Ready for June: 2028 Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These four 2028 guards have had a solid few months for their respective AAU teams. I expect that momentum to carry into the June HS season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2758274"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6835107ac24c6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I am not the first, and certainly will not be the last person to write about [player_tooltip player_id='2758274' first='Mateen' last='Cleaves Jr.'] this spring. Everyone has been raving about his scoring ability or counting stats he's putting up. However, that isn't what is most impressive to me. It's the fact that he doesn't play or carry himself like an underclassmen, and for sure not one playing up a grade level. Talking on defense, celebrating on the bench, and taking care of the basketball. These are things that you don't see on a box score but have a huge impact on teammate performance and the outcome of the basketball game. It's going to be tough to keep Mateen out of the #1 spot when the 2028 rankings come out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Roman DeRose","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Leslie","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"School Days Foundation","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6835107ac256f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I got to see Roman play a few weeks ago at the Moneyball Shootout in Lansing. In my opinion, he was the best 2028 player there. In addition to being a solid 3-point shooter and above-average rebounder for a guard, DeRose possesses some other skills that are unique for a rising sophomore. He cuts well off the ball, not only to score, but also to give his teammates an outlet. Roman also has good defensive instincts, which led him to intercepting multiple passes from his weak-side defensive position. My favorite thing to watch, however, is DeRose's energy on both ends of the floor. That, paired with his pure basketball ability, is very unique for a kid from a rural, small-town.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2140494"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6835107ac25ba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After seeing him start at point guard in the regional final for Rockford back in March against Flint Carman-Ainsworth and again more recently in Grand Rapids, the biggest compliment I can give is that he looked the same in both. Results aside, his calm demeanor was the same in the high-school playoffs as it was in a meaningless AAU game. This speaks to the work he puts in year-round, a trust in the process. He might be the best passing guard in his class, values each possession, and plays with extreme confidence. When the 2028 rankings come out, Wolfe will likely find himself near the top and for good reason.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lucas McCastle","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"St Johns","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Prospectors","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6835107ac2643"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I've seen the Prospectors play in a few tournaments this spring and their most consistent player on both ends is McCastle. Lucas is usually tasked with being the top guy on their half-court trap while also being their best ball-handler. My favorite newfound trait of his is the ability to get into the paint, jump-stop, and pivot to score. McCastle's best moment of the spring was a rebound and half-court buzzer-beater to beat Schools Days Foundation in the semifinal of the Moneyball Shootout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My other recent articles:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://prephoops.com/2025/04/rumble-in-the-rapids-jennings-fab-five/","type":"wp-embed","providerNameSlug":"prep-hoops"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-prep-hoops wp-block-embed-prep-hoops"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://prephoops.com/2025/04/rumble-in-the-rapids-jennings-fab-five/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://prephoops.com/2025/04/jennings-storm-classic-notes/","type":"wp-embed","providerNameSlug":"prep-hoops"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-prep-hoops wp-block-embed-prep-hoops"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://prephoops.com/2025/04/jennings-storm-classic-notes/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->