Climbers (Class of 2028)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2610395' first='Cristopher' last='Fudger'] (Pigeon-Forge)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The following players are climbing from within the Top 150 to a loftier position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ascending: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2195034' first='Cole' last='J. Amonett'] (Pickett County)<br><strong>Why?</strong> Just wait...Cole will sparkle all year for highly skilled Bobcat outfit. Cole's father takes over for Joseph Amonett as the head coach. Cole is an elite guard for his level, but will see far too few college-ready guards in his district to measure him against. Amonett will probably be a player that needs AAU to catch some college eyeballs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ascending: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2523939' first='Israel' last='Dillard'] (Rossview)<br><strong>Why?</strong> Over the summer Israel alerted @PrepHoopsTN that he was moving from Kentucky to Tennessee, albeit just across the border into Montgomery County. He showed he is and will probably bet better than his #50 from last summer late September at The Expo: Tennessee. Dillard plays like a combo forward with an outside shot at college shooting guard depending on his agility. Dillard's best skills right now are rebounding and slashing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ascending:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2767036' first='Cameron' last='Jackson'] (Jackson Christian)<br><strong>Why?</strong> Gutsy, power guard [player_tooltip player_id='2767036' first='Cameron' last='Jackson'] played tremendously at the PrepHoopsTN Combine in June, earning All-Star honors on the day. Cameron belongs in the Top 50 now. His one limitation currently is outside shooting. Projects as a hard-charging point guard kind of similar to Andrew Nembhard (Pacers).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ascending: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2610395' first='Cristopher' last='Fudger'] (Pigeon Forge)<br><strong>Why?</strong> Bulked up. Convincing performance late September at The Expo: Tennessee. Fudger can play either guard spot now. Good balance. Does not get hurried even in traffic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ascending: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2570431' first='Jake' last='Neal'] (Baylor School)<br><strong>Why?</strong> Hard worker. Like Cole Amonett, [player_tooltip player_id='2570431' first='Jake' last='Neal'] is as close to his peak potential (for entering sophomore year) as any guard in the state. Neal was an undersized guard at the varsity level last year. In June, while [player_tooltip player_id='2560261' first='Mantas' last='Paldauskas'] was visiting his home country Jake started and ran the show for newish Baylor School Head Coach Quinn McDowell. Elite handles. Unselfish. Wonderful basketball I.Q. Projects as a pass-first point guard though he can shoot too. Might play away from the point guard spot this year because Mantas is a primary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->