Updated 2028 Rankings: Forwards (7-1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We recently updated our 2028 class rankings, looking at 70 of the top sophomores in the state of Virginia. Here's a look at the top 7 power forwards and centers in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7) [player_tooltip player_id='2546879' first='Pierson' last='Gray'] | 6'5” C | Benedictine (#70 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2552825,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/744-Pierson-Gray.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/744-Pierson-Gray.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2552825" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gray is a project big with some upside as he continues to grow into his body and lose his baby fat, but he does some good things and has a lot of upside as he continues to develop. He has good hands and soft touch around the rim, he understands how to use drop steps and finish off the glass, and he plays with good energy and a high motor when he's on the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6) [player_tooltip player_id='3319022' first='Bennett' last='Friday'] | 6'6” PF | Douglas Freeman (#54 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday has come on strong his sophomore season, and while he's just scratching the surface with how good he can be he is starting to understand how to be productive within his game. He has a great “in between” game as he shoots the midrange and floaters well, he always seems to be around the ball on rebounds and defensively, and he is starting to be able to step out and knock down shots from deep consistently.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5) [player_tooltip player_id='2854109' first='Iseral' last='Aeyle'] | 6'5” PF | Independence (#46 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aeyle is a player we have listed as a power forward now, but he has a chance to work on his game and end up as a true wing one day as he continues to improve. The 6'5” forward has a solid frame that allows him to bang in the paint on both ends of the floor, he can really stretch the floor and shoot it at a high clip from deep, and he is able to attack from the perimeter off the bounce too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4) [player_tooltip player_id='2918958' first='Elijah' last='Haughton'] | 6'7” PF | Benedictine (#39 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haughton is another player that is a bit of a project, but he has a lot of the tools you look for in a young post player who still has plenty of time to develop. The 6'7” forward is likely still growing with his frame having long limbs and when he grows into his body he'll likely become a very good athlete, he has the ability to face up and make shots in the midrange, he can attack off the bounce and use his length to finish, and he can run the floor and protect the rim too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3) [player_tooltip player_id='2918931' first='Jarrell' last='Hurt'] | 6'7” PF | Henrico (#29 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hurt is another guy who is still growing and is getting better day by day, and he's had a great start to his career for Henrico who is having a very good season so far this year. The 6'7” big man is a load in the paint and isn't afraid to use his strength and physicality to overpower even older players, he is starting to get more explosive and finishing above the rim more consistently, he has touch around the rim and out to the three-point line, and he's still nowhere near his full potential moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2) Jahmal Trahan | 6'5” PF | Granby (#28 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trahan is one of those new age hybrid forwards who thrives with his ability to create and play through mismatches with his blend of size, quickness and skillset that is hard to find someone to guard. At 6'5” with long arms and good athleticism he can get on the rim and hit the offensive glass, he can handle it in transition and in isolation to use his quickness to get by defenders, he can stretch the floor off the catch, and he is versatile defensively with his ability to move his feet and guard multiple positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1) [player_tooltip player_id='3336925' first='Chum' last='Kodi'] | 6'9” PF | Highland School (#18 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kodi is the younger brother of Highland star wing [player_tooltip player_id='1782692' first='Ripp' last='Kodi'], and while he's behind some other guys right now he's showing flashes of being a player to watch develop over the next few years. The 6'9” big man is already taller and bigger than his brother and may still be growing, he has the ability to stretch the floor and shoots it consistently from deep, he can run the floor in transition and is able to play above the rim, and he's got a lot of room to continue to develop and polish over the next few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->