Virginia Prep League Top Players: 804 Edition

The Virginia Prep League has been known to produce top-level talent and has always had very competitive teams every year. Take a closer look at some of the top players from a few Prep League teams as we gear up for a great high school season. These players established themselves as some of the top talent this summer.   St. Christopher's School   St. Chris has been known to produce some top-level talent and college-ready players year after year, and this year will be similar to years prior, with some key returners and some new additions to the squad. They lost some key contributors from last year's team with Darius Gray (South Carolina Football) and Elijah Brandon (Randolph-Macon Basketball), among others. Although they graduated some talent, they have some key returners and newcomers to the team.    [player_tooltip player_id='2470566' first='Brady' last='Burnette'] is one of the nation's top shooters and easily one of the most dangerous scorers in the region. returns to St. Chris for his senior season after a strong summer and a recent commitment to Lafayette College. Brady is known as a lethal shooter in the gym range, but what I love most about his game is his energy and tenacity he plays with on both sides of the ball. He brings a different level of toughness and edge when he steps on the floor and is a very versatile defender. He will be a key piece for St. Chris to make a deep playoff run and a push to win the Virginia Prep League.     [player_tooltip player_id='2958182' first='Damari' last='Smith'] is one of the nation's best players overall and for his position. He is an elite Point Guard who excels in getting downhill, getting to his spots, and creating for others. Damari is one of the best on-ball defenders in the state and was a major piece to their success last season. Damari already holds multiple Power 5 Division 1 scholarships, and I fully expect his recruitment to keep rising, especially with another strong year for St. Chris.     [player_tooltip player_id='3659463' first='Dizru' last='Utah'] is a 6'5 wing that transferred to St. Chris from Deep Run and adds physicality, length, versatility, and athleticism to the team. Dizru played up with Team Loaded 3SSB Gold 17U and was a major piece to the success of their team. Dizru is known as a slasher and versatile scorer, where he can knock down open jump shots but also hurt opponents off the dribble. He uses his size and length well to score in the half-court and in transition and will be a major piece to their success this season.     [player_tooltip player_id='3275793' first='Obi' last='Pinn'] is a 6'2 Combo Guard that transferred from Godwin High School to St. Chris. Obi played up with Team Loaded 3SSB Gold this summer and was a key contributor and sharpshooter for the squad. Obi can play on the ball or off the ball as a distributor and scorer. He had a monster year for Godwin last year and is looking to carry his success onto his new school. Obi will be a key piece for St. Chris and for their success moving forward as another valuable asset to their backcourt.    The Collegiate School   Collegiate has continued to improve year after year as the team gets older and grows together collectively. They have a young squad with the new addition of [player_tooltip player_id='3275771' first='Jovin' last='Johnson']; they should have a very strong season in the Prep League. They had a strong showing at the East Coast Live, and although they had a new addition and another key contributor, Josh Young, a 6'3 Freshman football player, they looked like they had been playing together for years. In each game, they had over 20 assists as a team; sharing the ball and making plays for one another seemed to be their calling card. It will be exciting to see the new-look Cougars this season.    [player_tooltip player_id='3554525' first='Danny' last='Mooney'] is a high IQ scoring guard from The Collegiate School who has a quick first step and explosiveness to get to his spots to score for himself or to create for others. Danny is one of the best shooters and overall scorers in the Virginia Prep League and will once again look to lead the Cougars in the right direction as he is now an upperclassman. Danny had a monster summer with Rockit Made Hoops Circuit team, where he helped lead them to the Made Hoops Finale. He has a real chance to be a very good college player for whatever program is lucky enough to land him. He has taken great strides this summer as an overall Point Guard, and with the pieces around him getting better, Collegiate will have a strong season.     [player_tooltip player_id='3275771' first='Jovin' last='Johnson'] is a new face to the Collegiate Cougars squad and has already made a name for himself as a legitimate Division 1 prospect and has been receiving interest from numerous programs. He played up with Team Loaded 3SSB Gold this summer, who finished as the 7th best team in the country on the Adidas Circuit, and Jovin is a big reason why with his overall abilities. He can score from all 3 levels and has taken great strides in his offensive game to be able to beat his defenders off the dribble or to knock down open jumpers. Jovin is a great defender who can guard multiple positions and does a great job of blitzing ball screens to disrupt with his length. He has a non-stop motor that is known as his calling card. As he continues to develop, he has a legitimate chance alongside some other strong players to be considered the Virginia Prep League player of the year if he continues where he left off from this summer.     [player_tooltip player_id='3704638' first='Chason' last='Beggerow'] is an under-the-radar guy who was a major breakout player last year for Collegiate who can play on the ball or off the ball. Chason is a very efficient and consistent shooter and overall scorer. He had a strong summer in June with Collegiate and with Rockit Made Hoops Circuit team. He is a 6'1 Combo guard who excels at getting to his spots, and he has really improved this summer as a facilitator and as another primary ball-handler. He was one of the leading scorers last season with Collegiate, and he has a great chance of being a prospect college coaches will start circling and adding to their board.    Trinity Epsicopal School   The Trinity Titans are always among the top teams in the area year after year, and although they had some departures and a coaching change, I fully expect them to have a strong year with a blend of young talent and veteran presence. What will be key for them is how quickly they can mesh together and build their system with a new staff. Although Torey Burston is the new head coach, he isn't a new face for the team, as he's been in the program and is an alumnus from Trinity. Trinity had a very strong showing in June as a team, and with the departure of Jeremiah Robinson to St. Anne's Belfield, there will be opportunities for others to step up with big shoes to fill. A key reason I see [player_tooltip player_id='3571138' first='Jackson' last='Rutley'] as a major breakout player this season is with an increased role. Trinity will be a fast-paced team looking to score in transition and play physical and aggressive defense, which they displayed this summer.    [player_tooltip player_id='2370724' first='Keaton' last='Gregory'] is a name everyone knows in the Richmond area due to his size and overall versatility as the perfect new-school-style big man. Keaton is a knockdown shooter with high IQ and does a great job creating for others as well. He has great length and size and his a great rim protector for his team. He played with [program_tooltip program_id='2226307' first='Team' last='Loaded VA'] 3SSB and has a lot of Division 1 interest and offers. He will have a big Senior year for Trinity and be a big reason for their success. Trinity has a new head coach but a familiar face to Trinity as an alum and someone who has been in the program, and they should hit the ground running with their loaded squad.     Kane is one of the top shooters in the Richmond area and in the state. He played AAU with [program_tooltip program_id='2226307' first='Team' last='Loaded VA'] 3SSB 15U, where his squad won the national championship, and he was a key contributor and earned himself a handful of Division 1 scholarships. Kane is a dynamic scoring threat and has seemed to gain more confidence to take on a lead role for the Titans this year. He can light it up from deep, which he is known most for, but has improved drastically in attacking the rim and finishing through contact. Kane is also a great playmaker, and it's easy to see why he's one of the top players in his class. Trinity has a bright future with Kane at the helm.     Last but certainly not least for the Titans is [player_tooltip player_id='3571138' first='Jackson' last='Rutley'], a 6'4 marksmen that quickly made a name for himself last year when he came to Trinity. Jackson is a lights-out shooter and is a perfect 3 & D Guard/Wing for the next level. Keaton and Jackson will be key senior leaders for this team, which has a lot of young talent and a new coach. Jackson brings length and athleticism on the wing and is set to have a breakout year for the Titans. I saw him a handful of times last year, and he had multiple games where he caught fire from beyond the arc. This season, he will be looked at as one of the main options, and opposing teams will have their hands full trying to find ways to guard their versatile squad.

The Virginia Prep League has been known to produce top-level talent and has always had very competitive teams every year. Take a closer look at some of the top players from a few Prep League teams as we gear up for a great high school season. These players established themselves as some of the top talent this summer.