2028 Breakout Candidates for This Spring/Summer (Part Two)

We talked about a really strong group of guys in the 2028 class yesterday that feel like they're on the verge of breaking out and with this class being as strong as it looks to be, we have more guys to talk about. This class genuinely has a chance to be one of the most complete I've seen since I've started working in the game of basketball 8 years ago. These are some key names to watch so without further delay, let's get into it!    Smith is a very gifted prospect with a skillset and frame that will quickly grab the attention of division one coaches when they see him this spring/summer. He'll be playing with [program_tooltip program_id='2220892' first='Team' last='United'] 16u on the Nike EYBL where he'll be surrounded by a bevy of other talented players. Smith provides a blend of bruising ability with outside touch and a very balanced approach to the game. Smith helped lead Queens Grant to a NCHSAA 2A State Championship this season as a Sophomore where he averaged 16.1 Points, 8.1 Rebounds, 2.3 Assists, 1.5 Steals, and 1.1 Blocks per game on 69/27/62 shooting splits. If that production is able to translate to the 16u EYBL level he'll start to get more national attention and notoriety quickly. His ability to impose his will on the inside + show the flashes of perimeter skill will make him a very sought after prospect moving forward.     Bowes is a very interesting player as he's got on-ball ability at this age with a 6'6" frame. He's got legit outside touch and will more than likely be a seamless fit with this [program_tooltip program_id='2375668' first='SW15H' last='Elite'] 16u group alongside [player_tooltip player_id='2691596' first='Julian' last='Tweedy'] and others. Bowes is a really useful piece to whatever roster he's playing on due to his versatility with the combination of size and skill. You can move him around in different spots defensively, have him operate from multiple levels of the floor offensively. As Bowes continues to add strength to his frame and really identify how to be the most productive and impactful version of himself, I fully expect his stock to soar and this summer looks to be a great setting to do it. He's also slated to have a bigger role next year at Greensboro Day and a strong summer will only have him more prepared for the task at hand.     We saw Hatch show a lot of promise over the course of this season at Christ School as they played a true national schedule as members of the Nike EYBL Scholastic. Hatch is a young big man with great size and touch around the basket with the ability to knock down some shots from the outside as well. He'll be playing this spring/summer with Team Loaded Virginia 3SSB 16u and he'll have the chance to really show that growth fro the experience he had this year vs kids his own age/grade. Hatch continues to grow into his lanky frame which will only allow him to become more impactful on the interior competing for rebounds in traffic. Hatch has great instincts as a rim protector along with the ability to make outside shots, that's a rare duo of skills that will be valuable moving forward as he progresses through the rest of his high school and into his college career. He's progressing in many areas quickly and is still producing at a quality level right now.     Brunson is a very very unique talent here in North Carolina's 2028 class and is looking like someone we'll be talking about for quite sometime. In an impressive sophomore season at Cleveland High School, Brunson averaged 22.1 Points, 9.1 Rebounds, and 2.5 Assists per game. He'll be playing this summer with Lamelo Ball's [program_tooltip program_id='2234929' first='1' last='of 1 Elite'] on the Puma PRO16 Circuit. Brunson is one of NC's best and most well rounded athletes regardless of class. His ability to be a momentum shifting finisher in transition is incredibly valuable along with the fact that his skillset is really progressing at a quality rate. Brunson's defensive upside is immense, he can truly guard almost anyone on the floor and as he continues to learn high level defensive responsibilities and fills out his frame. Brunson has a style and a motor taylor made for travel ball success and I fully believe he'll continue to show the necessary progress in his game to keep his trajectory as a national level prospect in the right direction.     Cooper possesses a great blend of size, skill, and a low maintenance style that will allow him to shine in front of college coaches. Cooper is in great shape, capable of playing big minutes with a high motor, and can bully weaker defenders when the opportunity presents itself. Cooper can get hot from the outside in an instant, he will swing multiple games with his shooting as he'll be back with [program_tooltip program_id='2078500' first='Garner' last='Road'] 16u 3SSB this spring/summer. Cooper's blend of catch n shoot ability with his downhill athleticism make him an ideal wing guard for a lot of programs. I fully expect his production to reflect his improvement this spring/summer on a [program_tooltip program_id='2078500' first='Garner' last='Road'] team that looks to be primed to do quite a bit of winning this year. If he can bring consistent production to this group, I fully expect more attention to come his way quickly.     Parker will surely rise in these next 2028 NC updates but his ability, size, and athleticism will surely grab the attention of next level programs and national scouts around the country. Parker is pushing 6'8" now, he's got that long smooth wing game that grabs the attention of many. His impact defensively and on the glass is very consistent along with his mid range game reaching refined status. As Parker continues to become a more consistent three point shooter and adds bulk to his frame, he'll only solidify himself even further as a bonafide national level prospect. He'll be playing on a stacked [program_tooltip program_id='2220892' first='Team' last='United'] 16u EYBL team this spring/summer and he should compliment the other talent on that team very well as a versatile two way piece that can help fill in almost any gap at any time. With the way he's progressed so far, it definitely appears that Parker is on track to truly tap into his long term upside over the years, if that can be on display this summer, he'll be in great shape.

We talked about a really strong group of guys in the 2028 class yesterday that feel like they're on the verge of breaking out and with this class being as strong as it looks to be, we have more guys to talk about. This class genuinely has a chance to be one of the most complete I've seen since I've started working in the game of basketball 8 years ago. These are some key names to watch so without further delay, let's get into it!