KJ Whaley is another guard who deserves much more attention heading into the second half of the travel season. The left-handed floor general has developed into one of the more efficient guards in the class and consistently finds ways to put pressure on opposing defenses.

Whaley excels when attacking downhill and has a great feel for operating in ball-screen situations. He reads help defenders well and does a nice job balancing his scoring and playmaking responsibilities. What makes him particularly dangerous is his ability to stretch the floor. Defenders can’t simply go under screens or give him space because he’s capable of knocking down shots from deep at a high rate.

On the defensive end, Whaley is just as impressive. He takes pride in guarding the basketball and routinely makes life difficult for opposing ball handlers. His combination of scoring, playmaking, shooting, and defensive toughness gives him one of the more complete skill sets in Virginia’s 2028 class.

Whaley looks poised to become one of the next notable guards to come through the Beach District. The quick lefty guard was a major contributor for Green Run during its run to the Class 5 state championship game and continues to impress with his speed and shot-making ability.

He thrives in ball-screen situations, gets downhill in a hurry, and can really stretch the floor with his shooting range. Whether off the catch or creating off the bounce, Whaley consistently showed confidence from deep. Defensively, he pressures the ball well and uses his quickness to stay in front of opposing guards.