2027 Watchlist: Battle for No. 1
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In this article:
The soon to be sophomore class in Southern California is shaping up to be a strong group of prospects at each position. We developed a list of 77 freshmen – soon to be sophomores – who should be on the…
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Continue ReadingThe soon to be sophomore class in Southern California is shaping up to be a strong group of prospects at each position. We developed a list of 77 freshmen – soon to be sophomores – who should be on the radar of college coaches as they ascend through the high school ranks. In this piece we break down the players are in competition for the top overall spot when we update from a watchlist to a true ranking once the spring and summer club season is complete.
Chris Sanders Chris Sanders 6'3" | SF Redondo Union | 2027 CA-S | Redondo Union
Sanders had a productive freshman year for the Sea Hawks that saw him garner key minutes off the bench for a program that made a deep run in the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. The 6-foot-3 wing is as sturdily built of a prospect that you will find at this stage in his development and his ability to play physically as a transition finisher, defender and rebounder earned him the trust of his coaching staff. We want to see Sanders continue to develop his perimeter skill if he is going to land the No. 1 overall ranking.
Gene Roebuck Gene Roebuck 6'5" | SF La Mirada | 2027 CA-S | La Mirada
If we had to pick a leader in the clubhouse, Roebuck would be the choice. The 6-foot-5 wing had one of the more memorable freshman campaigns that we can remember and earned multiple end of season awards, including Max Preps’ National Freshman of the Year. Roebuck is a versatile scorer who is also a high level playmaker for teammates. He brings a bit of an old-school feel to the floor in his ability to create space off the dribble and score inside and out. Roebuck led the Matadores in scoring at 24.1 points per game.
Jeremiah Profit Jeremiah Profit 6'4" | SF Temecula Valley | 2027 CA-S | Temecula Valley
Profit put Temecula Valley back on the map as his 19.5 points and six rebound averages led the Golden Bears to a CIF Southern Section Division 4A title. The 6-foot-4 wing is a pure scorer who can knock down perimeter jumpers with consistency off the bounce or off the catch. His efforts earned him a place on Max Preps’ Freshman All-American Second Team.
Josiah Nance Josiah Nance 6'3" | PG Heritage Christian | 2027 CA-S | Heritage Christian
Nance was one of the better true point guards among underclassmen that we had in Southern California this season. The 6-foot-3 lefty is a crafty and shifty ball handler whose feel for the game is well-beyond his years. Nance has the ability to create space from defenders and get into the lane where his decision-making creates open shots for teammates. Nance helped the Warriors to a 26-10 overall record and an Olympic League title.
Mahamadou Diop Mahamadou Diop 6'10" | C San Gabriel Academy | 2027 CA-S | San Gabriel Academy
Very few prospects have the combination of physical tools, size and athleticism that Diop has. The 6-foot-10 center is an elite rim protector defensively with his timing on contesting shots and his high energy and mobility in help situations and on the defensive glass. Diop is still a fairly raw offensive prospect but his motor, rim-running, lob-catching and willingness to get on the offensive glass for put-backs is a very good place for him to start his development on that end of the floor.
Tavid Johnson Tavid Johnson 6'2" | CG Francis Parker | 2027 CA-S | Francis Parker
Johnson was the undisputed top freshman in the San Diego area this past season as he finished with impressive averages of 24 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-2 combo guard is one of those guys who plays at his own pace and makes everything look easier than it actually is. Johnson is a fluid athlete with great footwork and crafty finishing ability around the basket who can also step out on the perimeter and knock down mid-range or three-point shots with consistency.