2027 Ranking Update: Breaking Down Our Top 10

-No surprise here with the #1 in our sophomore class with the phenom out of Blake. We've seen some encouraging strides as a standstill playmaker that is reading the defense and passing out of double teams well to create easy looks for his teammates. It's also great to see him improve his shot selection, taking more simple 1 or 2-dribble pull-ups or simply taking the C+S looks that make him a very capable 3-level scorer. His rebounding and defense have picked up but there is room for growth in both areas to make him a well-rounded prospect. But with his ability to handle the ball, shoot, and score the ball with range-- he's without a doubt the #1 prospect in the area's 2027 class-- if not the nation.     -He's already gone through some up and downs in new threads playing for a McNamara team that struggled out of the gate but has rebounded recently to piece together a 5-game win streak. Woodard's ability to make plays above the rim, knock down C+S looks, and rebound amongst the trees in the paint makes him a valuable prospect as a 6'8 W/F tweener. His handle has improved to show his creativity on the ball, knocking down sidestep or stepback perimeter jumpers or attacking the rim in straight line drives from the wing. As he continues to develop his IQ and buys into McNamara's defensive principles, he can hit the next level as a prospect. But the upside here is impossible to ignore.     -"Hell Rell" has turned heads in a new uniform with a scrappy Boys' Latin team that has either beaten or given several elite local teams a run for their money. The dynamic sophomore PG can create off the bounce with the best of them, getting into his midrange pull-up or all the way to the rim. He doesn't have a true big to create for on rolls to the rim but does a great job of finding teammates with skip passes and hook passes on drives along the baseline or in the paint. Need to see more consistency from him on the defensive end of the floor. When the game gets close he locks in, and he will get you steals and blocks periodically throughout the game-- but if he steps it up a level as a tenacious POA defender he will start to make a national name for himself.     -The straw that stirs the drink for a scrappy DeMatha unit is shooting the ball at a more consistent clip both from the midrange and beyond the arc, making him a much more difficult guard in the halfcourt because of his ability to get to his spots. A super quick point guard that can still dish out contact off the bounce, "Mallie" is starting to not only see but deliver in passing windows that open up to the opposite block and corner whenever he gets to the middle of the floor. His attention to detail defensively and his screen navigation has stepped up a level in more consistent run during his sophomore season. Love that even in a rough shooting game or when dealing with foul trouble-- McKnight finds a way to get to the basket and get to the FT line to find easy opportunities to get himself in a scoring rhythm.     -Duran remains in our top 5 as a guard that can thrive both on and off the ball, showing his elite shooting skill (48% from 3 so far this season) in the latter role in a McNamara offense that is finding it's way after a difficult non-conference schedule. His shot preparation and footwork on movement threes within the Mustangs' offense continue to improve each time I see him play. With his size, handle, and passing ability Duran has the ability to create for others attacking closeouts from the wings when he gets the ball on reversals. I just want to see more consistency and assertiveness as a play-maker with the ball in his hands, because he is capable of really moving the needle for a really talented group of scorers.     -Veney is fitting in nicely in a new role with a Cadets team that is absolutely loaded in the backcourt. Jymin performs well in spot starts or coming off the bench, finding a way to contribute to winning as a passer, scorer, rebounder, defender, or shooter. His ability to impact the game without needing to be on the ball or have sets run for him makes him a flexible piece for SJC to move around within different lineups. His size allows him to play either guard spot and he can comfortably guard 1-3 in the best HS conference in America.     -Lyons continues to impress our scouts as a scoring PG that can impact winning for a Clinton Grace team searching for its identity in the wake of all 5 starters and several key pieces graduating from last season's team. Lyons is an explosive scoring guard that is starting to hit 3s off the catch or off the bounce with increasing range. He's made one of the biggest jumps (12 spots in our last rankings update, 11 in this update) in the area because he's shown consistent improvement as a playmaker that makes good reads in traffic once he gets past his matchup. The only thing holding him back from inclusion in the top 5 is consistency, as he will score in bunches then float for a few minutes until he gets back into a groove. With his athleticism, skillset, mentality, and developmental progress-- he should pop onto national radars this spring and summer.     -Taylor's motor always stands out when we watch him--whether it's in AAU or during the HS season-- the junior wing always leaves a physical imprint on the game. A bowling ball wing that isn't afraid to mix it up with players 5-7 inches taller than him, he comes up with a ton of rebounds in traffic and is finishing much better around the rim through contact. He's a capable playmaker from a standstill on the wings and is always a threat to slash his way to the rim with straight-line, physical drives to the basket. Want to see him continue to shoot FTs in perimeter jumpers with more consistent mechanics and pick his spots to drive through traffic to the rim. But his floor in every game he plays in as a sophomore is 5 points and 5 rebounds with a few blocks and assists mixed in.     -The offensive development as a shot creator on the ball and a shot-maker off the ball has been noticeable for Dixon in new threads at Good Counsel. The lift on his jumper has improved with a restructured shot pocket and Dixon is scoring efficiently from all 3 levels off the bounce, off of movement, and off of pivot moves in/around the paint. Dixon steps into a leadership role on a team that really needs him to score and he has thrived coming off of screens as a ballhandler or movement shooter. The next step in his development will be using that scoring gravity to create for others, capitalizing on the simple passing reads to create a shot for a teammate to in turn make it more difficult for his opponents to send 2 defenders at him. Bright future for the sophomore prospect.     -The physical post player remains in our top 10 because of the value that he brings to a very deep Mt. Carmel team. Mancho's ability to set screens to open up opportunities for his teammates, rebound the basketball, and finish plays above the rim or through traffic after snagging an offensive rebound make him a valuable piece for the Cougars. We want to see more development on the perimeter jumper to at least make him more of a pick n pop threat, although the mechanics on his FTs continue to improve with each viewing. We also want to see him use his size and physical gifts to block more shots around the basket to ignite fastbreaks and add more value to his upside as a long term prospect.