Five 2029 prospects making a case for a rise in the rankings

Our updated rankings for the current high school classes won't publish until the end of July when the dust settles from the grassroots season and for the 2029 class specifically, the last few months have been a tremendous opportunity to track the development of several prospects who are building an argument for a potential boost.   June and July will be major evaluation periods both for us scouts and college coaches who get on the road for live recruiting periods and more times than not, a player's ability to perform when the lights are brightest should allow some clarity on where we'll settle once the update is published.   For now, here are some 2029 prospect who I believe are making serious pushes to improve their current spot.   Harlem Nunez | Mt. Zion Prep/[program_tooltip program_id='2078457' first='Team' last='Durant']   Current ranking: No. 3   The discussion for No. 1 is heating up. [player_tooltip player_id='2767938' first='Jordan' last='Costley'] has had a firm hold on the top spot since the class rankings debuted with [player_tooltip player_id='2536485' first='Nas' last='Abraham'] at No. 2. Both prospects are young for their grade and show as much promise as you'd like for two players at their respective positions playing key roles throughout their freshman campaigns. As for Nunez, he spent his freshman year playing on The Grind Session among some of the top players in the country and had flashes of big time potential throughout the winter, but this spring the 6-foot-8 southpaw forward has been a dominant force for an undefeated [program_tooltip program_id='2078457' first='Team' last='Durant'] 15s group averaging 10.3PPG, 8.4RPG and 3.7 stocks (steals + blocks) per game. His tenacity around the rim on both ends of the floor and the impact that he's had on winning is undeniable. While the youth that Costley and Abraham bring to the table, Nunez has forced us into strong consideration for a potential move to the top spot of the class with sustained production.   [player_tooltip player_id='2194778' first='Jeremiah' last='Williams'] | Walter Johnson/Boo Williams   Current ranking: No. 51   Spoiler alert: Williams will be our highest riser in the next update and it may not be close. His play at Walter Johnson this season had our attention but the signs that Williams has shown this spring will demand a spot within the top-10, and I'd be bullish on saying he's closer to No. 1 than he is No. 10. The 6-foot-5 guard has been on a tear with Boo Williams 15s averaging over 17PPG and 7.6RPG as the primary offensive option. The stats that he has put up in Capitol Hoops Summer League play are video game-like, scoring 39 and 38 points in two games respectively. Ever since I first got eyes on Williams in 7th grade, his IQ for the game was apparent as was his ability to put the ball in the bucket, but sprouting up to 6-foot-5 and still growing has unlocked many other layers to his game. His length is resulting in above the rim finishes, tallying blocks as the weak side rotating defender and allows him to see over the defense to make passes that lead you to believe he could be a main offensive cog once he gets to the next level. Take in mind his progression over the last nine months coupled with his strong bloodlines and Williams is in a great position to take off these next couple of years.   <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/chase-johnson-6/">[player_tooltip player_id='3317662' first='Chase' last='Johnson']</a> | West Nottingham/[program_tooltip program_id='2077005' first='Team' last='Thrill']   Current ranking: No. 35   Johnson spent much of his freshman season earning minutes off the bench for a championship Mount Carmel team, but has decided to change course and transfer to West Nottingham where he hopes to be the main ball-handling option for the Rams. He possesses quick twitch, end-to-end speed with the ball in his hands and is one of the best at his position in this local class at manipulating the defense with his eyes to zip passes into tight windows. Johnson brings a ton of pride to his individual matchup defensively and with his lateral quickness, is a guy who can help dictate pace from the point of attack at that end. Watching how his game progresses as a floor general and vocal leader will be interesting the next two months, but I'll be able to evaluate him in various settings to determine how much of a bump he could/should receive.   [player_tooltip player_id='3068852' first='Zach' last='Tchoubfong'] | Good Counsel/[program_tooltip program_id='2078457' first='Team' last='Durant']   Current ranking: No. 16   Another member from this talented Durant 15s group is Tchoubfong. Currently ranked in the top-20, the month of June will be a big one for him and for us determining how high he moves up from his current position at No. 16. He's built like an upperclassman and has shown improvement with his playmaking off the dribble. He'll be one of the main options-and arguably the top option-on Good Counsel this season, which means he'll get plenty of reps to make mistakes and learn from them. Right now though, he's an aggressive scoring guard who can easily slide to the wing or even the forward position thanks to his blend of size, physicality and athleticism. He's a capable shot maker both off the catch and off the bounce. He isn't shy about getting them up either. He's a mismatch nightmare given his frame and ability to get to his spots whether it be from the mid-post with his back to the basket or quick iso's from the perimeter. When his mind is set to it, he can be a bullish rebounder and poses as a grab-and-go threat that can put pressure on the defense in transition. Continuing to learn what a good shot diet consists of, learning how to make those around him better and steering Good Counsel to wins in the WCAC this season will all have immense impact on his development moving forward.   [player_tooltip player_id='3575281' first='Bryden' last='Tema'] | Governor Thomas Johnson/[program_tooltip program_id='2077005' first='Team' last='Thrill']   Current ranking: No. 70   Tema impressed in my latest viewing at The Clash of the Titans where he strung together two strong performances and showed why his best basketball remains ahead of him. A 6-foot-5 forward with a motor that runs high, effort and intensity are never in question. Adjusting to the speed and habits that come with a higher level of basketball have been a process, but he seems to be turning a corner and gaining more confidence calling his own number. He's a bruiser who can finish through contact on rip-throughs from the high-post, has dependable mitts when he's parked in either dunker's spot and even showed some nice touch on his jumper from the free-throw line and beyond the arc. A kid with Tema's size and intensity was bound to stand out and impact the game on both ends of the floor.

Our updated rankings for the current high school classes won't publish until the end of July when the dust settles from the grassroots season and for the 2029 class specifically, the last few months have been a tremendous opportunity to track the development of several prospects who are building an argument for a potential boost.