Rankings Update: The 2028 Shooting Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we continue our rankings coverage for the&nbsp;<em>Class of 2028</em>&nbsp;with a look at the&nbsp;<em>shooting guards</em> - with 21 prospects at the position appearing in our latest rankings update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2194726' first='Brayden' last='Buckley']</em></strong> checks in as the top ranked <em>shooting guard</em> in this update and is ranked <strong><em>#10</em></strong> overall. The <em>Thayer Academy</em> prospect has the ability to play on or off the ball, is a creative scorer at multiple levels, and has a nice combintion of functional athleticism and strength.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five more&nbsp;<em>shooting guards</em>&nbsp;of note from this rankings update:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2883038"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f49fde57de6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Earle, a guard out of <em>Wilbraham &amp; Monson Academy</em> in Massachusetts, ranks <strong><em>#</em></strong><em><strong>2</strong></em> among the <em>shooting guards</em> and checks in at <strong><em>#11</em></strong> overall in this update. The 6'3" guard has a physically advanced build, plays with a lot of skill, and has proven to be a multi-level scorer. He makes good decisions with the ball in his hands, is capable of knocking down shots from behind the arc, and can really get out and finish around the rim in transition. Defensively, he can guard any spot on the perimeter, knows where to be in rotations, and does a nice job of rebounding from the guard spot. Earle will be playing his travel ball with the <em>Middlesex Magic</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3595275"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f49fde57e70"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hammond, a guard out of <em>Cushing Academy</em> in Massachusetts, ranks <strong><em>#12</em></strong> among the <em>shooting guards</em> and checks in at <strong><em>#66</em></strong> overall in this update. The 6'3" guard is a plus athlete that has the ability to play on or off the ball, he gets by the initial defender with a quick first step, and finishes with some creativity around the rim. He's at his best in transition and has showed some improvement as a perimeter shooter. Defensively, he has the ability to guard either perimeter spot, showing good lateral mobility and the ability to keep opposing ball-handlers in front of him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2568486"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f49fde57ecc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wheeler, a guard out of the <em>MacDuffie School</em> in Massachusetts, ranks <strong><em>#15</em></strong> among the <em>shooting guards</em> and checks in at <strong><em>#86</em></strong> overall in this update. The 6'4" guard has added strength and is playing with more athleticism than ever before. He's an instinctive cutter that can finish plays above the rim, does a nice job of making decisions with the ball in his hands, and has clean mechanics on his jumper. He moves well without the ball, can score it from all three levels, and does a nice job of using his athleticism to finish with creativity around the rim. Defensively, he makes plays in passing lanes and has the ability to guard up and down a position. He'll run on the travel circuit with <em>Team Sims</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2883064"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f49fde57f22"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Maxson, a guard out of the <em>Pingree School</em> in Massachusetts, ranks <strong><em>#</em></strong><em><strong>19</strong></em> among the <em>shooting guards</em> and checks in at <strong><em>#103</em></strong> overall in this update. The 6'0" guard asserted himself as one of the region's top scorers this winter, putting the ball in the basket at a blistering rate for <em>Pingree</em>. He plays with creativity off the bounce, knows how to keep defenders off balance, and has the ability to elevate over the defense to get his jumper off. His ability to create offense allows him to stand out and he's really improved as a creator for others with the ball in his hands. Maxson plays with <em>BABC</em> on the travel circuit and will head to the <em>Tilton School</em> in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2964878"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69f49fde57f78"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Zhou, a guard out of the <em>Williston Northampton School</em> in Massachusetts, ranks <strong><em>#20</em></strong> among the <em>shooting guards</em> and checks in at <strong><em>#123</em></strong> overall in this update. The 6'3" guard is an efficient scorer that can light it up from behind the arc. He does a nice job of using screens to get open off the ball, is consistently shot ready on the catch, and has the ability to make shots in bunches from three. He's improved with the ball in his hands and does a nice job of getting into his mid-range game off the bounce. Defensively, he can guard all three spots on the perimeter and is able to keep opposing ball-handlers out of the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check back later this week as we continue our positional breakdowns for the&nbsp;<em>Class of 2028</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->