2027 Rankings Update: Stock-Risers in the Top 25

<p>Our updated class of 2027 rankings in Southern California featured a good amount of movement, including 43 new additions and a number of prospects who played their way into major stock-rising bumps up the board. In this piece we break down the players who trended upward in the Top 25.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2915701' first='OJ' last='Popoola'] | Palisades | Previous: 17 | New: 7</h4>   <p>Popoola earned Los Angeles City Section Player of the Year honors after leading Palisades to a City Section Open Division championship and has emerged as one of the most versatile two-way wing prospects in the class. The 6-foot-5 lefty is a three-level scoring threat with an intriguing combination of fluid and explosive athleticism to go along with a sturdy frame that allows him to take contact to his defender and score through it. It's a pick-your-poison situation with Popoola due to his mid-range and three-point shooting ability which helped him jump into our Top 10 rankings at No. 7.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2916690' first='Damarion' last='Landry'] | Oak Hills | Previous: 31 | New: 14</h4>   <p>Landry is one of the more naturally-gifted prospects in the state and that, along with his size, length, quick-twitch athleticism and explosiveness lends to his upside as a long-term prospect. The 6-foot-7 wing is a dynamic open court scorer who uses his long strides, wingspan and elite vertical leaping ability to close on the rim quickly, put pressure on the defense and score at the rim with touch or power. Landry jumped 16 spots to No. 14.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2435370' first='Pierce' last='Thompson'] | Harvard-Westlake | Previous: 39 | New: 16</h4>   <p>Thompson stepped into a major role as the second option for traditional Mission League and Open Division power Harvard-Westlake and excelled as a do-everything type of player. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard is a deep-range three-point shooter off the catch, can attack closeouts on the wing and get into the lane to create for himself and others, but what Thompson may do best is move, cut and slash into open space off the ball. His basketball IQ is through the roof and his willingness and ability to blend into a team atmosphere or be the go-to guy shows his versatility as a player. Thompson bumped up 23 spots from No. 39 to No. 16.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2436269' first='Brandon' last='Granger'] | St. Bernard | Previous: 23 | New: 17</h4>   <p>There are few players in Southern California with a better scoring feel than Granger. What the 5-foot-9 guard lacks in size he makes up for with confidence, creativity and elite shot-making ability. Granger is super slithery with the ball in his hands as his combination of burst, shiftiness and changes of speed and direction make him tough to contain in open court and ball screen offense. When he gets a paint touch, Granger can score with a tough floater over a big or a pull-up jumper. What I like most about him - and why he moved up six spots into the Top 20 - is the self-belief and confidence he brings to the floor.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1945830' first='EJ' last='Popoola'] | Palisades | Previous: 33 | New: 18</h4>   <p>The other half of the dynamic Popoola Twins, EJ, also saw his stock rise in the most recent rankings update. The 6-foot-5 wing blends his physical athleticism with length, an aggressive slashing mentality in half-court and transition offense and the ability to move without the ball as a lob threat finisher. EJ is also a capable three-point shooter off the catch who jumped into the Top 20 from No. 33.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2436285' first='Carter' last='Fulton'] | Rolling Hills Prep | Previous: 32 | New: 24</h4>   <p>Fulton always stands out as a high-motor, ultra-competitive point guard who is one of the fastest players with the ball in his hands in the state. His blurring speed puts immense pressure on defenses in transition and leads to paint touches where he attacks the rim with confidence or sprays the ball out to an open teammate. The 6-foot point guard is a disruptive on-ball defender whose quick hands and lateral speed allow him to speed up opposing ball handlers and take them, and the team's offense, out of rhythm. Fulton received a small bump from No. 32 to No. 24.</p>

Our updated class of 2027 rankings in Southern California featured a good amount of movement, including 43 new additions and a number of prospects who played their way into major stock-rising bumps up the board. In this piece we break down the players who trended upward in the Top 25.