2025 Rankings: New Faces in the Top 50

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 rankings have been updated as the April Live Periods approach in the grassroots season. Take a look at the New Faces in the Top 50 of the 2025 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get 30% OFF payment on your first billing cycle with offer code: JAYANDERSON30</em></strong>, sign up <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TODAY</a>!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1361269"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1361269' first='LJ' last='Rush'] is an athletic lead guard to keep an eye on at 1 of 1 Academy out of the 704 area. He's shown he can operate around the rim and knock down shots off the bounce when given opportunities as a recent mover in to the 2025 class. He makes his debut inside the Top 15 at the 13th spot in the recent rankings update. He's a 5-foot-10 floor general that knows how to play with a ton of energy on both ends of the floor. He put up 7.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, a team-high 3.2 apg and 1.4 spg as quite the backcourt presence alongside [player_tooltip player_id='1760747' first='Sebastian' last='Akins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1226608' first='Yohance' last='Connor'] in 2022-23. He'll be a name to watch with 1 of 1 Elite on the grassroots scene.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1131338"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1131338' first='Kaden' last='Hammond'] found his way on solid footing with The Burlington School by season's end, so much so, he got himself onto the PrepHoopsNC radar, making his debut in the 2025 rankings at the 24th position. He's a sizeable prospect at 6-foot-8 that uses his length in a variety of ways to make his presence felt in the paint. He averaged 8.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.0 apg and 1.2 bpg across 23 appearances with the Spartans as they took home yet another NCISAA 2A Title with a 28-11 record in 2022-23. Hammond has shown he can make things happen around the rim and is quite the willing passer as well given the attention he draws on the floor. He's a big man to know with Team CP3 on the EYBL scene this grassroots cycle.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1786681"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1786681' first='Shamarius' last='Peterkin'] is another 2025 guard to get to know in the 2025 class at Mount Tabor High in the 336 area. He's a prospect that likes to pressure the ball defensively and effect the game with his high motor. At 6-foot-3, he's already shown he can play passing lanes and turn quick steals into dunks on the offensive end. He's relentless in attacking the basket off the bounce and is instant-offense after getting rebounds out the net and setting the pace. As he shows off his consistency on the shooting front, look for his name to grow in the class. He's a two-sport athlete for the Spartans to keep an eye on given his ability on both ends.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1698954"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1698954' first='Will' last='James Jr'] had himself quite the sophomore campaign with the Holly Springs Hawks as they made a deep run in the NCHSAA 4A Playoffs. He emerged right away in the rotation as a starter and showed off his ability to play with energy and knock down shots on the perimeter for the Golden Hawks. He's got a bright future ahead of him in the 919 area given his ability to defend, rebound and get hot in a hurry. He had a few games this season where he was the spark for their offense, so to speak, as they went 26-6 on the season and took home the Southwest Wake Conference crown in 2022-23. He'll be running with [program_tooltip program_id='2078529' first='Strong' last='Center'] on the grassroots scene this spring/summer.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1889492"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1889492' first='Najai' last='Hines'] is an emerging big man to get to know in the 2025 class at South Garner High in the 919 area. He did most of his damage on the junior varsity front in 2022-23 but he'll certainly be a breakout name to keep an eye on in 2023-24 on the varsity front. He moves with speed rim to rim and knows how to finish with authority even in traffic. Defensively, he plays with a ton of energy, using his length to effect shots and snag rebounds. He was a double-double machine on the JV front, producing 12.7 ppg, 13.9 rpg and 3.8 bpg on 52 percent shooting from the field as a sophomore. He'll be a name to watch this spring/summer with Strictly Ballers on the grassroots scene.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1220110"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1220110' first='Jamier' last='Rice'] is an emerging lead guard to get to know in the Durham area at Northern Durham High in the 2025 class. He knows how to control the pace with his ability to handle the ball and has a knack for using his length and athleticism at 5-foot-11 to be a willing defender that can impact the game. He had a productive sophomore season on the varsity scene for Northern Durham as he led the way for their backcourt in the starting rotation in 2022-23. He'll be a name to watch in the [program_tooltip program_id='2078487' first='Durham' last='Hurricanes'] rotation on the grassroots scene.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1889843"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1889843' first='Zacch' last='Wiggins'] is an emerging wing prospect to get to know out of Grimsley High School in the 336 area. He led the way for the Whirlies' varsity squad in 2022-23 in more ways than one, posting 15.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.0 apg and 1.3 spg on 57 percent shooting from the floor in his sophomore season. He's an athletic slasher that likes to operate on the wing but won't hesitate to use his length in mismatch situations to own the paint. He's due for a big summer with Team CP3 on the EYBL scene this spring/summer.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["1707110"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1707110' first='MJ' last='Williams'] was quite the presence in the Farmville Central backcourt with his ability to knock down shots on the perimeter and find his backcourt mates for easy dunks and scores on the perimeter as well. He's a young name to get to know in the 2025 class with a bright future ahead of him after securing a state crown as a feature name in the Jaguars starting rotation. He's got the potential to emerge as quite the floor general when it's all said and done at the end of his career with Farmville Central and the dynasty they've created. He'll be a name to get to know with [program_tooltip program_id='2078546' first='Team' last='Trezz'] this spring/summer on the grassroots front.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["1220140"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1220140' first='Zymire' last='Spencer'] is the final new face rounding out the Top 50 out of Pinecrest High in the 910 area. He's a combo guard that showed flashes of his potential as a pest defensively and a downhill threat offensively for the Patriots in 2022-23 on the varsity scene. He posted 4.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.4 apg and 1.4 spg in 10.5 mpg during his sophomore campaign, shooting 40 percent from the field. He's a strong finishing guard, even in traffic, that uses his strength to make an impact on the floor. He'll run with Sandhills Cyclones this spring/summer.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-642e323dd4acb"} /-->