2028 Rankings Update: Breaking down the top PAISAA prospects

January saw an update to our statewide 2028 rankings, with several new prospects and others making a move up the board. Keep reading for a look at the top handful of prospects among PAISAA programs.    Among the more highly-touted forwards nationally, Chwastyk has quickly made the transition from prospect to player after showing enticing flashes off the bench throughout his freshman year. The inside-out threat has emerged as one of the most effective frontcourt players in the area while averaging 16 points as a consistent double-double threat. He's effective moving without the ball to work into position for easy buckets inside while also showing promising glimpses of individual shot-creation and floor-spacing ability. He runs the floor with ease and despite still being on the lighter side has developed into an impactful rebounder and rim protector already. Chwastyk is quickly developing into a prospect with the chance to be recruited at the very highest levels.     Coming off a summer in which he led the 15U Nike circuit in scoring, Phillips has continued to establish himself as one of the more potent bucket-getters in the class. The Archbishop Wood (PA) transfer has consistently been among the leading scorers for a Westtown team that may be the best in the entire state. He's physical and explosive attacking the rim both in the halfcourt and transition, with a polished midrange game and growing comfort as a shooter out to the arc. While certainly inclined to score, things look to be slowing down for him as a playmaker as well. It should only be a matter of time before high-majors have Phillips on their radar.     With two years of varsity reps under his belt as a bench piece behind three high-major upperclassmen, Smith has broken out in a big way under the spotlight of a featured role for the Quakers. The leading scorer among Inter-Ac players at 20.9 points a game, he's emerged as a three-level scoring threat with particular effectiveness as a dexterous and explosive slasher off the dribble. He shows growing comfort in ball screen situations while standing out as a valuable connective playmaker. Defensively, he's an instinctive and twitchy playmaker who racks up blocks and steals from the backcourt. He's shown consistently why he already has the interest of several Power 5 programs.     Making the move from Nazareth (NY) where he saw limited varsity exposure, Valera Melo has been a bit up and down under the gauntlet of Phelps' national schedule but the high notes have been loud enough to clearly warrant his status as a top 10 prospect in the state. The Dominican-born swingman stands out immediately with his size and length on the perimeter while moving with an alluring blend of grace and explosiveness. He's most effective as a shotmaker from the perimeter with a beautiful high release that he can get to in innumerable ways off the catch or dribble. He shows promising instincts as a defensive playmaker and rebounder, and there appears to be upside in his ability as a scorer and playmaker off the dribble. He'll have a chance to rise from his current ranking with added consistency moving forward, but is already on track to be on high-major radars before long.     The biggest stock-riser in the upper portion of the rankings, Knight has established himself as one of the area's premier young frontcourt prospects during his first season of varsity experience. He's thrived as a high-motor two-way interior presence in a condensed role off the bench, with the type of frame and coordination that point to high-major potential if things continue to progress from here. What makes things so interesting with Knight is his rate of improvement having just picked up the game seriously within the past couple years. He'll have a chance to make some serious noise as soon as this spring and summer on the 16U Adidas circuit.

January saw an update to our statewide 2028 rankings, with several new prospects and others making a move up the board. Keep reading for a look at the top handful of prospects among PAISAA programs.