Shining Star Academy is working in a ton of new pieces but looked to be coming together nicely with Stinney leading the way as a quickly-developing hybrid forward. A repeat junior via Henrico HS, he’s an active and live body around the rim, patrolling the baseline or crashing the glass for swift finishes and explosive dunks. Long and lanky, he looks to have a nice wiry muscle foundation to build onto over time. Stinney does a nice job of staying within himself and starring in his role but does show flashes of offensive skill to develop moving forward, highlighted by a catch-and-shoot corner 3 that looked comfortable and mechanically clean. He’ll have to add strength to his frame to bang bodies inside at the D1 level but scholarship-level programs should be monitoring Stinney closely as part of the 2028 class.

Stinney transferred to S3 this past summer from Henrico to reclassify to the 2028 class, and it’s not a bad move for him as he is still the focal point of the offense and he has more time to continue to develop. The 6’6” hybrid forward is athletic and physical when he’s in the paint as he put a hurting on the rim multiple times, he can rebound on the defensive end and push the ball in transition himself, he showed improvement on his perimeter shot making and skillset, and he brought a ton of energy on both ends of the floor too.

Donovan Stinney Donovan Stinney 6'6" | PF Shining Star Sports Academy | 2028 VA is another player who has skyrocketed this summer, with his game growing. He also just received an offer to Winston-Salem State, a Division 2 program in North Carolina. Donovan is an extremely athletic forward standing at about 6’7 who plays above the rim and finishes well inside. Donovan has really improved inside out game and has become more versatile over this summer. Almost every tournament he has played in this summer, he has turned heads and been chosen as a standout. He is a very active defender and uses his length to his advantage on both sides of the ball; whether he’s going to grab a rebound or to block a shot, he always seems to get a hand on the ball. What I like most about his game is his ability to run and move the floor so well for his size. He is a prospect that coaches will love to take a look at more because he fits the new modern play-style most colleges are playing with at their forward or center position with an athletic and mobile big.

A force to be reckoned with in the River City Reign frontcourt; showed his ability to run the floor and finish with authority as well as an ability to protect the rim and alter shots in the painted area; plays with tremendous energy and effort on the hardwood; quick-twitch reaction speed off the ground for his size/good mobility; before it’s all said and done, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him land at a DI program in the region given his skillset

Donovan Stinney Donovan Stinney 6'6" | PF Shining Star Sports Academy | 2028 VA has been a player I’ve been watching for a while now, and I’m glad to see other scouts and coaches seeing his value. He stands at about 6’7 he has a great blend of size and athleticism, and he brings his elite motor every time he steps on the floor. He was among one of the top players in VA in the 2027 class. He is a defensive anchor who alters shots around the rim and rebounds at a very high rate. He can post up well around the rim or turn and face the basket and knock down open jumpers. He’s a strong finisher who plays well through contact and overtime; as he adds more muscle, he will be a force to be reckoned with at the next level. He has received a handful of JUCO offers and has some D3/D2 interest, which I’m sure he will continue to gain more interest as time progresses. What I like most about him is his ability to play extended stretches and bring it all game long; he rarely gets tired and never takes a possession off. He is a prospect I’ve seen since he was in 8th grade, and he’s only scratching the surface of how good he truly can be.

A big man prospect who’s starting to find his way as an alley-oop outlet and finisher in the painted area; plays with a ton of confidence when the ball comes his way, making things happen around the rim; as he learns to utilize his length on the defensive side of the floor, look for his recruiting to really grow with DII/DIII programs in the region

Following an impressive spring with River City Reign , Stinney made a significant jump in our updated rankings. An athletic and mobile big man, he consistently stood out with his energy, activity level, and ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Stinney runs the floor extremely well for his size and is an effective finisher around the basket, particularly in transition and off offensive rebounds. He also showed flashes of developing perimeter skill, adding intrigue to his long-term upside as a frontcourt prospect. Defensively, he rebounds aggressively, changes shots in the lane, and uses his athleticism and motor to create problems around the rim.

Donovan Stinney Donovan Stinney 6'6" | PF Shining Star Sports Academy | 2028 VA brings an athletic and physical presence that immediately stands out. He has good size, moves well, and consistently impacts the game in areas that don’t always show up in the scoring column.

Even with defenses paying attention to him throughout the weekend, Stinney continued making plays on the boards and defensively. He plays with good activity around the basket and uses his length effectively to create problems. His rebounding ability was particularly noticeable, as he consistently pursued the ball and created extra possessions.

What makes Stinney intriguing long term is the upside. The athletic tools are there, and his frame gives him room to continue developing physically. As he continues adding strength and expanding his offensive skill package, his ceiling becomes even more interesting. Programs looking for size, athleticism, and a high-motor forward will likely keep a close eye on his development.

Donovan Stinney Donovan Stinney 6'6" | PF Shining Star Sports Academy | 2028 VA has steadily become one of the more intriguing stock risers throughout the spring, and the live period only added to that momentum.

Standing around 6-foot-8 with length, athleticism, and versatility, Stinney presents a lot of upside on both sides of the floor. He consistently impacts games in areas that don’t always show up in the box score.

Offensively, he was highly effective around the rim and did a great job finishing in screen-and-roll situations. His athleticism allows him to play above the rim, and he runs the floor extremely well for a player his size. He creates pressure on opposing defenses simply because of the vertical spacing he provides.

Defensively is where his value may stand out the most right now.

Stinney protects the rim at a high level and has the ability to alter shots even when he isn’t recording blocks. Opposing players routinely have to adjust attempts around him because of his length and timing. He anchors the paint well and provides an interior presence that impacts winning.

As his offensive game continues to expand and develop, Stinney has all the tools to continue climbing recruiting boards moving forward.

Stinney consistently impacted the game with energy and physicality. He ran the floor hard, rebounded outside of his area, and finished well around the basket. What stood out most was how active he stayed every possession. He doesn’t need plays called for him to make a noticeable impact on the game.