2025 Rankings: SF/Wing Positional Breakdown

<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 small forward/wing spot in our positional breakdown.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Top Five</h3>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630617' first='Brayden' last='Burries'], Roosevelt, No. 1 SF, No. 1 overall</h4>   <p>Burries leapfrogged Yessoufou into the top overall spot based simply on how his overall game projects to the next level. The 6-foot-5 sophomore has an elite scoring package that is college-ready and a feel for the game that would likely allow him to play meaningful minutes on many Division 1 rosters across the country. Burries is big, strong, athletic and has an smoothness and ease in which he operates that makes the game look easy. Burries has three-level scoring ability with a variety of scoring tools from pull-up and catch and shoot jumpers, mid-post fadeaways and moves to the rim, and is a high-level scorer in isolation situations.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630616' first='Tounde' last='Yessoufou'], St. Joseph, No. 2 SF, No. 2 overall</h4>   <p>Yessoufou is likely the most physically and athletically gifted prospect in the class and his game has made strides to keep up with those traits. The 6-foot-6 wing is known for his elite pop of athleticism off the floor, rim-rattling dunks, freakish rebounds and blocked shots, but he elevated the consistency of his perimeter jump shot which opened up a ton of space for him and his teammates. Yessoufou is a highly-productive player - a walking double-double - who led his team to an appearance in the CIF State Open Division championship game.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630618' first='Nik' last='Khamenia'], Harvard-Westlake, No. 3 SF overall</h4>   <p>Khamenia is starting to gain national recognition and deservingly so. The 6-foot-8 wing is one of the more skilled and high IQ players in his class and that, combined with his all-around feel for the game, makes him an intriguing long-term prospect. Khamenia's best attribute might be his passing ability as he can initiate offense as a point forward, get into the lane for drive-and-kick's to teammates, and is a lethal option out of the mid-post. From a scoring standpoint, Khamenia is efficient. He can knock down catch-and-shoot three's, hit pull-up mid-range jumpers, and take advantage of smaller defenders with his back to the basket. </p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1417368' first='EJ' last='Vernon'], Crossroads, No. 4 SF, No. 12 overall</h4>   <p>Vernon's value is in his versatility. The 6-foot-5 sophomore is a do-it-all type of wing whose impact is felt as much defensively as it is offensively. Vernon is a multi-positional defender who has the size and strength to compete with big men inside but can also slide his feet laterally and use his length to contain guards on the perimeter. Offensively he's best as a slasher and finisher around the rim who can also take defenders off the dribble and score in the lane. What separates Vernon from some other talented wings below him is his ability to rebound in and out of his area. </p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630649' first='Trent' last='MacLean'], Thousand Oaks, No. 5 SF, No. 14 overall</h4>   <p>MacLean is one of the better pure shooters on this list and that, to go along with his size and 6-feet-8 and pushing 6-feet-9, is what earned him a top five spot in this position class. The sophomore has deep and consistent range from multiple spots and ranges from behind-the-arc. His size and high release point make him a guy who is difficult to close out to. We're going to keep a close eye on MacLean over the summer to see how the rest of his game comes along.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Next In Line</h3>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1896209' first='Adam' last='Grissom'], Taft, No. 6 SF, No. 17 overall</h4>   <p>Grissom was the top newcomer in this ranking update and he has an uncanny game for his size. At 6-feet-6 the sophomore is an elite passer with a great feel for the game. He was utilized at Taft in a point-forward and small-ball four/five role that created mismatches all over the court.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630626' first='Bryce' last='Cofield'], Sierra Canyon, No. 7 SF, No. 21 overall</h4>   <p>Cofield is an elite athlete with a frame to match. At 6-feet-4 with a quick-twitch pop of athleticism in his legs, the sophomore has dynamic finishing abilities on the break and a chance to be a high-level on-ball and team defensive player. Cofield played a smaller role at Sierra Canyon this past season but has a chance to carve out a bigger role during his junior campaign. </p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1630640' first='Peyton' last='White'], Crespi, No. 8 SF, No. 26 overall</h4>   <p>White might be the most unique player on this list because while he might not pass the initial "eye-test" for some, the more you watch him, the better he gets. At 6-feet-5 with broad shoulders and a strong frame, White has inside-out scoring ability and he does it in a throwback style. White can post-up on the block and at the mid-post level where he uses his strength to back-down defenders and score with touch with either hand around the basket. He can also face-up and drive by defenders and finish through contact in the lane or hit the mid-range jump shot.</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 small forward/wing spot in our positional breakdown.