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New Names that will be entering the 2027 rankings 

New Names that will be entering the 2027 rankings 
Duvalier Johnson
Duvalier Johnson January 11, 2026 @ 12:31 PM
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In this article:

Ephraim Gallegos
Ephraim Gallegos 5'10" | PG/CG | 2027
CO
Liam Ash
Liam Ash 6'3" | PG/SG | 2027
CO
Brady Shepherd
Brady Shepherd 6'2" | SG | 2027
CO
Jaydence Smith
Jaydence Smith 5'8" | PG | 2027
CO
Noah Lucero
Noah Lucero 6'2" | SG | 2027
CO
<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you're thinking about subscribing, now is the time to lock in. With rankings dropping and full coverage of the second half of the season coming up, a monthly or yearly plan makes the most sense. Use code dev30 for 30% off and secure access for the full season so you don't miss any of our scouting.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While you lock that in, we're shifting our focus to one of the strongest classes in the state — a group that's primed for major movement over the next few years. Hot starts have launched new names into the spotlight, while others are still building toward their breakthrough. This class is far from settled, and the board is already shifting. Here are some new names that entered the 2027 rankings for the first time.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2389263"],"_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-6963ec6cc08e8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Liberty Tree is a small school team that is off to a hot start on the year. They're turning heads, and a big reason for that is the play of their do-it-all guard, Kaydence, who has been a standout on varsity since he got to high school. On the season, he's putting up 11.7 points, 3.8 steals, and has been a force on the boards at 4.2 rebounds a game. He's an assertive scorer who looks to take advantage offensively. He gets downhill, shoots open shots, and hits the mid-range as well. He's also a two-way option who turns defense to offense as he's averaging 3.3 steals a game. He's a prospect we want to got out to a few events to showcase how he fares with the rest of the class, but has been a force. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2768008"],"_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-6963ec6cc0953"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Northridge has gotten off to a rocky start to begin the season and looks to right the ship moving forward. Despite the tough start, a bright spot for the team has been shooting guard Gallegos. He's been their go-to scorer and player who has the ball in his hands. He reads and takes on double teams, he takes shots as they come, and is always looking to score. He's putting up 10.7 points a game and is joining the rankings for the first time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2414195"],"_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-6963ec6cc09a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brady is a multi-sport standout for Frontier who puts the ball in the basket and plays with extreme effort, which leads to solid plays. The team rallies behind him as he's contagious. He battles on both ends of the floor, rebounds in bunches, and keeps plays alive. He's been the team's X factor, and his play has led to a few wins. This will be the first time that he jumps into the ranking, and he's a player that we want to see get out to an event or two of ours to showcase how good he is. Solid start to the year for him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2419981"],"_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-6963ec6cc09ed"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Liam is a 6'3 prospect who has found his role and starred into it for Kent Denver. He's becoming a reliable scorer who the ball finds him, and he delivers. He's also the team's emotional leader as he leaves it all out on the court. He plays with tempo, he speeds opposing teams up, and scores in bunches. He has also had a few breakout performances, like when he finished with 21 points against Aurora Central. The team will need him to continue being a scoring option for when teams key in on slowing down the reigning player of the year. He has shown that he could be counted on. He makes the rankings for the first time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2120968"],"_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-6963ec6cc0a3e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Roosevelt has been on a tear so far and will be a team to look out for. They are deep, they're complete, and they're battle-tested. One of their reliable players is 6'3 SF, Lucero, who has been able to be productive to start the year. The athletic standout has put together his best 5-game stretch of the year, and it's no coincidence that they won all 5 of those games. He's finished in double figures in all of those games, he's been efficient, and he's also found other ways to impact the game. He's put up at least 4 rebounds and 3 assists in that stretch and has been looking like a player that should be on more radars. He jumps on the rankings for the first time, and we certainly want to see more of him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->

If you're thinking about subscribing, now is the time to lock in. With rankings dropping and full coverage of the second half of the season coming up, a monthly or yearly plan makes the most sense. Use code dev30 for 30% off and secure access for the full season so you don't miss any of our scouting. 

While you lock that in, we're shifting our focus to one of the strongest classes in the state — a group that's primed for major movement over the next few years. Hot starts have launched new names into the spotlight, while others are still building toward their breakthrough. This class is far from settled, and the board is already shifting. Here are some new names that entered the 2027 rankings for the first time. 

Jaydence Smith

Jaydence Smith

CO
PG
HEIGHT 5'8"
POS PG
CLASS 2027
View Player

Jaydence Smith

Instagram
State: Colorado
School: Liberty Tree Academy
Club: Colorado Roughriders

This evaluation is available to subscribers.

Liberty Tree is a small school team that is off to a hot start on the year. They're turning heads, and a big reason for that is the play of their do-it-all guard, Kaydence, who has been a standout on…

Subscribe to read

Is this you, Jaydence? Unlock your evaluation to everyone by subscribing →

Highlights

Ephraim Gallegos

Ephraim Gallegos

CO #162
PG/CG #38
HEIGHT 5'10"
POS PG/CG
CLASS 2027
View Player
​
Ephraim
Gallegos PG/CG
Class
2027
Height
5'10"
HS
Northridge
|
CO
New Names that will be entering the 2027 rankings 
Northridge has gotten off to a rocky start to begin the season and looks to right the ship...
Written by Duvalier Johnson
Read more at PrepHoops​.com
Prep Hoops

Ephraim Gallegos

Twitter
State: Colorado
School: Northridge

Northridge has gotten off to a rocky start to begin the season and looks to right the ship moving forward. Despite the tough start, a bright spot for the team has been shooting guard Gallegos. He's been their go-to scorer and player who has the ball in his hands. He reads and takes on double teams, he takes shots as they come, and is always looking to score. He's putting up 10.7 points a game and is joining the rankings for the first time. 

Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers. Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.

Highlights

Brady Shepherd

Brady Shepherd

CO
SG
HEIGHT 6'2"
POS SG
CLASS 2027
View Player

Brady Shepherd

Twitter
State: Colorado
School: Frontier
Club: State 38 Basketball

This evaluation is available to subscribers.

Brady is a multi-sport standout for Frontier who puts the ball in the basket and plays with extreme effort, which leads to solid plays. The team rallies behind him as he's contagious. He battles on both ends of the floor,…

Subscribe to read

Is this you, Brady? Unlock your evaluation to everyone by subscribing →

Highlights

Liam Ash

Liam Ash

CO #60
PG/SG #9
HEIGHT 6'3"
POS PG/SG
CLASS 2027
View Player
​
Liam
Ash PG/SG
Class
2027
Height
6'3"
HS
Kent Denver
|
CO
New Names that will be entering the 2027 rankings 
Liam is a 6’3 prospect who has found his role and starred into it for Kent Denver. He’s...
Written by Duvalier Johnson
Read more at PrepHoops​.com
Prep Hoops

Liam Ash

Twitter
State: Colorado
School: Kent Denver

Liam is a 6'3 prospect who has found his role and starred into it for Kent Denver. He's becoming a reliable scorer who the ball finds him, and he delivers. He's also the team's emotional leader as he leaves it all out on the court. He plays with tempo, he speeds opposing teams up, and scores in bunches. He has also had a few breakout performances, like when he finished with 21 points against Aurora Central. The team will need him to continue being a scoring option for when teams key in on slowing down the reigning player of the year. He has shown that he could be counted on. He makes the rankings for the first time. 

Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers. Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.

Highlights

Noah Lucero

Noah Lucero

CO
SG
HEIGHT 6'2"
POS SG
CLASS 2027
View Player

Noah Lucero

Instagram Twitter
State: Colorado
School: Roosevelt
Club: The Basketball Bureau

This evaluation is available to subscribers.

Roosevelt has been on a tear so far and will be a team to look out for. They are deep, they're complete, and they're battle-tested. One of their reliable players is 6'3 SF, Lucero, who has been able to be…

Subscribe to read

Is this you, Noah? Unlock your evaluation to everyone by subscribing →

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