2025 Rankings: Players To Keep An Eye On Down The Stretch

The 2025 rankings are loaded with talent. As we sit on the horizon of the postseason, there are some key players that we need to keep an eye on down the stretch.     <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-J.D.-Gossett-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-J.D.-Gossett-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1718643" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure>   J.D. Gossett (6'4/PG/Huntsville HS)   Instagram: jd_gossett5   Twitter: @JD_Gossett5   JD is one of the young guys that has been stepping up and playing significant roles for the Panthers this year. JD is a player with a good skill set and IQ that is not in the top 3 primary scoring options for his squad, but he has the ability to be a double-digit scorer night in and night out. He is a listed PG that has good positional size and can facilitate and score. At the end of the day, JD is a player that serves as a contributing scorer, floor spacer, and more than capable defender. Some will argue that he is too low, and they may just be right, but there is a lot of basketball remaining in JD's high school career. He is going to be key for the Panthers down the stretch and their hopeful championship run.     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PrepHoops/status/1612874320916713481 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/PH-Devon-McKinnon-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/PH-Devon-McKinnon-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1742722" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1342754' first='Devon' last='McKinnon'] (6'3/Wing/Clay-Chalkville)   Instagram: nolimit0dev   Twitter: @devonmckinnon_5   Truthfully, the 19th spot in the rankings may be Devon's lowest for the remainder of his high school career. His trajectory is headed northward, and he is one of the most exciting players in this class. With opposing teams starting to see what the Clay coaches have been raving about for some time now, Devon is starting to be the focus of many teams' defensive gameplan. Even though he is drawing a lot more attention, there has not been a slip in his production, and in fact, he is getting stronger and more confident as the season passes. Devon continues to evolve as a two-way player that impacts both ends of the court and gives Clay many different ways to play. He brings scoring and playmaking element to the Cougars that has them trending in the right direction while having a tough climb to make in the playoffs against #1-ranked and undefeated Pinson Valley, who is in their area.        <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/gatordl/status/1615173411734720514 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/PH-Jared-Smith-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/PH-Jared-Smith-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1768643" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1398734' first='Jared' last='Smith'] (6'6/Forward/Spain Park HS)   IG: jdotsmith_8   Jared is our #22-ranked player in the current release, and he has had a season where his presence has been significantly felt. He battled an injury a month ago, and his absence impacted the Jaguars even though they continued their march through their schedule. I have seen the Jags several times this year, and I had the chance to see them with Jared in the line-up and with him not in the line-up, and the physical aspect of the Jags game is significantly impacted by his absence. The Jags are still big across the frontcourt, but without Jared, they go from a team whose frontline starting line-up's wingspan almost covers sideline to sideline to a team who has to make adjustments in their rotations. Jared locks down the middle with his ability to protect the rim and limit teams to one shot by securing the defensive board. He is a player that will be very valuable down the stretch.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"> He is a player that will be very valuable down the stretch. <cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Jaylen-Blackwell-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Jaylen-Blackwell-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1720106" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1398803' first='Jaylen' last='Blackwell'] (6'4/G|F/Madison Academy)   Instagram: Jaylen_blackwell_   Twitter: @Jaylenblackwe15   Jaylen is highly skilled with good positional size. He is a legitimate shooting threat, a sensationally disruptive defender, and a solid scorer who can initiate the offense and distribute the rock around. He values the ball, which is seen in his commitment to taking care of the rock, making good reads and passes, and not taking ill-advised shots. There is another level to JB's game: if he makes the jump in this area, his stock will skyrocket, and that area is his on-ball perimeter defense. He has excellent length that can be a major asset to Jaylen becoming a two-way player that can impact the game on both ends. There is a lot of intrigue surrounding Jaylen, and he gets more and more attractive to the eyes at the next level the more he polishes his game.     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MAMustangHoops/status/1608668498385047556 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/PH-Josh-Bowman-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/PH-Josh-Bowman-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1742723" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1600007' first='Josh' last='Bowman'] (6'8/C/Huntsville HS)   Instagram: josh_bow_   Twitter: @_Josh_Bowman   [player_tooltip player_id='1600007' first='Josh' last='Bowman'] is the backup center for the Panthers, and I truly believe that we have not seen all the tools that he has in his toolkit as he plays behind [player_tooltip player_id='1392153' first='Caleb' last='Harrison'], who logs a lot of minutes. He is a solid player that understands his role and does it to the fullest. I really do not think that we will see Josh's game to the fullest until he steps out of the shadows of Caleb, but what I have seen thus far from him brings a lot of excitement and anticipation when it comes to his future. If you have seen Huntsville this year, you have seen their length as a unit and how it impacts the game. The scary part of it for opponents is when 6'10 Caleb goes out, they bring in 6'8 Josh, a defensive presence with low-block scoring abilities.     <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"> He is a solid player that understands his role and does it to the fullest. <cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Kahleel-Green-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/PH-Kahleel-Green-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1720107" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1753243' first='Kahleel' last='Green'] (6'3/CG/Sparkman HS)   Instagram: kahleel2green   Twitter: @green_kahleel   Kahleel is a young player who has shown a lot of confidence this year, particularly in helping the Senators win the Huntsville City Classic. He is a slasher that thrives on getting to the cup and finishing thru contact. In previous articles, I have talked a lot about KG's ability to score off the bounce. Still, he has a quality all-around perimeter game that allows him to be a consistent source of production for the Senators. He pushes the pace with the ball in his hands and keeps his squad in rhythm. Simply put, Kahleel has an innate ability to score the basketball and get to the rim whenever he wants. He will have to continue increasing his production on both ends of the floor for the Senators to get out of area tournament play.     <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size"> He is a slasher that thrives on getting to the cup and finishing thru contact. <cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote>

The 2025 rankings are loaded with talent. As we sit on the horizon of the postseason, there are some key players that we need to keep an eye on down the stretch.