Risers With Buzz: 2028s who gained ground in the rankings

Some players make noise, and some just quietly force their way into the conversation. This group did a little of both. The rankings just dropped, and these are the names that kept showing up in the right moments, stacking performances and making it harder to keep them where they were. Take a look at 5 names that continue to catch my attention and rose this time around.   Use code dev30 for 30% off and secure access as we're going through rankings and preparing you for grassroots season. You don't want to miss any of our scouting.     Rich is a player who will be making another jump in the rankings after putting up another stellar individual season. He has jumped in each rankings but this year is where he really put the state on notice as he was named as an All-State Honorable mention as only a sophomore. Rich filled it up this season, finishing with 17.9 points a game and scoring in double figures in all but one game, and that was despite each team playing him with a box-and-one and sending double teams. The 6'4 do-it-all wing checks off plenty of boxes as a solid rebounder (7.9 rpg), he makes smart reads, and finishes above the basket. This season, he looked more assertive, he took over offensively, and his athleticism shone through. He will make a rise in the rankings this go round, and I am sure he also has a monster summer where there can be room to grow.       Diggins is making a massive jump in the rankings after having a season where he helped lead Forge Christian to a deep playoff run and looked like one of 3A's best. In the playoffs, he really elevated his game as the offense ran through him; he stepped up his rebounding output and also relentlessly got to the rim. Diggins finished up the year averaging 12.2 points and 5.5 rebounds a game. They put the ball in his hands and let him operate, and now he's taken that momentum into the summer. Diggins is an electric player in this class who will be on more radars moving forward. Get eyes on Wiggins if you can.      Kabongo's growth over the course of the season was hard to ignore, evolving into a reliable scoring option with strong on-ball creation. He was not playing with the team in the Fall, played seldomly to start the year, but hit his groove to start out the new year. Izzy showed himself as a reliable scorer who excels in isolation. He breaks defenders down off the dribble and finishes well at the basket. He battles for boards, he sets up the offense, and played himself into being the 2nd leading scorer for Grandview at 8 points a game. I'm excited to see how he continues to elevate his game, and this should be a big summer for him.     Grand Junction was a surprise standout team this season as they turned plenty of heads and earned some respect across the state. A young player who stood out for them was their sophomore guard, [player_tooltip player_id='2392561' first='Will' last='Weirath']. Weirath finished with 12.7 points a game and had some big-time scoring performances. He was steady and consistent as a scorer; he got downhill and in transition, opened up the defense with his outside shot, and also turned defense into offense. Weirath was hunting shots and showed he could be the team's go-to scorer when called upon, and is going to be a name to keep an eye on moving forward.      Timnath went 23-4 on the year and had plenty of seniors who helped push them on their deep run. [player_tooltip player_id='2823250' first='Cody' last='Nelson'] is a player who caught my attention and is my pick for the surprise breakout candidate for next year, and you got to see that at times this year for Timnath, where he showcased the ability to impact the game in various ways. Nelson averaged 6.8 points a game in a limited role. He made smart passes and showcased a high IQ. He knows where he's supposed to be on the floor, he spaces the floor, and cuts for finishes. Nelson had some big games this year, and I think that was just the tip of the iceberg. We saw him for the opening weekend of the grassroots season, and he looks to be on a mission right now. Nelson is going to make a jump in the rankings this go-round with more to prove.

Some players make noise, and some just quietly force their way into the conversation. This group did a little of both. The rankings just dropped, and these are the names that kept showing up in the right moments, stacking performances and making it harder to keep them where they were. Take a look at 5 names that continue to catch my attention and rose this time around.