The Challenge: 2027 Stock Risers

The Challenge took place over the weekend in York, Pa as over 120 high schools programs (boys' varsity, junior varsity and girls' varsity) made their way to the Expo Center to compete as they prepare for their upcoming season. An endless list of prospects made their case as stock risers with their production, so there's a chance this article can be broken down into multiple parts. For this article, we'll look at the 2027 prospects who took advantage of the stage.    Wood continues to impress us after a productive summer showing off his improved offensive ability. He's a 6-foot-3 combo guard packed with a tough, rugged approach to the game that not only helps fuel his threat as a downhill driver, but also makes him an impact defender at the high school level. Wood's consistency helped lead the Cardinals to a 3-1 record on the weekend behind 13.2 points per game. He's stepping into his junior season in an increased role and has shown all of the indications that he's more than capable of impacting winning basketball.     Another dawg in the 2027 DMV class of guards is Green, who made his way to the area by way of Alabama over the summer and quickly asserted himself on a Springdale roster that is loaded with talent. Green was the missing ingredient of last year's team as a steady, on-ball presence who can make plays for others in a creative manner while also staying ready to put the ball in the bucket from multiple levels. He brings an intensity to the floor that flows through the other four guys he shares the floor with. Green is a prideful defender, a vocal leader, and someone that should be on the radars of colleges heading into the winter. The 6-foot-2 lead guard impacted the stat sheet in a handful of ways as Springdale left York with a perfect 4-0 record.     Barnes' team was put against stout competition as they faced off against Archbishop Spalding and Blake High School respectively. Both contests resulted in a loss from York William Penn, but the 6-foot-2 southpaw guard gave the local fans plenty to cheer about as he averaged just under 19 points per game. Barnes can get to his spots in a variety of ways, but is best in ball screens or reacting off the catch where he can use his wiggle and burst to attack closeouts and get into the paint or stop on a dime for mid-range jumpers. Look for Barnes to post some crooked scoring numbers this season for his team as the offensive hub.     Nelson had a huge outing in a win over a scrappy Lincoln Prep (CAN) team on Sunday where his pace, IQ, and shot-making prowess off the dribble took centerstage en route to 27 points . When Nelson is playing his game, the way he gets to his shot off the bounce is as smooth as they come. He continues to show strides with his court vision on penetration as well as his ability to anticipate passing windows along the baseline as a response to his paint touch. Consistency will be the biggest key with Nelson moving forward.     Another squad who manufactured a perfect showing in York was JFK. They were led by Colston, who seemingly had a hand in every positive play that took place for his team. He could get his shot from anywhere on the floor whenever the situation called for it, he made those around him better after the opposing defenses made adjustments in hopes of containing his scoring, and he was a menace in the passing lanes defensively creating deflections with regularity. In fitting fashion, Colston would cap off his stay at The Challenge with a 33-point outing, which would be the most scored by a single player on the weekend.     Jones caught my eye at the Maryland Expo in late September and he doubled down on why folks should pay attention to him this season as he steps in as the bell cow for New Town. He plays with an inspired motor, is much more skilled than the eye test would lead you to believe, and still has plenty of potential to be tapped into over the next few years. Look for Jones to be a constant double-double threat anytime he takes the floor in Baltimore County Public School play.

The Challenge took place over the weekend in York, Pa as over 120 high schools programs (boys' varsity, junior varsity and girls' varsity) made their way to the Expo Center to compete as they prepare for their upcoming season. An endless list of prospects made their case as stock risers with their production, so there's a chance this article can be broken down into multiple parts. For this article, we'll look at the 2027 prospects who took advantage of the stage.