Top new names from 2028 Rankings Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2028 Rankings Update saw almost 20 new names get added to the rankings, in this article we'll break down the top 4 ranked new names on the list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2194651"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-693cd1734f12a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A prospect ranked in the top 15 nationally, the Cincinnati native returns to his hometown for the first time in his high school career. A winner wherever he has went, Mercer won a gold medal with Team USA and won the Peach Jam 16 U championship with Indy Heat. Mercer is a guard who thrives in structure and should benefit from the system Coach Wyant has built with Cincinnati Princeton. While it's awesome for OHSAA basketball that Mercer is back in his hometown, it should also provide a good setting for him to continue to grow as a player. With the combination of positional size, offensive skill, physicality and production, Mercer was an easy choice to take the top spot in our 2028 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2309001"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-693cd1734f195"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">While the Spire Nike Scholastic program has drawn a lot of attention to their program, the international varsity program has no shortage of talent themselves. Goring is an intriguing forward prospect who has long strides, a long wingspan and overall impressive physical tools. Playing on a Team Mookie Betts squad that won the EYCL and earned the right to play for a Peach Jam spot last summer, Goring earned invites to Nike Elite 100 and Pangos AA camps last summer and also was offered by Austin Peay. His reclassification into the class of 2028 should allow even more time for him to fill out his frame and improve his offensive skillset. Expect to hear a lot more about Goring over the next few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2992827"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-693cd1734f1e1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stearns was a bit of an under the radar prospect but no more, Stearns transferred to Lima Senior and now is a name people are finding out about. Stearns has the length, athleticism, rim finishing, perimeter shooting and shot blocking ability to make a huge impact for Lima Senior this season. Those are quite the crucial set of skills for a team that was already filled with guard talent. I got my first look at Stearns at the Lima Mega Scrimmage and am excited to watch him soon with the Spartans during the regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3043989"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-693cd1734f229"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Saint Ignatius is one of the top OHSAA programs in the state and Melton is playing a featured role as a lead guard for the Wildcats as a sophomore. Melton is surprisingly explosive for a prospect his height as a jumper and is as quick as any guard in the 2028 class end to end. What I was impressed by with Melton was he plays extremely fast but still reads the game from all angles. I think Saint Ignatius has a chance to compete for a state title this season if the pieces fit together and Melton is a key stirrer of the drink for the Wildcats this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->