Standout ’28 Guards Making Their Mark in the Latest Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">These guards are young but making their mark…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2638167,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Keegan-Keeton-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/PH-Keegan-Keeton-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2638167" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194997' first='Keegan' last='Keeton']&nbsp;</strong>(5'10/CG/'28/Jasper)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: keetonkeegan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @keegankeeton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ranking: #8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">There hasn't been one player under more scrutiny than Keegan. He has been getting it from all sides, whether it is the surprise move to Jasper or the conversation that he is too small to play at the next level. Yet, he continues to go out every game and give it everything he can to help his team win. He quieted a lot of critics with his recent 40-point performance, as he went 11 for 17 from three. He is hands down one of the top 5 shooters in the state, regardless of class. He has to continue to get stronger and hone his ball-handling skills.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2676723,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Cortez-Hudson-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Cortez-Hudson-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2676723" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2629624' first='Cortez' last='Hudson']</strong> (6'4/G|F/'28/Mae Jemison HS) 24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: datboytezy11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Cortezzhudson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ranking: #9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Cortez continues to be a solid piece to a tough Mae Jemison squad that has recently started to hit its stride. Cortez brings his athleticism and effort to the floor every night. He scores from all levels, and he defends. He does what most do not want to do, earning him minutes and the coach's trust. He is surrounded by some veteran guys, and you see the confidence he is gaining by embracing the leading and teaching of the older guys.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2750043,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Kegan-Johnson-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/PH-Kegan-Johnson-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2750043" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Calera HS Basketball Program, Calera HS Basketball</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2748292' first='Kegan' last='Johnson']</strong> (6'2/CG/'28/Calera)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: _keganjohnson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @keganjohnson_5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ranking: #11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Kegan is a backcourt prospect with a very high basketball IQ. He is a young, stellar two-way force. His top-tier defense has been the driving factor of his game, but he is making serious strides in developing a great all-around offensive game to go with it. He is an explosive leaper who finishes well at the rim, which makes him such a dangerous slasher in the half-court or the open floor. He has good court vision and is a good passer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2677156,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Tre-Pittman-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/PH-Tre-Pittman-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-2677156" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194716' first='Tre' last='Pittman']&nbsp;</strong>(5'7/CG/'28/Pelham)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Tp3.tre_day</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ranking: #12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Tre has really shown a budding floor game at times this season. He has shown his ability to be a multi-level scorer and a playmaker off the bounce who can create for himself and his teammates. He plays with very high confidence without being arrogant. I have been impressed with his willingness to look to get his teammates involved while knowing he could go and get a bucket at any moment. I look forward to seeing his continued offensive development, but I would like to see his on-ball defense in one-on-one situations continue to improve.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2531186' first='Jayden' last='Makell Wooley']</strong> (6'4/Wing/' 28/Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Showem.j5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ranking: #14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Let me start by saying there is a lot of excitement surrounding Jayden in the Hillcrest basketball community. Many believe that he will be able to lead Hillcrest to a state championship just like his father did at the school in 2008. Jayden has good positional size, great length, and excellent, quick-twitch hand-eye coordination. He scores it really well from the perimeter, as he has a nice, soft touch on his jumper. He has the makings of a really good 3&amp;D player going forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2748297' first='Kobe' last='Brothers']</strong> (6'2/SG/'28/Guntersville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: kobebrothers3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ranking: #15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Kobe is a long guard and a top-two shooter in this class. He has a mature IQ for his age and a really good feel for the game. He is an unselfish teammate who doesn't mind making the extra pass to get a better look. With his sharp-shooting capabilities, he finds himself face-guarded a lot and overplayed, which would rattle many freshmen but not Kobe, as he has the ability to put the rock on the floor and get to the cup. You will hear a lot about Kobe coming out of Guntersville over the next few years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2463815' first='Blake' last='Bell']</strong> (6'1/PG/'28/Sparkman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Mr.cinco</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @BigB_2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ranking: #16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Blake is really good with the ball in his hands, and good things happen for his squad when he orchestrates the offense. He is a heady PG who understands how to sniff out mismatches that benefit his team. Despite being just a 9th grader, he is very physical off the bounce and when playing on-ball defense. He has grown up being ball-dominant and is learning to play more without the ball and how to be a threat in that capacity. His coaches rave about how great of a young man he is in every aspect of life, on and off the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->