2025 Rankings: Top 10 Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 class in North Carolina has a ton of talent across the state to keep an eye on this upcoming high school season! Take a look at the Top 10 forwards in the current rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get&nbsp;30% OFF payment&nbsp;on your first billing cycle with offer code:&nbsp;<strong>JAYANDERSON30</strong>, sign up&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>TODAY</strong></a>!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">10. [player_tooltip player_id='1892438' first='Jackson' last='Fannon'] - 6'7 - East Lincoln High School</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fannon is a recent new face in the 2025 ranks that continues to climb up the radar at the forward spot. He's a wiry prospect at 6-foot-6 who's shown he can operate inside and out already for East Lincoln High. He's set for a strong junior campaign after posting 15.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG and 1.1 APG on 44 percent from 3-point range. He's a sharpshooting stretch-forward who knocked down 75 3-pointers as a sophomore. Look for his stock to grow in 2023-24.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">9. [player_tooltip player_id='1225619' first='Brennen' last='Oldham'] - 6'6 - Chatham Charter High School</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oldham returns in the Chatham Charter High rotation looking to do more damage after his productive 2022-23 season. He finished with 12.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.6 SPG, 2.2 APG and 1.2 BPG as a presence in the frontcourt as a sophomore. He's starting to turn a corner with his ability to attack the rim and protect the paint with his presence. DI and DII programs in the region should get eyes on him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">8. [player_tooltip player_id='1225670' first='Wesley' last='White'] - 6'7 - Hickory Ridge High School</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White is a new face at Hickory Ridge High to keep an eye on this season. He was a productive face in the West Cabarrus High lineup this past season and carried over his development into the grassroots scene with [program_tooltip program_id='2078535' first='Team' last='Charlotte']. He's a solid presence in the painted area with his ability to finish in traffic and he's capable of handling the ball and operating on the perimeter on both ends. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">7. [player_tooltip player_id='1892437' first='Elijah' last='Melton'] - 6'6 - Pinecrest High School</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Melton is a forward prospect who's slowly climbing up the radar in the 2025 class with what he can do. He's an athletic forward who can finish around the rim, run rim-to-rim and make athletic plays at the rim on both ends of the floor. He pu up 11.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG and 1.3 SPG as a sophomore this past season. As he develops his all-around game, look for college programs in the region to start recruiting him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">6. [player_tooltip player_id='1889843' first='Zacch' last='Wiggins'] - 6'5 - Grimsley High School</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wiggins continues to remain a staple in the 2025 class rankings at the forward spot. He led the squad this past season with 15.8 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.0 APG and 1.3 SPG on 57 percent shooting from the floor this past season. He's just scratching the surface of what he can do athletically. After developing on the EYBL stage this past grassroots season, look for him to blossom in a leading role with the Whirlies in 2023-24.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5. [player_tooltip player_id='1336429' first='John' last='Lash'] - 6'5 - Charlotte Christian School</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lash is a double-double machine in the Charlotte Christian School frontcourt to get eyes on. He's got a high IQ in the painted area for taking efficient shots as he produced 24.5 PPG, 14.0 RPG and 1.7 APG on 55 percent shooting from the field as a sophomore. He'll be a name for DI and DII programs to get eyes on in the region this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">4. [player_tooltip player_id='1365466' first='Andrew' last='Grimes'] - 6'8 - Clayton High School</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grimes is a big man prospect set to lead Clayton High School in a big way in 2023-24. He's a mobile option who put up 16.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.0 BPG and 1.6 APG on 56 percent shooting from the field in 2022-23. He's been a staple already for college programs to watch on the 3SSB stage. He's strong for his size and coming off a conference Defensive Player of the Year award as he heads into his junior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. [player_tooltip player_id='1226599' first='Tayeshaun' last='Smith'] - 6'7 - 1 of 1 Academy</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is one of a few names from the 1 of 1 Academy rotation to keep an eye on in the North Carolina rankings. He's a versatile presence at 6-foot-7 that's improved tremendously as a paint presence and stretch-forward option on both ends of the floor. He's set to make quite the formidable frontcourt option alongside [player_tooltip player_id='1410266' first='Gevonte' last='Ware'] as HM programs start recruiting him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. [player_tooltip player_id='1409597' first='Trent' last='Steinour'] - 6'9 - Lake Norman High School</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Steinour is a name in North Carolina's 2025 class that continues to grow at the forward spot. His recruitment has blossomed over the past few months with offers from Clemson, Penn State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech and other HM programs. He's a sizeable forward prospect at 6-foot-9 who's capable of operating at either forward spot with his ability to rebound, shoot the ball and protect the rim. He's quite the pick-and-roll threat already with his aggression around the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1. [player_tooltip player_id='1164550' first='Mikey' last='Wilkins'] - 6'8 - Christ School</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilkins joins the Christ School rotation after two productive seasons at R-S Central High. He's a strong two-way presence at the forward spot who averaged 28.0 PPG, 11.5 RPG and 2.2 BPG in 2022-23. He looks to boost the Greenies frontcourt as an added presence on the interior as they look to defend their state crown in 2023-24. Seton Hall, Georgetown, Virginia Tech, Illinois and Iowa are some of the HM programs to offer him already.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>The&nbsp;<a href="https://events.prephoops.com/e/850/register/north-carolina-top-250-expo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Freshman Showcase</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://events.prephoops.com/e/850/register/north-carolina-top-250-expo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top250 Expo</a>&nbsp;are both right around the corner in the month of September! Use code: ANDERSONHOOPS2023 for a discount!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->