Bruce’s Best: Top 10 Bigs From The Circuit

The Prephoops Next Circuit has been amazing. With so many stops all over the country, there have been tons of opportunities to showcase some of the top middle school talents in the country. I’ve been fortunate to attend three events. The West Coast Kick-Off in Ladera, CA, the Sooner State Shootout in Edmonds, OK, and War In The Valley In Phoenix. These 3 events have all featured some talented big men. In this article, we break down my top 10 bigs from the circuit.

1. Koa Peat 6’7 PF AEBC 2025 – Peat is one of the top players in his class. He overpowers his opponents with his size and strength, but he also has displayed some nice ball skills. To date, I haven’t seen anyone compete with him when it comes to rebounding the basketball. When he wants it he goes and gets it, and it is his and his alone.
2. Kaidon Rayfield 6’5 PF Team Griffin (featured image) – One of the most athletic and exciting big men to watch. Rayfield is built aerodynamically and dominates games with his shot-blocking and rebounding. When he’s sprinting the floor and playing with a high motor, no one has been able to stop him.
3. Malachi Hennigham 6’4 PF AEBC Skyriders 2026 – High motor physical specimen. Hennigham is amazing at grabbing in and out of area rebounds. Right now his offense comes from his activity on the backboards, and realistically, he may have to transition into more of wing, but right now he’s simply too good not to mention as one of the top bigs.
4. Daniel Lavato 6’5 PF JB White Elite 2025 – Lavato is a production machine, that fills up the stat sheet. He can score around the basket, and has good hands, allowing him to rebound well in traffic.
5. Nigel Walls 6’7 C JB White 2025 – Walls has continued to improve on every stop. He’s one of the best shot blockers on the circuit and looks like he genuinely enjoys sending opponents’ shots into the stands. He has a chance to reach 6’10 or taller which will only add to his overall growth as a prospect.
6. Max Van Laningham 6’4 C YBA 2026 – MVL is one of the more athletic bigs on the list. It’s not uncommon to see the 7th grader beat everyone down the floor catch the ball and finish with a dunk. On the defensive side of the ball he’s one of the top shot blockers in his class.
7. Amari Reed 6’5 C Southern Assault 2025 – On the defensive side of the ball, Reed is a monster. He’s long and active which allows him to alter and block a fair share of shot attempts. He has a ton of upside, with a lot of it being tied into his offensive development.
8. Lonnie Bass 6’6 PF Progress Feels Best 2025 – Bass is one of the top rebounders in the class. He super crafty, and understands how to use his body instead of his hands to dislodge. He also has a good second jump with allows him to pull down offensive boards at a high level.
9. Jalen Montonati 6’4 C PWB 2026 – Montonati best skill is his ability to make it tough on offensive players to score. He protects the rim at a high level and has shown a willingness to hedge and switch ball screens. He’s a good athlete, capable of beating opposing defenders down the floor.
10. Kody Williams 6’7 CY Fair Elite 2025 – Williams is long and fluid. His length allows him to protect the rim, and his ability to run allows him to stretch the defense horizontally. His hands are developing nicely, and he has shown that he can catch and finish around the rim.