In their press heavy defense he gets a lot of steals in the backcourt which he always looks to find teammates for easy buckets, he is great in ball screens and dribble hand-offs to read rotations and find open shooters, and his IQ is very impressive which allows him to recognize mismatches and tendencies to make plays for others.   [player_tooltip player_id='2870573' first='John' last='Loftin'] | 5'11” PG | Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot 2027   Last year Loftin had a breakout season for Blessed Sacrament, and with a new infusion of talent he's become much more of a floor general this year jumping to 6.5 assists per game and has them sitting at 16-6 this season. The 5'11” guard has a fantastic feel for the game and great fundamentals to get in the lane and play off two to deliver crisp passes, he's great in ball screens with the ability to deliver every type of pass you can think of, and his ability to score it makes it hard for defenses to play him to pass.   Lemone Claiborne-Simms | 6'0” PG | Life Christian Academy 2027   Claiborne-Simms has come over to LCA this season and took the team as his own, as he's been putting up big numbers scoring while also keeping everyone happy with his ability to make plays for others. He is a quick and shifty guard who thrives pushing the ball in transition and finding teammates, he has the ability to look off defenders and make passes in tight spaces, and on top of that he can fill it up off the bounce himself.   Ra'Sean Miller | 6'4” SF | Huguenot 2027   Miller is part of a Huguenot team that has had a great year so far, and he's an intriguing long term prospect who impacts the game across the board in a lot of winning ways. A good athlete with good size he's able to see over defenses and throws crisp bullet passes to cutters, he is unselfish with a lot of “one more” passes to his game, and he also is a very good rebounder and defender as well.   Jemell Smith | 5'9” PG | Cristo Rey 2028   Smith is having a breakout season for Cristo Rey, looking like he'll be one of the best guards in the RVA area over the next few years. The 5'9” lead guard is a gutsy all-out type of player who plays with a great motor and toughness, he has great command of the game playing with patience and seeing the floor at all times, he can pass it with both hands and gets it in the shooting pocket for his teammates, and he's an efficient scorer from multiple levels too.

Everyone wants to talk about scorers and stars in today's game, but there are still plenty of players out there that make their teammates better with their passing ability. Here's a look at some of the best underrated playmakers in the Richmond area.