Updated 2027 Rankings: Forwards (5-1)

We recently updated our class of 2027 rankings, with a lot of new players as we learn more about the class as they grow and develop. Things have shaken up quite a bit, with over 25 new names being added to the rankings.   Here's a look at the top 5 power forwards and centers in the sophomore class rankings.   5) [player_tooltip player_id='2470563' first='Landon' last='Lee'] | 6'8” PF | Virginia (#18 Overall)   <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol>   Lee has been one of the more impressive young prospects I've seen in SWVA in the past five years or so, as he has a lot of tools that will intrigue college coaches moving forward. A legit 6'8” as a sophomore and possibly still growing, Lee has great positional size, as well as a skillset you don't find in many young big men with his size at his age. He's a stretch four man who can step out and knock down shots from deep at a good clip, he's a good athlete who can get up and down the floor and finish above the rim, he's a good rebounder and rim protector and he also has the ability to move his feet and stay in front on switches in the pick-and-roll.   4) [player_tooltip player_id='2370724' first='Keaton' last='Gregory'] | 6'9” C | Trinity Episcopal (#10 Overall)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageMzmYyV.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/tempImageMzmYyV.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2548681" /></a></figure>   <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol>   Gregory continues to take leaps since impressing us as a freshman when he started from day one with TES, and he built upon it with an even better sophomore year for a TES team with a very bright future. Standing 6'9” with long arms, the first thing you notice is that he will need to fill out moving forward, but the second thing you notice is that he has intangibles and a skillset that is well beyond his years for any player. He's extremely vocal on the defensive end as the anchor that is always talking and directing traffic, he challenges shots without fouling and is able to rebound misses after challenging, he has touch with both hands around the rim and the ability to stretch the floor out to the three-point line and he is a very good passer when he's on the perimeter too.   3) [player_tooltip player_id='2353633' first='Matthew' last='Mena'] | 6'7” C | Paul VI (#9 Overall)   <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>   <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol>   Mena transferred to PVI from Ireton this past season, and he played a solid role off the bench for them in winning their second straight WCAC title and making it to the VISAA D-I Final Four yet again. While he doesn't fit the mold of the typical prospect at his position being slightly undersized with a stocky frame, he has a lot of things within his game that make him tough to matchup with and make him very productive across the board. He plays very hard as he's always sprinting the floor and sprinting back defensively, he's highly skilled as a shooter from deep and a passer on the perimeter, he has great instincts to be in the right position as a rebounder and defender and he has great hands to get deflections and catch tough passes too.   2) [player_tooltip player_id='2624494' first='Ben' last='Kalonji'] | 6'8” PF/C | Massanutten (#8 Overall)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_2B66CD0D8CDD-1.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/IMG_2B66CD0D8CDD-1.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2803623" /></a></figure>   <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol>   Kalonji came from the Republic of Congo to Massanutten in the fall, and he played on their post grad team on the Elite Prep League as one of the younger players in the league and showed tremendous strides of improvement throughout the season. It was evident when he first came over that he's a high ceiling prospect with his length, athleticism and high motor, while it was also clear that he is relatively new to the game and has a lot to learn moving forward. Throughout the season he became more comfortable and available as a lob threat, he showed his ability to protect the rim and fearless attitude to challenge players at the rim, he sprints the floor regularly and he is a fantastic rebounder as well. He has a lot of upside when he continues to polish his skill set offensively.   1) [player_tooltip player_id='2353520' first='Derek' last='(Beau) Daniels'] | 6'7” C | Paul VI (#2 Overall)   <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>   <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol>   Daniels gets the nod as the best big in the state after transferring to PVI from DeMatha where he was a starter as a freshman, and while he's a tad undersized he plays much bigger with his athleticism and physical style of play. The 6'7” big man is able to dominate the paint with his physicality, as he doesn't shy away and is able to both box out opponents and get around box outs with his strength and quick feet. He has great length and has great timing as a shot blocker, with the ability to get off his feet quickly and challenge shots in both help defense and when guarding in the paint. He runs the floor well and finishes above the rim, he's an automatic lob threat and he shows good touch and improvement in his range over the past two years.

We recently updated our class of 2027 rankings, with a lot of new players as we learn more about the class as they grow and develop. Things have shaken up quite a bit, with over 25 new names being added to the rankings.