Updated Class of 2028 Player Rankings: Familiar names at the top

Younger brothers who probably had their basketball psyches roughed up at times in the family driveway land at the top of the updated Class of 2028 Player Rankings released today by Prep Hoops Wisconsin. No doubt No. 1-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='2398448' first='Joey' last='Kohnen'] of Slinger and No. 2-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='2613959' first='Kinston' last='Knueppel'] of Wisconsin Lutheran both have had their fair share of being schooled by older siblings. In Joey's case, UW-Eau Claire sophomore Cade Kohnen and Slinger junior [player_tooltip player_id='2351190' first='Jack' last='Kohnen'] likely showed him the basketball ropes. In Kinston's case, former Duke standout and current Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel II and Wisconsin Lutheran junior [player_tooltip player_id='2140949' first='Kager' last='Knueppel'] probably had him chasing his tail at times. However, both players obviously learned well from their siblings as they've excelled on the basketball court since entering high school. Both players headline the revised 2028 Player Rankings, which can be found <a href="https://prephoops.com/wisconsin/rankings/2028-rankings/">here</a>.   Kohnen is the most refined of the players, at least at this point, in the 2028 class. He has good size for a wing guard at 6-foot-4 and can score inside and outside. He has outstanding mobility, a smooth jump shot and good length to make things difficult for opponents on the defensive end of the court. He had a strong freshman season for Slinger, averaging 10.8 points and 4.7 rebounds for a Slinger squad that went 24-3 and won the North Shore Conference championship. Kohnen then averaged 9.7 points and 4.2 rebounds for [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] on the Nike EYBL circuit. In the process, he earned his first NCAA Division I scholarship offer as Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg extended an offer.   Knueppel, the middle child of five boys in the Kon and Chari Knueppel family, played off the bench as a freshman at Wisconsin Lutheran. He averaged 5.0 points and 3.5 rebounds for the Vikings, who went 28-2 and won the WIAA Division 1 state championship. Like Kohnen, Knueppel had a good spring/summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] program and averaged 8.8 ppg and 7.0 rpg on the EYBL circuit. At 6-foot-6 and with outstanding physical strength to go along with his impressive skill set, look for Knueppel to play a major role for Wisconsin Lutheran in 2025-26 as the Vikings attempt to capture their third straight state championship under coach Ryan Walz. No. 3-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='2504214' first='Ja'Quan' last='Turner'] of Oak Creek oozes with potential. A 6-foot-4 wing who can soar to the basket, Turner has impressive verticality and a quick twitch with the ball in his hands. He can get to the rim or pop perimeter jump shots. Defensively, he needs to be locked in a bit more, but he also could evolve as a stellar defender due to his size, length and athleticism. Turner joined Kohnen and Knueppel on the [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] squad and averaged 6.6 ppg and 3.7 rpg in EYBL contests. [player_tooltip player_id='2509457' first='Jordan' last='Evans'] of Living Word Lutheran and the [program_tooltip program_id='2076433' first='Kevon' last='Looney Power 5'] club team checks in at No. 4 in the Player Rankings. Evans brings a mature physical presence to the court as a 6-foot-2 point guard. He had some huge outings this summer on the adidas 3SSB circuit and is difficult to contain off the bounce due to his size and strength. In a recent 3SSB event, Evans had games of 28, 25, 23 and 22 points for Power 5. Guarding No. 5-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='2369883' first='Jase' last='Navis'] of Mauston and [program_tooltip program_id='2076023' first='Wisconsin' last='Academy'] is a chore, to say the least. He comes at you with a scorer's mindset and can make baskets in all kinds of different ways. He has a good long-range jumper, but he's just as likely to pound the ball with two hard dribbles and then stop, rise up and swish a mid-range jumper. Like most young players, Navis will need to get stronger, but his skills, attacking nature and 6-foot-5 frame make him one to watch in the 2028 class.   Speaking of players to watch, you'll want to check out No. 6-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='2614854' first='Tylen' last='Kingsby'] of Milwaukee Academy of Science and Power 5. A high riser who can throw down a dunk in transition of in the half court off the dribble, Kingsby joined Evans on the Power 5 squad and also had some big games on adidas 3SSB, going for 23 and 20 points in recent games. He was a reserve on Academy of Science's WIAA Division 3 state-title team as a freshman and figures to emerge as perhaps the next stellar collegiate prospect for that exceptionally strong program. Point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2466054' first='Mace' last='Miskel'] of Whitefish Bay and [program_tooltip program_id='2076501' first='Chapman' last='Basketball Academy'] shoots up the rankings to No. 7 from his previous No. 23 spot. His basketball IQ is off the charts and his ball handling and passing are advanced for a player his age. He played up an age group all spring and summer for [program_tooltip program_id='2076501' first='Chapman' last='Basketball Academy'] and excelled on the Puma circuit. At 5-foot-10, Miskel makes up for his lack of size with tremendous basketball instincts and his stellar pace with the ball in his hands.   Beaver Dam wing [player_tooltip player_id='2508468' first='Ben' last='Wittnebel'] joined Navis on the talented [program_tooltip program_id='2076023' first='Wisconsin' last='Academy'] 15U squad this past club season. And, the No. 8-ranked prospect has emerged as one of the better players in the 2028 class due to his explosiveness, size, length and upside. Once he fills out, refines his game and gains confidence, he could emerge as a big-time player. Already at 6-foot-6, Wittnebel has the ability to get to the basket and rise up over defenders for impressive dunks. He also has an improved perimeter game. No. 9 [player_tooltip player_id='2542599' first='Will' last='Kowske'] of New Berlin Eisenhower and No. 10 [player_tooltip player_id='2447768' first='Matt' last='Rosplochowski'] of Appleton North round out the top 10 for 2028. Both have impressive skills and made a strong impact as freshmen for their respective high school teams. Of the top 76 players in the current Player Rankings, no prospect is taller than 6-foot-7. So size most likely won't be a strength for 2028. Still, there are some very good wings and point guards in the class. It may not rank as highly as 2027 in terms of high-major collegiate prospects, but 2028 nonetheless has some strong prospects.

Younger brothers who probably had their basketball psyches roughed up at times in the family driveway land at the top of the updated Class of 2028 Player Rankings released today by Prep Hoops Wisconsin.

No doubt No. 1-ranked Joey Kohnen Joey Kohnen 6'4" | SG/SF Slinger | 2028 State WI of Slinger and No. 2-ranked Kinston Knueppel Kinston Knueppel 6'5" | SF/SG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2028 State WI of Wisconsin Lutheran both have had their fair share of being schooled by older siblings.

In Joey's case, UW-Eau Claire sophomore Cade Kohnen and Slinger junior Jack Kohnen Jack Kohnen 6'6" | SF Slinger | 2027 State WI likely showed him the basketball ropes. In Kinston's case, former Duke standout and current Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel II and Wisconsin Lutheran junior Kager Knueppel Kager Knueppel 6'9" | SF/SG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2027 State WI probably had him chasing his tail at times.

However, both players obviously learned well from their siblings as they've excelled on the basketball court since entering high school. Both players headline the revised 2028 Player Rankings, which can be found here.