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Reason for the Ranking (Top 50)

Reason for the Ranking (Top 50)
Andrew Force
Andrew Force December 2, 2025 @ 04:05 PM
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In this article:

Eli Klekamp
Eli Klekamp 6'5" | SF | 2028
TN
Leyton Plummer
Leyton Plummer 6'6" | SF/PF | 2028
TN
Lucas Kinnard
Lucas Kinnard 5'11" | SG/PG | 2028
TN
James Humphreys
James Humphreys 6'8" | PF/C | 2028
TN
Carter Smith
Carter Smith 6'4" | CG/SF | 2028
TN
Daxton Evans
Daxton Evans 6'2" | SF | 2028
TN
Bryson Wade
Bryson Wade 6'0" | PG | 2027
TN
Eli Brown
Eli Brown 6'2" | CG | 2028
TN

PICTURED: Carter Smith Carter Smith Carter Smith 6'4" | CG/SF Boyd-Buchanan | 2028 State TN

It was time to revisit the Class of 2028 rankings as October wrapped and adjust to account for the player's growth or stagnation.  Rankings are subjective and PrepHoops.com/Tennessee (@CourtneyHoops90 + @AndrewForce8) ranks purely upon potential and where the player will be at their basketball peak.  Production factors in only when helping prove the potential is greater or lesser.  Why did we rank these guys?  Why are they at this spot?  Take a look at several Class of 2028 prospects and learn a little about their reputation.

46 Daxton Evans Daxton Evans Daxton Evans 6'2" | SF Cleveland | 2028 State TN 6'1" / SF Cleveland      
47 Carter Smith Carter Smith Carter Smith 6'4" | CG/SF Boyd-Buchanan | 2028 State TN 6'4" / CG Boyd-Buchanan Mookie Betts    
48 Lucas Kinnard Lucas Kinnard Lucas Kinnard 5'11" | SG/PG Franklin Road Academy | 2028 State TN 5'11" / SG Franklin Road Academy Tennessee Marathon    
49 Leyton Plummer Leyton Plummer Leyton Plummer 6'6" | SF/PF Green Hill | 2028 State TN 6'6" / SF Green Hill      
50 Eli Klekamp Eli Klekamp 6'5" | SF Brentwood Academy | 2028 State TN 6'5" / SF Brentwood Academy

The following players are now ranked in the Top 50 statewide (LEFT-new rank).  

Read about #10.
2028 player rankings: More to see

Gioppino Basketball clip art#46 Daxton Evans Daxton Evans Daxton Evans 6'2" | SF Cleveland | 2028 State TN (Cleveland)

Fantastic athlete. Hulk-strong. Sprinter. A little short for a college wing. Brother Maguire Evans is a freshman hooper with Tennessee Tech University. Daxton will be bulking up throughout high school to promote his college football future.  Because he outclasses teammates with strength Evans looks like a post player instead of the guard his speed enables him to be.

Gioppino Basketball clip art#47 Carter Smith Carter Smith Carter Smith 6'4" | CG/SF Boyd-Buchanan | 2028 State TN (Boyd-Buchanan)

Better than average athlete. Great size for the position. Hard worker. Committed to his craft.  The transfer to Boyd-Buchanan will require Carter to advance quickly...and he has, as evidenced by his November games against top competition. Smith played defense with extremely "clean hips" like a cornerback against Knoxville Catholic.  He always projected as a strong defender, and this game revealed his improvement towards that eventuality is more rapid than the PrepHoopsTN projection.  Outside shooting is neither a weakness nor a strength just yet.  Carter showed and does show shooting abilities.  With continued work the talented guard will be a consistent three-point shooter on top of his exceptional slashing capabilities.

Gioppino Basketball clip art#48 Lucas Kinnard Lucas Kinnard Lucas Kinnard 5'11" | SG/PG Franklin Road Academy | 2028 State TN (Franklin Road Academy)

Arguably the best shooter in the entire grade. Is he a shooting guard? Is he a point guard?  Maybe both. Lucas' shooting touch ranks at the top of the class.  It surely reflects hours of practice beyond the team practices. Beyond repeatable arm movements beautifully executed Kinnard sharply shifts his feet to create enough distance for an unchallenged release. Another subtle aspect that helps him succeed is his early eye contact with the rim.  Kinnard gets and keeps his eyes on the rim earlier than most high school shooters.  

Gioppino Basketball clip art#49 Leyton Plummer Leyton Plummer Leyton Plummer 6'6" | SF/PF Green Hill | 2028 State TN (Green Hill)

Lean combo forward. Projects as a college "3" when he adds strength.  Plummer is still growing into his body.  Exciting height at 6-foot-6. There will be some struggles guarding players away from the rim until his lateral mobility improves and Green Hill wisely utilizes him as power forward defensively. Shooting touch is a plus. Press-breaking is not a skill of his and yet handle is passable at the 4A varsity level for a tall wing.

Gioppino Basketball clip art#50 Eli Klekamp Eli Klekamp 6'5" | SF Brentwood Academy | 2028 State TN (Brentwood Academy)

The BA spacing truly showcases Eli and the bigs for their versatility.  Eli Klekamp Eli Klekamp 6'5" | SF Brentwood Academy | 2028 State TN  passes into and out of the post quickly and accurately.  His hands are not "sticky" at all and the sophomore eagerly finds shooters like Bryson Wade Bryson Wade Bryson Wade 6'0" | PG Brentwood Academy | 2027 State TN and Eli Brown Eli Brown Eli Brown 6'2" | CG The Webb School | 2028 TN rapidly.  Klekamp embraces contact and sometimes even seeks it out.  Klekamp can, and does, play alongside another big ( James Humphreys James Humphreys James Humphreys 6'8" | PF/C Brentwood Academy | 2028 State TN ).  Both blocked shots when BA played a strong Tennessee Heat squad last month.

Peruse the complete 2028 rankings.

Follow @AndrewForce8.

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