High-Upside 2029s who rose in the rankings

The 2029 rankings dropped today, and we wanted to give some love to the risers in the rankings. These are the kinds of prospects you keep going back to because the flashes are hard to ignore. The athleticism jumps out first, but the more important part is seeing how their games are starting to catch up to the tools. Some are still scratching the surface, others are beginning to put real stretches together, but all of them showed a ton this Spring and have high expectations heading into the Summer to earn serious movement in the rankings. The upside here is real, and we took notice.   Use code dev30 for 30% off and secure access as we're going through rankings and got you covered for the grassroots season. You don't want to miss any of our scouting.     Styles is a player that we saw playing during the season and now in Spring ball, and he just appears to be getting better and better. He's trending upward because of the physical tools, which are difficult to teach, but he's also an explosive athlete who finishes above the rim, rebounds outside his area, and is impactful defensively. Styles has great timing and instincts, and that can just affect so many shots around the basket. What will take him to the next level and has him really intriguing is his work offensively. He's starting to look more comfortable attacking downhill and scoring in bunches in the paint. He's a force. There's still another level for him skill-wise, and if he reaches that, he could potentially be a top-3 player in the class when it's all said and done. He's one of the biggest risers in the class as he jumps into the Top-10.     Mahlberg already had our attention, but the way he opened the Spring made it clear he deserved another jump. He's a confident combo guard who processes the game quickly. He consistently plays under control while still creating offense for himself and teammates. Mahlberg affects the game in so many ways that it's difficult to key in on the best part of his game, and that versatility is what makes him one of the best players in the class. He's balanced. He's comfortable with or without the ball, he spaces the floor, attacks gaps, and makes advanced reads. The pace he plays with stands out, and he's very composed. I'm curious to see what he looks like by Summer's end, and I believe he will have a huge sophomore year. Mahlberg makes a rise in the rankings.     Alexander may have as much natural upside as anyone in the group because the athletic flashes are real and they happen often. He covers ground effortlessly, gets to spots physically, and plays above the rim with ease. What really caught my attention was how much better he looked against stronger competition, especially defensively, where his instincts and recovery ability showed up. Alexander has been on a tear to start the Spring, and the ball seems to find him. Once the consistency, motor, and overall focus fully align, there's a chance he takes a massive leap. If he continues to play as he has to start the grassroots season. I'm expecting him to be a big name to watch in the class. He's making a huge jump in the rankings as this is his debut.     Russo is a player who was very productive this year on varsity and has a solid start to his high school career. He's a player who plays with a burst that immediately changes the pace of the game. Russo is a downhill scorer with real speed; he consistently pressures defenses and shows why he already contributed at the varsity level as a freshman. We've seen that at one of our tournaments this Spring already, as he played his level and it wasn't fair. Defensively, he has the tools to guard multiple spots and disrupt actions when fully engaged. You can tell the versatility from playing multiple sports translates to how naturally he moves. The upside here continues to point upward, and we have high expectations for him this year. He makes a rise in the rankings.     Barry continues to look like a big with legitimate long-term upside because of the combination of size, and instincts. What goes quietly about his game is his defensive impact, and if he hones in on that part of his game, it will be the reason that he plays at the next level. He changes shots, rebounds well, and has started to look more comfortable physically against older competition. He's played extremely well with his team as they've been competing against the top teams in the state as well as nationally, and we also got to see him compete with the older guys as well. He shows that he can fit in and stand out, and the tools translate. The explosiveness and finishing ability are there as he's had some highlight dunks and finishes, and now it's about consistently imposing that presence at the varsity level. He made a rise in the rankings and will continue to rise as his game evolves. Solid prospect.

The 2029 rankings dropped today, and we wanted to give some love to the risers in the rankings. These are the kinds of prospects you keep going back to because the flashes are hard to ignore. The athleticism jumps out first, but the more important part is seeing how their games are starting to catch up to the tools. Some are still scratching the surface, others are beginning to put real stretches together, but all of them showed a ton this Spring and have high expectations heading into the Summer to earn serious movement in the rankings. The upside here is real, and we took notice.