The Freshman You Need to Know from All 50 States
In this article:
Prep Hoops Scouts — a group of gym rats known, in part, for our ability to discover and identify talent early — are itching to check out the new crop of talent entering the high school ranks this season.
While it’s impossible to flawlessly project talent at this young of an age, there are no-brainer prospects in every graduating class. Below, we’re getting ahead of the game by stamping one Freshman You Need to Know from each state.
Ethan has a lot of potential, as he has already shown his versatility and ability to score in a variety of ways. He is at his best when getting downhill and putting pressure on the rim. Look for him to get some varsity minutes this year.
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- Contributed by Terry Drake
Alaska
Kade McCorison
Kade McCorison
Kade was on varsity as an 8th-grader. He has good length, moves well, and can finish at the rim.
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- Contributed by Jeremy Brooks
A dynamic point guard with incredible speed. He is a great passer and the ball is on a string for him. Up the court passes on a rope, slip passes and drive and kicks. His body control in the air is next level stuff with his stronger upper body and toughness to score through contact. He scores with mid-range jumpers, catch-and-shoot triples, and fast break layups.
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- Contributed by Gregg Rosenberg
Kendrick Carr
Kendrick Carr
Carr stood out this past May as an 8th grader playing at the 16U level. He’s already a gifted athlete, with the ability to attack off the dribble to score himself or create for teammates. His motor ran hot on defense as well, making him a complete guard. With the feel, skill and natural gifts Carr showed as only an 8th grader, he’s an exciting prospect to keep tabs on going forward.
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- Contributed by Sam Duren
Roebuck III is a big guard for his class and he is going to stand on that this winter at La Mirada High School. Roebuck has size, skill, a good head on his shoulders and he loves physicality. There aren’t many moments that I would take someone else over Roebuck in one-on-one situations right now, I can’t imagine what he could turn into over the next few seasons if he works on the correct things moving forward. He has the physical gifts and all the intangibles, now he just needs to put it all to work.
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- Contributed by Jeremy Brooks
Weatherspoon brings high-level decision-making and scoring upside on all three levels. He is already an incredibly skilled guard, excellent at maximizing his role on both ends.
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- Contributed by Clayton Conover
Highlights
Emmanuel Lawrence
Emmanuel Lawrence
A 6’8″ big with strength and athleticism. Defends well in the post, and can score down low on offense. Lawrence has a lot of potential.
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- Contributed by Justin Feinberg
Delaware
Marquis Newson
Marquis Newson
Often mislabeled a wing, Newson is a lead guard who plays the right way. He can create paint touches without a screen and finish above the rim when he gets there. He’s also a willing distributor, able to find teammates inside for drop-off passes. His help defense is just as effective with how he deflects passes and contests shots.
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- Contributed by Chad Graham
Dominick is young but has a very high IQ and feel for the game. He does a good job making sure the ball gets distributed around to his playmakers. He is mentally tough and isn’t afraid of the bright lights. He plays on and off the ball, and his production rarely dips.
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- Contributed by Terry Drake
Named Preseason All-State, Taj is a legitimate program-changer who has a serious chance to rewrite history books and cement himself as the best player in school history. The lefty double-double machine has an unstoppable motor in the paint. He elevates to dunk every chance he gets and can single-handedly get opponents in foul trouble. He averaged 14.3 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks per game over the fall.
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- Contributed by Kyle Sandy
It’s never easy being a freshman in one of the best programs in the state but Kaden has a shot as an all-around guard that does a little bit of everything.
Jaxson Davis
Jaxson Davis
Davis was a middle school star that is creating quite a bit of buzz heading into his freshman campaign. We saw him drop 40+ points in the spring while playing up on the 17U level in our first evaluation of him. He has an advanced IQ for the game and can score from all over the floor. Could be the next Jalen Brunson from the northern suburbs of Chicago!
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- Contributed by Scott Burgess
- Local story: 10 Freshmen to Watch
There aren’t many players, let alone freshmen, like Jaylan Mitchell. The 6’7″ skilled wing/forward dominated the EYBL Circuit while playing up a year with Brad Beal Elite 2026 last summer. Additionally, he is already considered a Top-10 prospect nationally in the Class of 2027. The Hoosier state will be getting to know this special prospect well over the next four years.
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- Contributed by Brandon Ramsey
Josiah Harrison
Josiah Harrison
A long and athletic wing with a feel for the game that belies his age, Harrington could be an impact freshman for a team that expects to contend in Iowa’s largest class this season. He can score from all three levels, is a talented passer, and provides versatility on the defensive end.
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- Contributed by Tony Roe
Nichols is a physically-developed freshman who plays with relentless energy. He’s never out of a play. He recovers to block shots, chase down plays at both ends and put back missed shots. Offensively, he leads the break, hits shots from deep and powers his way to buckets through contact.
Simpson is a long and athletic wing who projects to be a Top-100 type of talent eventually. Simpson already holds three Division I offers and hasn’t even played a high school basketball game yet. At 6’5″, he plays above the rim on offense. Once he gets his motor running on defense, he’s going to be highly desired by most of the top basketball programs in America.
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- Contributed by Steve Quattrocchi
- Local stories: Intriguing 2027s, Part 1 and Part 2
Jaden Davis
Jaden Davis
Davis is already built like a football tight end or power forward. He has a strong upper body with nimble feet around the basket which allows him to play bully ball in the paint or finish with touch around the rim. Jaden has a ton of potential.
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- Contributed by Preston Edwards
Luke Dziadosz
Luke Dziadosz
A combo guard that has a chance to burst onto the scene this winter, Dziadosz will look to make a name for himself at the AA level with South Portland (the defending state champions). He has great size on the perimeter and utilizes his speed and strength to get to the rim at will. With a solid frame and a good physical profile, Dziadosz should be a guard to watch in Maine over the next 4 years.
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- Contributed by Will Armishaw
Oladatun is a broad-shouldered and rangy guard who gets buckets with relative ease. He’s already flashed a series of productive outings and will be a must-see player this winter.
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- Contributed by Adam Ayalew
Otey is a guard with great size and a mature game already. He can both score and facilitate at a high level, plays at a nice controlled pace. Otey also rebounds and defends at a high level.
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- Contributed by Aasim Sullivan
Highlights
Clayton Heuker
Clayton Heuker
Heuker is a strong, well-developed player from a rural community. Accordingly he is just beginning to scrape the surface of his potential. He has tested himself in the fall and could really breakout during the upcoming scholastic and grassroots seasons.
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- Contributed by Jonathon Gilbert
Schlagel had an incredible summer with PJ Hoops. He was outstanding at the Freshmen Showcase; and when he got a chance as an 8th grader on varsity last year you could see the potential. Ty has stepped up with a strong performance every time eyes were on him, even at the Nickle Dickle 3-on-3 competition this fall.
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- Contributed by Ryan James
Mississippi
Jaden Leak
Jaden Leak
Leak is a backcourt player who has a good understanding of the game at a young age. His athleticism and ability to explode off the floor make him very dangerous when he is attacking off the bounce in the halfcourt and out in transition. He does a good job on the glass and is very disruptive on the defensive end of the floor. The next area of growth is his point guard IQ.
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- Contributed by Terry Drake
Montana
Ben Cunningham
Ben Cunningham
At 6’3″, 200 pounds he plays off the wing and knows how to bully a mismatch. Ben should see varsity time as a freshman at the AA level which rarely happens in Montana. He can score at all three levels and as his handle continues to develop, he should really begin to shine. Cunningham has a radiant future!
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- Contributed by Michael Herrick
Jordan Castor
Jordan Castor
Had a sensational club season and will likely start this winter. There is nothing on the court that Castor cannot do. A quality athlete who guards tough. With the ball in his hands, Castor can do whatever he wants: shoot, finish, drop dimes, and he has all the moves in the book.
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- Contributed by Michael Herrick
The top player in our 2027 rankings, Nikolov is a knock-down shooter with size. Expect him to find his way on the court this season for Gorman.
Owen Wilson
Owen Wilson
Crafty guard with good handles. Can get to the rim, and finish over taller defenders.
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- Contributed by Justin Feinberg
Canton is an explosive guard who uses his first step to blow by his defender and can elevate for dunks in the halfcourt. The 6’2″ guard is unafraid of drawing contact in the paint and finishes nicely around the rim. Canton rarely gets sped up in the halfcourt and knows how to get to his spot on the floor.
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- Contributed by Joe Esquivel-Murphy
Lunn is a freak athlete who plays far beyond his years. He has the ideal frame for a physical guard, and has a great ability to finish around the basket at will. Lunn’s body control and frame make him a threat on the offensive end no matter the defender, and he’s continuing to develop his game to be able to score at all three levels. He will join a Hawks team where he’ll fit in perfectly with the reigning champions.
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- Contributed by Sky Hatcher
Kamsi Awaka
Kamsi Awaka
Awaka is a talented forward, who can run, protect, and consistently score on the inside. He also has the ability to put the ball on the floor and create a bucket that way as well.
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- Contributed by Aasim Sullivan
- Local stories: NYC 2027 Prospects to Keep an Eye On
Bakko already has varsity experience under his belt and the young Viking will be a top PG (in Class A) this season as a frosh. Brooks currently has one of the best pull-up jumpers in the state regardless of class. He has the size and athleticism to play college ball right now and both of those will keep improving. Bakko is a savvy and heady baller, the game never looks too fast for him, and he has the potential to go down as a generational player in North Dakota.
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- Contributed by Michael Herrick
Cosby is from Cincinnati but already made the move to Overtime Elite to start his high school career. With a special perimeter skill-set for a prospect his height and age, he has five-star potential.
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- Contributed by Michael Roth
- Local stories: Guards and Wings and Forwards
Pogi enters high school with a ball-handling and shooting skill-set that some upperclassmen would be jealous of. He’s lethal in the mid-range and from beyond the arc, with a pure shooting strike that matches well with his ability to keep the ball on a string. As he continues to develop, the Mustang guard will have a chance to become one of the most electric scorers in Oklahoma.
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- Contributed by Sam Duren
Super athletic wing that can really get out in transition finish above the rim. Knocks down the open three and is improving with his skills off the dribble.
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- Contributed by Jed Tai
Highlights
One of the most talented and decorated ninth-grade backcourt prospects on the East Coast, Sutton can score at all three levels or play as distributing point guard. Sutton’s speed and change of direction skills are elite. He already holds several high-major Division I offers.
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- Contributed by Carey Smith
Otis Crosby
Otis Crosby
Crosby can stretch the floor and knock down shots from the outside. A versatile defender who can guard inside and out.
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- Contributed by Justin Feinberg
Leonard is so far ahead of the game at his age. He played up on the 16u level this past summer with Upward Stars SE 3SSB. He can handle rock and pass the ball with great vision. He is unreal on the boards rebounding everything in site and bringing it up the floor in transition. He would be my #1 player without doubt in the 2027 class in SC.
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- Contributed by Bret Swanson
Wassenaar is a superior athlete who showcases an incredible ability to attack and finish around the rim. He is almost impossible to project for a specific position right now because he can do it all and he does it at a high level. Wassenaar can literally guard anyone on the court and will make their life miserable. Do not be surprised if this young Charger bolts into the starting lineup at some point this season!
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- Contributed by Michael Herrick
Cobb is a young and explosive lead guard off the bounce. He does a good job at knifing his way through defenses while not over penetrating. His floater game is a strength and when he gets to the paint the percentages of something good happening is high. He has a good IQ for a young prospect.
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- Contributed by Terry Drake
Pascal Munezero
Pascal Munezero
Munezero shows out with his explosiveness. His finishing is so dynamic, and he creates for others as the defense is forced to help. On the defensive end, Pascal is a hawk and energy guy who locks in on ball-handlers, hustles for 50/50s, and plays with a clear will to win. Keep watch on Munezero.
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- Contributed by Cody Quattrocci
Amani Asare
Amani Asare
Asare is a lefty point guard prospect who has a chance to be a game-changer on both sides of the ball. He prides himself on playing lockdown defense, which could be where he makes an early impact.
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- Contributed by Adam Ayalew
Already a physically mature player, Reyna can handle the bumps and contact around the paint and be an immediate impact player. He’s calm in crowds, shows great touch whether shooting over defenders or leaning to one side, and has the patience to make the right plays and trust the process offensively. Reyna is also the type of player with a nose for making plays off the ball and just fits in the flow out on the court.
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- Contributed by Ryan Morgan
King is a dazzling prospect with a high-level skill-set. The lengthy lefty has a great pull-up jumper and his finishing skills around the rim are absolutely off the charts for a 2027 prospect. We would project him as a Division I prospect considering his current size and skill-set.
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- Contributed by Scott Strode
Highlights
Johnson is gamer. An individual that has size, knowledge of the game, and a whole lot of skill for the 2027 class. Johnson already stands at 6’4″ with a lot of speed. He is agile in his movements and very good with the ball in his hands. There isn’t an occasion when I have seen Johnson out of his element or pressured in any form. He is always calm, cool, and collected. There are a lot of players that I have seen with high ceilings in the 2027 class throughout the country this year and Johnson may have one of the highest. To be honest, the sky is the limit with this one.
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- Contributed by Jeremy Brooks
Highlights
Wyoming
Josiah Coleman
Josiah Coleman
As a 6’4” 9th-grader, Coleman is an outstanding athlete with potential through the roof! He already plays above-the-rim, makes plays getting downhill, and runs the floor very well. As of now, Coleman can play position 3 through 5 depending on competition and matchups. Long, athletic, versatile, talented and he is full of intrigue!
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- Contributed by Michael Herrick