2025 Rankings: PF Positional Breakdown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the class of 2025 rankings getting a fresh update, it brought more clarity to which positions have the most depth and most talent. In this piece we take a closer look at the power forward spot in our positional breakdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Top Five</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630622' first='Kade' last='Bonam'], St. John Bosco, No. 1 PF, No. 6 overall</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bonam is one of the most versatile players in the state in this class and while he has the skill-set to play multiple positions - technically the three, four and five spots - we think his best basketball is played when he's at the four. At 6-feet-6, Bonam has a Draymond Green type of impact for his high school team where he can initiate offense with his ball handling, vision and passing, defends multiple positions and brings good energy and effort to the offensive and defensive boards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630627' first='Tae' last='Simmons'], Heritage Christian, No. 2 PF, No. 8 overall</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simmons is a physical specimen whose combination of strength, athleticism, physicality and toughness reminds us of a throwback four man. The 6-foot-7 sophomore is an elite rim-runner and finisher who has the hand-eye coordination and footwork to catch, gather and finish above the rim in one motion. In the half-court setting, Simmons has shown some back to the basket ability combined with good touch around the rim. The next step in his game is to continue to extend his shooting range - which he can hit on face-ups out to 15 feet - to the three-point line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630628' first='Dillan' last='Shaw'], Heritage Christian, No. 3 PF, No. 15 overall</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shaw, a teammate of the above-mentioned Simmons, is a really nice complement to the power game that Simmons brings to the table. The 6-foot-7 forward is a smooth-shooting stretch four man who can knock down catch and shoot three's with range and has a consistent pull-up jump shot from 13 to 17 feet. Shaw has some tools to be considered in that small forward/wing category but I want to see some improvement with his ball skills and creativity off the dribble when playmaking for himself and others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630631' first='Douglas' last='Langford'], St. Pius X-St. Matthias, No. 4 PF, No. 19 overall</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Simmons, Langford is another traditional-type four man who does most of his damage inside the painted area. The 6-foot-8 sophomore is a power finisher around the rim who can score in transition off of rim-runs or in the half-court on drive and drop-offs in the dunker spot or on strong post moves to a right-hand hook shot. Langford is a high-rate defensive and offensive rebounder who has flashed some touch out to 15-feet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630636' first='Mouhamed' last='Kandji'], St. Monica, No. 5 PF, No. 20 overall</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kandji is one of the most active and high motor forwards in the class and it manifests in him being a double-double machine. At 6-feet-7, Kandji's best attribute is his willingness to chase down rebounds on both sides of the glass. He has great instincts about knowing where the ball is coming off the rim and can anticipate and track the ball down before the opponent can react. Offensively Kandji is an active rim-runner and above the rim finisher who can score through contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Next In Line</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630650' first='Brandon' last='Benjamin'], Mater Dei, No. 6 PF, No. 22 overall</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benjamin is coming off Orange County Player of the Year honors and was one of the biggest stock risers in the latest rankings update. He lands as the No. 6 overall power forward in SoCal's 2025 class because he is one of the more skilled and unique players we have in the region. Benjamin, at 6-feet-5, is a traditional low block guy with elite footwork, touch with both hands around the basket and a variety of shot fakes and hesitations to get defenders out of position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630644' first='Blake' last='Davidson'], Mater Dei, No. 7 PF, No. 25 overall</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davidson is just a spot below his future Mater Dei teammate and the duo will make the Monarchs one of the more skilled front-courts in the state. While Benjamin dominates inside, the 6-foot-8 Davidson is more of the "stretch four" type of player with his ability to knock down catch-and-shoot mid-range and three-point shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->