The 2023-24 Breakout Underclassman from All 50 States

Keegan is a ’28 kid who has become known across the country as one of the best up-and-coming shooters, regardless of classification. He is a lethal marksman who does not need a lot of space to get his shot off and has parking lot range. There hasn’t been an 8th-grader who, in recent years, who has seen as many box-and-one defenses as Keegan did this season.

• Contributed by Terry Drake

Tivao stepped up big time for the Whalers en route to their 4 seed in the playoffs. He averaged 10.3 PPG and 6.4 RPG during the regular season, and ended the season on a 5 game double-digit scoring streak, putting up a season-high 31 points on 65% FG.

• Contributed by Sky Hatcher

One of the longest players in the class from the state. The lefty can face-up to the three plus ball fake and takes very few strides to get to the basket. He can also rip thru and score with his dominant left hand. He makes most of his money on defense with rebounds and altering or blocking many shots.

• Contributed by Gregg Rosenberg

A pure paint beast with raw talent, Brown uses length and size to advantage for big rebounds and gaining additional offensive possessions. He’s a great defender block to block — he roams the paint well and swats shots. Great back to the basket mobility and skill. Nice soft spot jump shot touch.

• Contributed by Victor Scott

Tajh Ariza is a high-end competitor. Ariza is a prospect out of the 2026 class, who stands at 6’7 with a mean skill set on the hardwood. He has the ability to dominate his opponents with his natural size or he can hit them with a nasty skill move, making it all seem so effortless. Defensively, he is just as good. He has the ability to guard almost any position on the floor with his size at the moment, he tends to stay down on pump-fakes, and is very good at playing help-side defense. Even with how talented Ariza is, he is only going to get better. He competed with Team USA the past few years for the Olympics and I’m sure that is going to continue moving forward.

• Contributed by Jeremy Brooks

Christian Williams has been about as productive as anyone could ask through his initial high school season. Averaging 15.4 points and 2.3 assists for the number 3 team in 6A, Williams was ready for this challenge out of the gates.

• Contributed by Clayton Conover

Toure has put up big scoring numbers this season, including a school single-game record of 49 points earlier this month. An aggressive scorer, Toure is a capable three-point threat, but excels as a slasher where his athleticism and strength allows him to finish through contact at the rim. He has an explosive first step, is quick off the floor as a rebounder, and really excels in transition with the ball in his hands. He’s a big time prospect that is on a high-major track at this point in his career.

• Contributed by Will Armishaw

The new-age lead guard showed a ton of chops in his first season as a starter. Evans III explodes in and out of his crossovers, creating off-the-bounce to score for himself, drop the ball off to his big, or drive-and-kick to a shooter. Confident playing off-the-catch, he can knock down spot-up threes as well. His versatility and playmaking led the Blue Jays to the state quarterfinals.

• Contributed by Chad Graham

Newson had a tremendous sophomore campaign and really made a name for himself across the entire state in 2024. He is a talented two-way player who plays the game with swagger and just loves being on the court. He recorded his 1,000th career point in just his second season, set a school-record scoring 69 points in a game, and averaged 25 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, and 2.8 spg on the year.

• Contributed by Matt LaSalle

Floyd broke onto the scene this year with Douglass and has quickly emerged as one of the best bigs in Georgia’s 2026 class. Floyd is a big, strong athlete that wants to dunk everything around the paint. He’s also a gifted rim-protector and physical defender. Penn State offered at the end of February.

• Contributed by Cam Rickers

Layden has pace and he can shift gears and that midrange game is solid. He is one of the better 2026s out on the islands. He elevates on his jumper and has elite mechanics.

• Contributed by Hector Marquez

Charley might be the next sleeper prospect coming out of the small school classifications in Idaho. He put up some huge numbers this year as he can score from all over the floor. Look for him to make a big impact next year.

• Contributed by Hector Marquez

Grant was a physical force every time we saw him. He plays mostly on the interior at this stage using his long arms and strong frame to overpower opponents. Freak show athlete who plays above the rim and impacts on the defensive end.

• Contributed by Scott Burgess

Pokorney had a strong sophomore season playing alongside two seniors who are Indiana All-Star candidates, but will really look to break out over the summer. He is a skilled offensive player with an intriguing combination of length, athleticism, and skill. His ability to both create his own shot and space the floor as a catch-and-shoot threat should allow him to blossom as a prospect over the next several months.

• Contributed by Brandon Ramsey

Coon is an eye-popping athlete with great size and an explosive second jump that he uses to control the glass, protect the paint, and finish above the rim with authority. With his combination of size and athleticism, he’s able to get to the rim at will, can create off the dribble for his teammates, and has a good-looking stroke out to the arc. He averaged 19.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks a game as a sophomore for the Tornadoes, will play his summer ball with D1 Minnesota, and is starting to garner some Power 5 interest.

• Contributed by Tony Roe

It’s said you can’t teach someone to be 7-foot. But Taylor is demonstrating that a 7-footer can be taught the game. His improvement can be perceived daily. On a loaded team that won the 6A state title, Taylor has gradually expanded role from the beginning of his freshman season. He is a shot-blocking force who is becoming a dominant rebounder. He has nice hands and fluid movements, and he is becoming a “go-to” post at the offensive end.

• Contributed by Todd Fertig

Wright has averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds per game for the youngest team in the state. He battles with top bigs in Louisville every night out. He’s also shown he can step out and knock down 3s as he’s shooting 46% from three at 6’7 (and still growing).

• Contributed by Steve Quattrocchi

Sadler had one of the most well-rounded seasons of any underclassman this year in Louisiana. He averaged 9.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 3.0 SPG, and 1.5 BPG, and improved every one of his averages by great margins from last season. He’s aggressive on both sides of the ball and plays a large role in the Rams’ success.

• Contributed by Sky Hatcher

Booth, the top prospect in Maine in the class of 2026, was known throughout the state as a freshman but has garnered regional attention for his play this winter. The 6’9″ sophomore is a nightly double-double threat that has shown soft touch and good footwork in the post. He’s become a good cutter off the ball and runs the floor really well in transition. Defensively, he’s among the top rim protectors in the state and has proven to be a much improved rebounder, due to added strength and athleticism. He’ll be one to track this spring and summer on the AAU circuit.

• Contributed by Will Armishaw

Wilson’s ability to put the ball in the basket from all 3 levels earned him an early starting position at a new school (Mt. Carmel) with a new coach. The athletic combo guard has improved his ball-handling ability to take advantage of his twitch and burst to detonate above the rim. With the skill development leading to Wilson hitting shots off the bounce inside and outside the arc — this is a name that college coaches need to get involved with early.

• Contributed by Aaron Proia

Adamson has burst onto the scene as a freshman and is one of the focal points for a Catholic Memorial squad that is among the MIAA’s best. A physically advanced guard, he’s comfortable playing on or off the ball and has tremendous feel for the pace of the game. Adamson scores at all three levels, makes good decisions with the ball, and seems to process the game quicker than most underclassmen. Defensively, he’s capable of guarding multiple positions due to his combination of athleticism, size, and strength. As a prospect, he has a high ceiling and will be one we continue to track over the coming years.

• Contributed by Will Armishaw

Coming off the bench for a senior-laden, uber-talented team, Thompson has carved out a nice role as an instant offense option. He shoots the ball well and has an athletic and projectable frame already. A prospect to watch and get an expanded role in the next two years.

• Contributed by Jonathon Gilbert

Max has one of the quickest releases, best range on his jumper (with strong percentages), and craftiest ability to create space that you will see. He has grown several inches and is now becoming one of Minnesota’s top guard prospects because of his skill level.

• Contributed by Ryan James

Petty is a fast guard who’s good at getting to the basket and has a reliable pull-up game. He’s also a solid defender, great with handling the ball, and surprisingly good at grabbing rebounds for someone playing his position.

• Contributed by Frederick Stewart

The 6’4″ 2026 guard broke out with a big season in helping lead the Indians to a 22-6 record and a district championship. He more than doubled his scoring output from last season as he averaged 15 points and five rebounds a game. He shot 36 percent from 3-point range in making 72 triples.

• Contributed by Earl Austin

Dietz is one of the more consistent defensive big men in Montana. He averaged 6.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.0 SPG, and 2.1 BPG (2nd in state). If he can improve his efficiency scoring around the rim, Dietz might be one to watch moving forward at potentially the college level.

• Contributed by Sky Hatcher

Bamach made big leaps from last season. He improved his scoring average from 7.0 to 18.8, his rebounding from 5.1 to 8.7, and his blocks from 1.3 to 2.5. He is able to use his long wingspan and lanky frame to make an impact on both sides of the ball, and if he keeps improving, he could be a steal for any colleges to take a chance on his raw talent.

• Contributed by Sky Hatcher

The nephew of Kobe Bryant, he is a two sport star that is also considered one of the best wide receivers in the state. Freak athlete with elite run and jump ability, can score in 1-on-1 situations, and has a knack for making the big shot. He helped lead his team to a large class state championship.

• Contributed by Bruce Williams

Langley has burst onto the scene this winter as one of the region’s top shooting underclassmen. A consistent three-point three with a quick release and deep range on his jumper, Langley has had multiple games with 4+ made 3’s this season. Right now, he fits the 3-and-D prototype as a long wing that can really lock down on the perimeter. He has good athletic pop, great positional size, and can rebound above the rim in traffic. He’ll be an interesting follow over the next year and is a prospect that should be on the radar of scholarship schools in the region.

• Contributed by Will Armishaw

Gordon had a monster debut season for Plainfield as he helped lead the Cardinals to the sectional title game. He has a tight handle and a lightning quick first step, which he uses to blow by his defender and can finish in a variety of ways around the basket. Gordon has a smooth release on his jumper and plays with good anticipation on the defensive end.

• Contributed by Joe Esquivel-Murphy

Del Norte needed someone to step up this season and take the leadership role, and Satchivi has answered the call. He leads the Knights in almost every major statistical category and has been one of the lone bright spots of their successes this season. He’ll only mature as time goes on, and improve his offensive skillset as he continues to get the opportunity to be a first option.

• Contributed by Sky Hatcher

Diaz is a lightning quick lefty that can score at all three levels. He already has the tendency to shine in clutch time, and elevates his play in big moments. Crazy hooper with big time potential.

• Contributed by Aasim Sullivan

Denis was a pivotal piece in the Davidson Day rotation as they won this year’s NCISAA 2A state title. He finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the championship. He’s an electric guard prospect who’s shown he can operate as both a scorer and distributor with the ball in his hands. He’s climbing up the radar as a high-major prospect in the state of North Carolina.

• Contributed by Jay Anderson

The smooth-shooting sophomore has emerged as one of the top shooters in North Dakota. Brylee is long, skilled, and he is on fire! Bears Tail averaged 2.2 threes per game and is shooting a blistering 45 percent from deep! Those are impressive numbers when going against stiff competition in AA basketball.

• Contributed by Michael Herrick

Leading his team to an unbeaten conference record for the first time in 19 years, Elwer hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to cap off a 40 point performance against rival Coldwater. Elwer is one of the top shooters in Ohio and had three 40 point games in a six game stretch as a sophomore. You can catch Elwer on the 3SSB circuit with Midwest Basketball Club, where he’ll make a name for himself outside of Ohio.

• Contributed by Michael Roth

The Westmoore Jaguar sophomore has transformed from a promising athletic forward prospect, to one of the best perimeter prospects in a loaded Oklahoma class of 2026. At the start of the year, Antwi-Donkor was making waves with explosive dunks, high motor plays and shining on the defensive end. Now, with an improved handle and strong shooting from the perimeter he’s turning into a complete offensive weapon. He still has major untapped upside, as his game is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds.

• Contributed by Sam Duren

After swinging JV as a freshman, Lake has not only played varsity full-time this season but earned the starting point guard spot on opening day. He’s proved himself as a very skilled shooter and scorer this season as a sophomore, and his potential as a college prospect is immense as his body continues to grow and mature physically.

• Contributed by Jed Tai

After a decent freshman campaign, 2023-24 has served as Brown’s breakout season. This season Brown was a member of the starting five at E&S and averaged 15.4 points, 2 assists as well as 2.5 steals per game. During his sophomore year Brown shot 39% from behind the arc. He posted multiple 30-point games this year. Included in that list of scoring outbursts was a 32-point (6 threes) game against Simon Gratz. Brown is lightening quick and ridiculously elusive. So, he thrives in the open court. In the half-court, Brown can produce points at all three levels.

• Contributed by Carey Smith

Ibidapo is one of the state’s top emerging big men. He shines on the defensive end where his physical gifts make him a game changer. A long, lean, and super athletic switchable defender, Ibidapo is already a terrific rebounder and rim protector. Offensively, while still raw, he’s great as a rim runner in transition and as a slashing, rim finisher in the half court. He’ll be fun to follow over the next two years as he continues to turn potential into production.

• Contributed by Will Armishaw

Skinner surely isn’t the biggest guy on the floor. He just brings it every time with production and grit. Harrison plays the game with a good deal of confidence and swagger. He will jump on the deck, take a charge, make a shot or simply that extra pass to a teammate.

• Contributed by Bret Swanson

He has started all year at the PG spot and has exceeded expectations. Mebius is lightning quick and he plays fearless. I like that he never backs down from bigger/older players and he is always in “attack mode”. Connor has stood out with his 3-point shooting off the dribble & catch, he is shooting a crazy high percentage, and all of this is happening in his 9th grade season!

• Contributed by Michael Herrick

Simmons has been hyper-efficient for the Blue Devils, averaging 21.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 2.4 APG on 48/41/89 splits. He’s improved almost every one of his averages from last year and is top 15 in Tennessee in field goals made on the year. Simmons also led Unicoi in points and assists, and was the main contributor behind their 23-11 record.

• Contributed by Sky Hatcher

Cameron Lomax is a top player in his 2026 class out of the state of Texas for a reason. He is a pivotal game-changer in every definition of the phrase. He leads from the front by example, his teams offense usually runs through him, and he can go get a bucket in any way he wants a majority of the time. He plays with an aggressive edge to his game that all coaches love to watch and he never backs down. He is willing to do whatever it takes for his team to win, even if that means that he isn’t scoring the rock at such a high rate. Don’t get it twisted, his offensive ability is second-to-none for his position and location but he does so many other things that if he is having an off shooting night, it’s okay. He is still going to produce, no matter what. That was on full display this winter and I’m sure it will continue moving into the future.

• Contributed by Jeremy Brooks

Openshaw was a prospect that we were keeping our eyes on because he showed some promise during the spring and summer, but what he did during the season was a testament to him putting in work and paying attention to detail. He was impactful at the varsity level on both ends of the floor. He was dunking the ball in traffic, he was blocking shots and he was able to display that soft touch and range with his shooting.

• Contributed by Hector Marquez

The freshman southpaw plays with no fear whatsoever, confident as the lead guard regardless of his matchup. He’s a natural playmaker, able to knife into the second layer for crafty finishes, create space off the bounce for his jumper, or read the defense and feed teammates. He’s a relentless defender too who’ll pick a full 84 feet and get into guys. With his two-way game, well developed skillset and endless energy, Judkins has already cemented himself as a top tier guard in VT.

• Contributed by Cody Quattrocci

Mason Ridgeway took a huge jump in year two for Riverside. He’s a smooth scorer with a great handle. At 6’5 he’s good around the rim and has a terrific jumpshot.

• Contributed by Neam Baattai

Davis made a grand entrance in his freshman season, leading his Bremerton Knights all the way to the semifinal round of the 2A state tournament. He’s got an incredible natural state on the court, reads both sides of the floor like a player beyond his years, and ended up being one of the most impactful players in the 2A this season. He can shoot the lights out and got on a real heater toward the end of the year, but he’s also their point guard for a reason and has the IQ to stay one step ahead out there.

• Contributed by Ryan Morgan

Carson O’Dell is a sharp shooting sophomore competing in one of WV’s top big school divisions. O’Dell is deadly from deep but is more than capable of putting it on the floor and creating for others with great vision and skill.

• Contributed by Scott Strode

Karvala improved his scoring average from 9.6 points to 24.1 ppg as a sophomore. An explosive slasher with a budding perimeter skillset, Karvala led Oregon to a 14-10 record in what was a bit of a rebuild year after the Panthers lost their top two scorers and, three of their top four overall, from the year prior.

• Contributed by Evan Flood

Josiah had a great year of development — he was a starter on JV, and saw action in 20 varsity games. His varsity minutes were limited due to a senior-heavy team, but he was able to grow his game through tough competition in practice every day. Coleman had multiple JV games with double-figure scoring and rebounding efforts, while only playing 2 or three quarters per game. His offseason will consist of skill development, Josiah is a bouncy above-the-rim baller with exciting potential.

• Contributed by Michael Herrick