2028 Rankings Update: New Names on my Radar

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/01/updated-2028-new-england-rankings/">updated 2028 rankings</a> came out two weeks ago, and I've been doing a deep dive into some players who I haven't scouted before.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are some names that are new to me but have certainly showcased some really solid potential as of late.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2883037"],"_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-6973eee033f48"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Devine is a super skilled point guard who looks like he has a lot more growth to come physically. What's great about the 6-foot sophomore's game is that he has already figured out a nice shooting stroke and he has the skillset necessary to get to spots on the floor when he can get it off. He isn't going to wow you athletically (that could come, though), but he has good change of speed and direction moves and knows how to utilize head and ball fakes. Devine strikes me as a guy who will continue to grow a lot as time goes on, but the feel for the game and skill are well beyond his years right now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2569679"],"_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-6973eee034045"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Abel is a super intriguing prospect because of his combination of length and shooting ability. Like Devine, I expect Abel to continue growing and getting longer as he gets older—he has the look of a developing young player. But the shooting stroke is very pretty, and he gets it off quite cleanly on the move and on the dribble. His athleticism shows on the defensive end, too, with some nice chase down blocks and rim protection. Abel is playing at a high level at Notre Dame-West Haven, and that'll help his development down the road.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2832786"],"_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-6973eee034097"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Padilla has excellent strength, body control and athleticism for his size, and he's producing a lot for his East Catholic squad this season. The 6-foot-2 sophomore does a really excellent job cutting to the rim and finding pockets in the paint to receive the ball, and he does a fantastic job finishing with contact. On numerous occasions, I've seen him elevate and take contact while also being able to convert and-ones with both hands. Padilla's physicality and strength are quite intriguing for his age, but it's unclear whether he'll continue to grow and get bigger.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2862217"],"_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-6973eee0340e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bishop is a 6-foot-6 forward who's new to the Brunswick School but averaged 15 and 7 last season at John Jay HS in New York. He isn't having a massive impact on Brunswick this year, but the sophomore is primed to have a big junior season and projects to be a really solid piece for them next year. He has above-the-rim athleticism, he's a solid screen setter, and he does a good job finishing at the hoop with both hands. He isn't afraid of contact, and the facilitating and shooting skills are in the works. Will be curious to see how Bishop continues to develop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2784534"],"_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-6973eee034134"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Goldberg is shooting the heck out of the ball this season for a Westminster team that's playing solid basketball. The 6-foot-4 wing has excellent footwork for his size and does a really good job coming off screens and backpedaling into shots (something very difficult for young players to do), and he shoots it pretty quickly. Some improvements to his off-the-dribble game would be massive for his development, and some better quickness and jumping ability as he gets older wouldn't hurt either. But at his size and shooting ability, he has a lot of the tools you want to see at this age.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2716997"],"_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-6973eee03417e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vaz seems to be in the midst of a growth spurt, and it makes him a super intriguing prospect moving forward. For his East Providence squad, the 6-foot-5 sophomore plays a lot in the paint and overwhelms opponents with his ability to rebound the basketball and impact shots on the defensive end with his size and length. But in other contexts, it seems like he showcases a lot more guard skills and crafty footwork in the paint. Vaz looks like he's growing physically as we speak and is getting more comfortable in his body and with his skillset, so he should be a force to be reckoned with moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Aiden Prunty","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Carthage High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"City Rocks","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6973eee0341e0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Prunty doesn't look or play like a sophomore. The 6-foot-1 guard is shifty with the rock in his hands and gets excellent elevation on his mid range shot. He can also use his athleticism and strength to finish at the rim with contact, which he does very well for his size. He's putting up awesome numbers at Carthage High School this season, and I would be very surprised if he isn't at a prep school sometime soon. Some added physical growth for Prunty would totally change his college outlook, so nothing is off the table for him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->