Updated 2027 Rankings: Forwards (13-6)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The highly anticipated new edition of the class of 2027 rankings have finally been released, with 75 players including over 20 new players to the list! As I've warned before, ranking classes before their junior season is very tricky, so consider this more of a continued starting point and not a final draft, as there are plenty of players who will emerge and improve and things will change a lot over the next few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we take a look at part one of the forwards rankings, looking at some of the top power forwards and centers in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>13) [player_tooltip player_id='2085879' first='Bryce' last='Giles'] | 6'3" PF | Nelson County (#63 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2085899,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/eZy-Watermark_16-07-2023_02-42-27-3390AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/eZy-Watermark_16-07-2023_02-42-27-3390AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2085899" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Giles wasted no time showing he's going to be a force in the 540 for the next few years, as he had a great freshman season and will be their go-to guy this season as a sophomore. At 6'3” he's a load in the paint who can finish through contact and clear out space, he is versatile with the ability to face up and make shots in the midrange and he plays with a good motor on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>12) [player_tooltip player_id='2046175' first='Alexander' last='Sidbury'] | 6'5” PF | Fairfax Christian (#62 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2548685,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagehKDesI.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImagehKDesI.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2548685" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sidbury is a player to keep an eye on in the next few years, as he has some very good tools now and will only continue to grow and develop over the next few years. He's a high motor forward who runs the floor and hits the glass hard on both ends, he has good hands and feet in the paint, good touch around the rim and good mobility to switch defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>11) [player_tooltip player_id='2470584' first='Maddox' last='Patrick'] | 6'6” PF | Trinity Episcopal (#50 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Patrick may be a little low due to negligence on my part and the fact that he's dealt with some injuries this summer and preseason, but as a freshman he showed a lot of upside and his older brother Mason got a lot better over the course of his high school career too. At 6'6” he already has a great frame that should continue to fill out, he has great touch from multiple levels, is a budding inside-out presence and causes mismatch problems with his versatility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10) [player_tooltip player_id='2085878' first='Makhi' last='Martin'] | 6'6” PF | William Fleming (#39 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2085900,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/eZy-Watermark_16-07-2023_02-42-45-2900AM.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/eZy-Watermark_16-07-2023_02-42-45-2900AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2085900" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martin is an impressive young big man who already does a lot of things you want in a big man, and the fact that he already has good size and is likely still growing is very intriguing moving forward. Martin is a fluid athlete who is mobile running the floor in transition and moving his feet defensively, he gets after it on the glass and shows the willingness to do the dirty work and he has good footwork and soft touch around the rim too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9) [player_tooltip player_id='2548293' first='Conner' last='Wilcox'] | 6'6” PF | Atlee (#38 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2548682,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageeQHwWj.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageeQHwWj.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2548682" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilcox was named an All District player as just a freshman, and throughout the summer and preseason we were able to see him continue to develop and get more confident in his all-around game. The 6'6” forward is adding to his game daily as he has improved his shooting and ball handling on the perimeter, he is a good athlete who can guard multiple positions, he has good post moves and he hits the glass hard on both ends too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8) Jamai Drayton | 6'11” C | Fairfax Christian (#28 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Drayton is perhaps the biggest enigma in the entire class, as he came over this summer and enrolled at Fairfax Christian, and while he's still raw and has a ways to go you simply don't see many players with his size and athleticism at his age. Standing almost 7'0” he has long arms and moves well to get up and down the floor, he shows great touch with range out past the three-point line and as he grows into his body he should improve his timing and frame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7) [player_tooltip player_id='2548314' first='Nathan' last='Lessley'] | 6'6” PF | Cox (#23 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2548683,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageMQOwA0.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageMQOwA0.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2548683" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lessley took a big jump in these rankings after seeing him more throughout the summer, as he's set to have a big sophomore season for Cox as he'll likely be their go-to guy this season. At 6'6” he's one of the more intriguing young prospects in the 757 as he can handle it in isolation and stretch the floor from deep, he is a good athlete with length to challenge shots, he finishes well around the rim and it seems like he just keeps getting better every time we see him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6) [player_tooltip player_id='2470563' first='Landon' last='Lee'] | 6'8” PF | Virginia (#20 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Southwest corner of VA has been known for producing big men prospects in the past few years, but I can't remember one being quite the way that Lee is with his versatility at such a young age. At 6'8” he's already an inside-out threat who can stretch the floor consistently, he's a good athlete who can guard multiple positions and protect the rim, he's a good passer for his position and he still has a lot of room to get better moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->