Central Cali's Class of 2027 Player Rankings (4.0): 31-40

This is the 4th version of the Class of 2027 Player Rankings, with the first two rounds of player rankings for this class located at the Nothing But Net Magazine website, and the last round here at Prep Hoops. I have updated this list to include the 2025-2026 high school basketball season and postseason, as well as the Spring portion of the club season. I have expanded this list from 30 to 50 players from around the Central Section. This list of players was compiled using my own evaluations, along with feedback from knowledgeable media, coaches, and other relevant basketball personnel from the Section, to make up the top 50 junior prospects for this updated round of player rankings for the 2027 Class. However, the order of players on this list is my own. This list takes into consideration two key factors in determining where players are ranked, and will be the same criteria used each time this list is updated. The criteria for these rankings are as follows: current skill level and production on the court, as well as future projection at the collegiate level. Below are the next 10 players of these players rankings, #31 to 40, and will be followed by the last 10 players, #41 to 50. In this article, you will find the following information: current rank, their previous rank in parentheses, the player's name, height, player position, and current school they are attending. I know some of the players on this list will be,or are already at different schools, but I will update that in the next round of these player rankings. We begin this updated list with Jacob Wheeler of Redwood of Visalia.   31 (38) Jacob Wheeler (6'4 | WF) - Redwood (Visalia CA)   Wheeler moves up 7 spots in this updated list and drops in at #31. Wheeler had a solid junior campaign for the Rangers as he would average 14 points and 8 rebounds per game, which earned him 2nd Team All-East Yosemite League honors. Wheeler has the footwork and moves to score in the paint, as well as the perimeter moves to create and score off the perimeter. Wheeler has enough handle to attack from the top of the key, is accurate with the face-up mid-post jumper, and has the physical build to score through contact at the basket. Wheeler makes good use of the spin-move to separate from his defender and score at the basket, is active on the boards to get put-back buckets, and runs the floor well in transition. Wheeler gets to his shot spots on the perimeter, has good size to shoot over smaller defenders, and is effective with the 3-ball off the catch to open up the court. Wheeler and standout sophomore Kendrick Leung will be tasked with leading the new look Rangers, and it starts this coming month of June.    32 (19) James Galpin (6'5 | WF) - Immanuel (Reedley CA)   Galpin moves out of the top 20 for this round of player rankings and comes in at #32. Galpin earned 2nd Team All-Tri-County Kings Canyon League and was a key piece for the Eagles this past season. Galpin crashes the boards on both ends, has nice touch on shots around the basket, is accurate with the face-up jumper from the mid-post, has enough handle to put the ball on the deck and attack the basket, with the body control to score through contact around the basket. Galpin can space the floor with the 3-ball, has the court vision to make reads from the top of the key or when posting up on the low-block, alter shots in the paint, and is a dual threat out of the pick and roll action. Galpin uses his long strides to score in the open court, will be the featured player for the Eagles next season, and is an intriguing prospect to keep an eye on.    33 (14) Jahlil Montgomery (6'3 | WF) - Clovis North (Fresno CA)   Montgomery drops in at #33 in this updated list of players, and was the defensive backbone for the Broncos this season. Montgomery impacts the game in various ways, as was evident with his season averages of 7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game, and was named to the TRAC Honorable Mention team. Montgomery is an elite defender that has the length and strength to hold up against bigger players in the post, active hands and lateral foot-speed to stay in front of his opponent, and has the insects and timing to jump passing lanes, poke the ball out, or deflect entry passes to get out in the open court for transition buckets. Montgomery is active on the boards, gets easy put-backs off the glass, has the handle and moves to attack off the wing, get into the paint, and has the physical build with the body control to score through contact at the basket. He is able to space the floor with the 3-ball, and his scoring role will likely increase this coming season with the team's top two scorers graduating.   34 (NR) Nehemiah Croney (6'1 | CG) - Highland (Bakersfield CA)   Croney makes his debut on this list of player rankings, coming in at #34. Croney had a statement season for the Scots, leading his team in scoring at 15 points per game, to go along with 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 3.4 steals a game, which earned him 1st Team All-South Yosemite Valley League honors, as well as Defensive Player of the Year. Croney has solid handles, keeps the dribble alive to probe the defense, has the moves to create space from his defender, using the crossover, behind-cross, and hesitation to get his defender off balance, gets good lift on the jumper with touch on the mid-range shot, is a creative finisher around the basket, with use of the Euro-step, reverse lay-up, and floater down the lane, moves fluidly off the ball to get to his shot spots, and is accurate with the 3-ball off the catch. Croney has active hands, good instincts and timing, and the foot-speed to stay in his opponents dribble space, deflects entry passes, jumps passing lanes, or pokes the ball out to get out in transition and get easy buckets. Croney is poised for a big senior season.   35 (NR) Ladell Brooks (6' | CG) - McLane (Fresno CA)   Rounding out the top 35 and making his debut on this list of players is Section champ Ladell Brooks. Brooks was a key piece for the Highlanders this season, helping his team earn the #2 seed in the D4 Section playoffs behind his average of double-digit scoring with 10 points per game. Brooks earned 2nd Team All-North Yosemite League honors, and had a huge showing in the D4 Section title with 16 points and 4 threes to help his team win the championship trophy. Brooks has solid handles, has the moves to create off the dribble, moves fluidly off the ball to get to his shot spots, and is accurate from beyond the arc off the catch, where he can score in volume. Brooks is solid on the boards, has active hands and good footwork to stay in front of his opponent, gets into his opponents dribbling space, and looks to generate turnovers that lead to his team getting out in the open court and running. Brooks will be relied upon to keep the level of success going with McLane's top two scorers graduating this week.   36 (30) AJ Williams (6'3 | WF) - Hanford (CA)   Williams comes in at #36 in this updated player list, moving down 6 spots from the previous round of player rankings. Williams had a strong junior season and was tasked with holding the team afloat while the three 30-day sit out players waited to be cleared by January 6th, and putting up solid stats across the board, with averages of 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, and earned 1st Team All-West Yosemite League honors, helping lead Hanford to a three way tie for the WYL title. Williams crashes the boards on both ends, outlets the ball quickly to get up the court for easy transition baskets, gets put-backs off the glass, has active hands, a long wingspan, and good lateral quickness to stay in front of his opponent, causing havoc on the ball, with the timing and instincts to jump passing lanes, deflect passes, or poke the ball out to get in the open court. Williams has the handles and moves to create off the bounce, gets into the paint with a good burst off the dribble, and has the physical build to score through contact at the basket. Williams is effective with the mid-range jumper off the dribble and moves off the ball to get open perimeter looks off the catch.    37 (NR) Maxx Hoffman-Carter (6'4 | WG) - North Bakersfield (CA)   Hoffman-Carter makes his debut in this list of players and comes in at #37. Hoffman-Carter joined the Stars during league play and was a needed spark plug to help with scoring and ease some pressure from the Saenz brothers. Hoffman-Carter moves well off the ball to get to his shot spots, has the length to shoot over most perimeter defenders, is accurate with the 3-ball off the catch, has the moves to create off the wing, is effective with the mid-range jumper, and slashes off the ball to get to open spots around the basket. Hoffman-Carter is active on the boards, runs the floor well in transition, and will be a key factor for the Stars next season.      38 (NR) Aaron Gonzalez (6'3 | WF) - Justin Garza (Fresno CA)   Gonzalez is another player making his debut on this list and drops in at #38. Gonzalez was the ideal fit to go along with the guard play for the Guardians, as he plays bigger than his listed height, is solid on the boards on both ends, alters shots in the paint or on the perimeter, has the lateral quickness to stay in front of smaller players, and the length to hold up against taller players, and has nice touch on shots around the basket. Gonzalez is effective with the mid-range jumper, can space the floor with the 3-ball on occasion, and excels in open court play. He averages 9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game this season, and will be a core piece for the Guardians next season.    39 (NR) Caleb DeLong (6'7 | PF) - Sanger (CA)   DeLong drops in at #39 on this updated list of players, making his debut. DeLong has an athletic and physical build to assert himself in the paint, is a monster on the boards, with quick leaping and timing to corral the ball, has good touch on put-backs off the glass, is a great rim protector in the post, has good court vision to make reads out of the post, and throws down some monster dunks slashing from the baseline or down the lane, as well as in the open court.     40 (NR) Josiah Frink (6'4 | WG) - Ridgeview (Bakersfield CA)   Rounding out the Top 40 and making his initial appearance on this list is Josiah Frink. The lengthy and athletic wing/guard was one of the bright spots for the Wolfpack this season, as he would lead the team in scoring and earned 2nd Team All-South Yosemite Valley League honors. Frink has solid handles, uses the crossover, hesitation, and behind-cross to create space from his defender, is effective with the jumper from the mid-range to the 3-point line, and is a crafty scorer around the basket. He is active on the glass, can push the ball in the open court, and is a threat to deflect passes, jump passing lanes, and alter shots on the wing.

This is the 4th version of the Class of 2027 Player Rankings, with the first two rounds of player rankings for this class located at the Nothing But Net Magazine website, and the last round here at Prep Hoops. I have updated this list to include the 2025-2026 high school basketball season and postseason, as well as the Spring portion of the club season. I have expanded this list from 30 to 50 players from around the Central Section. This list of players was compiled using my own evaluations, along with feedback from knowledgeable media, coaches, and other relevant basketball personnel from the Section, to make up the top 50 junior prospects for this updated round of player rankings for the 2027 Class. However, the order of players on this list is my own. This list takes into consideration two key factors in determining where players are ranked, and will be the same criteria used each time this list is updated. The criteria for these rankings are as follows: current skill level and production on the court, as well as future projection at the collegiate level. Below are the next 10 players of these players rankings, #31 to 40, and will be followed by the last 10 players, #41 to 50. In this article, you will find the following information: current rank, their previous rank in parentheses, the player's name, height, player position, and current school they are attending. I know some of the players on this list will be,or are already at different schools, but I will update that in the next round of these player rankings. We begin this updated list with Jacob Wheeler of Redwood of Visalia.