Updated 2027 Rankings: Forwards (5-1)

<!-- 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 two of the forwards rankings, looking at some of the top power forwards and centers in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5) [player_tooltip player_id='2624511' first='Germain' last='Green'] | 6'7” PF | Norcom (#19 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Green is a new name that we're becoming more and more familiar with going into the season, as he's a super high upside forward who is part of a very good front court at Norcom. While he's 6'7” now he's likely still growing with his length and frame, and he has a lot of tools that are intriguing moving forward. He's a fluid athlete who runs the floor well, he's an explosive leaper who can finish above the rim and protect it defensively, and he has a good base skillset with budding ball skills on the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4) [player_tooltip player_id='2370724' first='Keaton' last='Gregory'] | 6'9” C | Trinity Episcopal (#14 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2502942,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/tempImagecsCKRM.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/tempImagecsCKRM.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2502942" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gregory is a player we saw early in his freshman season and was very intrigued with his long term upside, and he's developing faster than we anticipated as he took a big leap this summer. While he needs to fill out moving forward, he has long arms and moves well for his size, and his game keeps evolving every time we see him play. He's very vocal as a back line defender who can talk to the whole defense, he has a great middle game and is showing improved range from deep, he's a good finisher with both hands and is a good passer for his position too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3) [player_tooltip player_id='2624494' first='Ben' last='Kalonji'] | 6'8” PF | Massanutten (#12 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kalonji is the enigma of this class, as he just came over to Massanutten at the beginning of October, but in the games we've watched him play he shows a lot of high level potential. He's still raw but at 6'8” he has very long arms and a frame that should fill out well, and he plays with a great motor blocking shots and winning 50-50 balls regularly. While he still has a ways to go learning the game he shows tremendous athleticism, a willingness to learn and develop, good touch and a competitive chip too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2) [player_tooltip player_id='2353633' first='Matthew' last='Mena'] | 6'7” PF | Paul VI (#11 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2277022,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Screen-Shot-2023-11-19-at-11.55.23-AM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Screen-Shot-2023-11-19-at-11.55.23-AM.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2277022" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mena transfers to PVI this season after a standout freshman year at Ireton, and he had a great summer with Team Takeover and PVI showing he's one of the more versatile big men in the class. He's a new age style forward who has great perimeter skills along with a strong frame and the willingness to use that physicality on both ends of the floor. He has to improve his body a bit but he plays extremely hard on both ends of the floor, he knocks down shots from deep consistently, he is a very good passer and he has great touch with both hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1) Derek "Beau" Daniels | 6'6” C | Paul VI (#2 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2187323,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/1-6-1.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/1-6-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2187323" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Daniels is another of a number of young transfers coming to PVI, and he was one of the best freshmen in the DMV last year playing with DeMatha and showing a lot of upside moving forward. He draws a lot of comparisons to former DeMatha standout and current Villanova player Malcolm Thomas with his superb athleticism and defensively ability. While he's a little undersized he's an absolute bull in a China shop in the paint with his strength and ability to overpower opponents physically on both ends of the floor. He's an elite shot blocker with great timing and the ability to alter shots without fouling, he's a big time lob threat, he can run the floor with his guards and he has a lot of room to continue to develop offensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->