Highland School (VA): State Association Champions that Also Play National Level Prep Ball.
Highland School in Warrenton, Va., was founded in 1928 as the Warrenton branch of the Calvert School of Baltimore and took the name Highland in 1957. The independent, coeducational day school enrolls about 560 students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 on a 42-acre campus in Fauquier County, about 45 miles west of Washington, D.C.
On the court, the Hawks have become one of the top programs in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) under head coach Logan Miller, a Highland graduate. Highland won the VISAA Division II state title in 2023 and was the Division II runner-up in 2024. In 2025, its first season in Division I, the state’s top level, it went 38-5 and beat O’Connell 56-51 in overtime for the championship. That team was led by Nate Ament, the state’s top-ranked player in the class of 2025, who went on to play at Tennessee. Miller also coaches Team Loaded, a well-known AAU program.
Highland is also one of the rare programs that competes at the top level of its state association while also playing a national prep-league schedule, something most state associations don’t allow. Along with its VISAA schedule, the Hawks play in the Elite Prep League, which has a strong claim to being America’s toughest prep league. Thirteen of its 15 members finished last season in the national top 100, and seven were in the top 30, including Hargrave Military Academy (No. 9), Mt Zion Prep (No. 15) and Western Reserve Academy (No. 16). Against that schedule the Hawks went 21-10 and finished No. 26 nationally in the NEPrepBasketball.net computer rankings.
Below we profile the 2026-27 Hawks.
#1 Amani Asare (2027) 6'0 point guard (committed to Penn) - Asare brings toughness to the point of attack at both ends. He's the initiator for this Highland group in a half court setting and forced his defender to remain honest in any situation because of his shot making from mid range and three. It's no secret that this squad will be one of the best in DC/MD/VA and in large part, it's because of their backcourt duo in Asare and Hunter. PH profile
#3 Jemal Smith (2027) 6'3 guard - Another key cog to this Highland group is Smith. His ability to toggle between the 1-3 positions for spurts when needed speaks to his versatility on the defensive end. Offensively, he was at his best keeping things simple. He will make a few of threes off the catch but can also pose as a consistent threat attacking gaps off swing passes. He ran the lanes wide in transition for scores, helped out on the glass and contributed to winning in ways that go beyond the box score. Plays club ball with DC Assault. PH profile
#5 Jordan Hunter (2027) 6'3 point guard - There may not be a better scorer in DC/MD/VA than Hunter and time and time again, he's proven that he cannot only put up a crooked number anytime he takes the floor, but also that his repertoire continues to expand. There was a narrative heading into the spring that he was a non-factor from beyond the arc. It's safe to say he's taken significant strides in this aspect to the point where defenders can't go under screens and bigs shouldn't drop cover in ball screens. The lead guard's burst is one of the best you'll see in the national class and because of that, he lives in the paint/at the rim for the majority of games. He can contort his body in various ways while maintaining soft touch on floaters, but you're starting to see the floor vision and processing for others surface more with each viewing. Plays club ball with Team Loaded. PH profile
#11 Jamison Ross (2027) 6'7 forward - Ross serves as a 6-foot-7 Swiss army knife on both ends. His buckets are momentum-changing as many of them came above the rim as a lob-catcher or off deliveries that allowed him to attack in straight lines. Ross' size, length and athleticism all translate to multiple statistical categories and as another guy that threatens the defense as a catch-and-shoot threat when in the corners, it'll allow the offense to operate even smoother. Plays club ball with Team Melo. PH profile
#12 Brayden Ragland (2029) 6'6 power forward - Ragland is one of the best 6-foot-6 rebounders you'll find in his national class. The combination of strength, leverage and instincts plays off around the rim. His ability to collects misses on both ends is impressive. He logs a lot of minutes guarding the other team's biggest player because of his physical makeup and it benefits him on the offensive end where he can force his man to play in space and respect him on the catch beyond the arc. There were plenty of occasions when he is featured in a high ball screen with Asare or Hunter and as they drew two defenders, Ragland popped to the top of the key and sunk triples with confidence. If he parks himself on the block for post touches, Ragland will use a couple bumps before showing off his nimble feet on spins or quick turns to the middle where he attacks the cup through contact. Plays club ball with Team Loaded VA. PH profile
#20 Cole Plummer (2028) 6'3 guard
#22 Jayden Banks (2028) 6'6 small forward - Banks has shown improvements in a lot of ways over the last few months, and it had to do with his efficiency embracing his role. As the bulk of the defense's attention is focused on Asare, Hunter and Ragland, any production out of Banks and others can be demoralizing as the opposing team tries to establish momentum. Banks made his share of catch-and-shoot threes and made great decisions as a passer from the top of the key, in transition or in quick read-and-react situations. Plays club ball with DC Assault. PH profile
#23 Caden Foster-Ellis
#24 Carson Mayer (2027) forward
#25 Antonio Perfetti
#51 Chum Kodi (2028) 6'8 forward - Kodi continues to figure out his niche and will be needed in the thick of EPL play this winter because of his size and length that he can use around the rim. He was good in his action as a backline presence where he caused multiple deflections that turned into run out opportunities and when he was actively flashing/cutting in the middle of the floor or along the baseline offensively, good things happen. Plays club ball with DC Assault. PH profile
The team's 2026-27 game schedule and results can be found by clicking here.