Brace for Impact: Incoming Sophomores Making Moves

These five rising sophomores are sharpening their tools, expanding their roles, and showing glimpses of what could be special. As the Class of 2028 begins to stretch its wings, a handful of Arkansas prospects are already flashing the kind of upside that demands early attention. Keep us updated on ALL prospects over on “X“ and “Instagram,” just tag @PrepHoops_AR & @VortexSportsArkansas.    Johnson's blend of positional versatility and physicality makes him a matchup headache. He's added noticeable pop off the floor, attacking rebounds, and finishing through contact with more confidence. His footwork in the mid-post is improving, and he's starting to flash a face-up jumper. Defensively, he shows a growing feel for timing blocks from the weak side.     Cancilla is a smart wing that can knock it down and facilitate with a developing burst that's helping him separate in tight spaces. His handle is tighter, his pace more deliberate, and he's showing improvement on pull-ups. What stands out lately is his vision, he's threading passes through traffic and manipulating defenders with his eyes.     Burgess is a long, mobile big who's starting to assert himself as a rim protector and vertical spacer. His coordination has taken a leap, he's running the floor harder, catching in traffic, and finishing with better body control. There's a budding face-up game here, too, with flashes of a high-release jumper. Defensively, he's altering shots and showing improved lateral movement.     Craig is a wiry, instinctive wing guard who plays with a motor and a scorer's mentality. His first step is quicker, and he's showing more lift on his finishes. Offensively, he's becoming more confident as a shooter off the catch and has a knack for finding seams in the defense.     Hobbs is a solid combo guard who's refining his shot mechanics and expanding his playmaking reads. He's explosive in short bursts, with a downhill style that puts pressure on defenses. His handle is more compact, and he's showing better decision-making in transition. Defensively, he has the tools to be a tone-setter on that end.

These five rising sophomores are sharpening their tools, expanding their roles, and showing glimpses of what could be special. As the Class of 2028 begins to stretch its wings, a handful of Arkansas prospects are already flashing the kind of upside that demands early attention. Keep us updated on ALL prospects over on “X“ and “Instagram,” just tag @PrepHoops_AR & @VortexSportsArkansas.