7 2027s who Caught my Eye at The Expo

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we round out our coverage of this year's Prep Hoops Carolinas Showcases, there are a few prospects who stood out above the rest and earned extra recognition. These 7 prospects are members of the Class of 2027, or Rising Juniors, and caught my eye in various ways, including size and athleticism, scoring and facilitating, or defensive production and effort. Check them out below: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1986979' first='Eli' last='Britt'] (Sumter) - Leading off this group of 2027s who caught my eye at the Prep Hoops Carolinas Top 250 Expo is [player_tooltip player_id='1986979' first='Eli' last='Britt']. Britt had been injured the past few times I've been in the same gym as him, so it was good to catch up with him again. There are few prospects in South Carolina's Junior Class who have as high a work ethic as Eli, and he has the talent to go with it. He takes pride in winning his individual matchup, but rarely feels disconnected from the flow of the offense. Despite his size, he reads defensive tendencies well and is a determined finisher at the rim, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2125308' first='Beau' last='Brannon'] (Wren) - It's only a matter of time until the recruitment of Brannon really picks up. He has all the things you want in a modern wing: size, athleticism, and two-way production. Beau isn't even the type of player you would classify as a "sneaky athlete" - he's a true high flyer that has vertical ability that jumps out at you. He can get buckets at all three levels without having to have actions run through him because he is terrific at playing off others. And don't forget about his defensive ability. There is room for growth on-ball, but the signs, particularly with his instincts, are there now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2958236' first='William' last='Ross'] (Denmark-Olar) - William caught my eye from the moment I saw him on the roster. There aren't many 6'7" guys in the state who aren't on my radar, but he was the rare exception. Ross was a member of the 1A State Championship Squad last year, but played just 5 minutes per game on a top-heavy unit. He is still quite raw, both physically and technically, but there were signs of potential from William in Rock Hill. One such flash was an impressive power-dribble finish inside the paint that displayed a comfort in finishing around other bodies inside the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2300245' first='Will' last='Russell'] (Seneca) - The 2025 Prep Hoops Carolinas Top 250 Expo was my first look at [player_tooltip player_id='2300245' first='Will' last='Russell']. The 6'8" Forward just recently moved into the Palmetto State and enrolled at Seneca High School. Russell first caught my eye on the 3v3 window, displaying very fluid movement, the ability to put the ball on the deck, and even make good decisions as he drove to the rim. As the event switched over to 5v5, there was less space for William to work, but just as much production. His size also makes him a viable option as a rim protector and glass cleaner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2684279' first='Joseph' last='Owusu-Mensah'] (Northwestern) - Owusu-Mensah has quickly gone from a new name in our database to a guy who we look forward to watching. It's rare when you find a player who has the desire to win in the fall, but it's clear Joseph will truly play whatever role he needs to win, no matter the setting. I watched him switch onto Guards and contain the dribble, rotate towards the ball and block shots, and even draw charges, in a showcase! When he wasn't grabbing a defensive rebound, Joseph was the first down the floor in transition, which led to easy layups for him or more space for others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2377456' first='Kensley' last='Parks'] (Spring Valley) - Kensley is another guy on this list who brings intrigue with his physicals. He was a complimentary piece for Team 6, given the freedom to hunt his shots, crash the offensive glass, and take chances on the defensive end because of the talent that surrounded him. Parks matches a nice 6'6" frame with athleticism to go over or through contests in the paint, while also having the skill to stretch his game to the perimeter. The aggressive, scrappy plays that Kensley has a knack for making always seem to build on each other and boost his team in a positive way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2414074' first='Justin' last='Vining'] (Fox Creek) - Rounding out the list of 2027s who caught my eye at the 2025 Prep Hoops Carolinas Top 250 Expo is [player_tooltip player_id='2414074' first='Justin' last='Vining']. I didn't get to see much of Vining in Rock Hill, but when I did, he was clearly one of the best players on the court. He has a deep bag of moves to use off the dribble, but what makes him special is how he can use counter moves and change his pace to keep defenders off balance. Even when he's not creating space for a shot, Justin can hit difficult shots or move the ball and keep his teammates involved.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->