Live Period Viewpoint: 2028 Frontcourt Prospects

What do college programs need?  Size.  We give you a group of juniors-to-be to keep an eye on this July in the frontcourt!    When it comes to impressive videos in the 2028 class I have been looking at in the upper midwest, you can count on one hand the video that I would say is as impressive as Delp's.  This is a player that has tools at 6'8 as a skilled face-up forward that most just don't have.  People talk about agility and apply it to getting to the rim and moving on defense, but people forget how well that connects with shooters to get open, and Delp uses his size and agility to set up shots so well.  This is a 62/40/80 split shooter that does a great job getting open and then showing that range.  Delp also has some of the better face-up forward with height handles that you will see.     When I look at the Navarro film two phrases come to mind: crafty paint play and defensive playmaker. Between the fakes and the footwork Gaige is a player that does a brilliant job getting to space for his release and you can tell that the work he's put in has directly led to his 63 percent shooting for his sophomore season.  Navarro is so good with the shoulder turn and as he gets stronger with age, it's going to be even tougher to stop.  Then you add in the face up touch for a 45 percent three point shooting and you find an excellent scorer for the high school level and SSA.  Then you add in the defense.  This is fighter in the post that forces passes to go elsewhere or he deflects/steals/blocks/disrupts.      You are seeing more and more combo forwards at the college level coming up from mid-major to the high major level and playing versatile games.  Guys that use their physicality to score but also their agility and skill level to do things away from the rim.  Basically what you would call a man's game:  back you in and score, or beat you with the dribble and finish over the top as the defender scrambles to get to his balance.  That is what I see from Isaiah and that is why every time I have talked to a Midwest Recruit Look team or a college coach that recruits this area, Sayles is one of the players they instantly want to talk about.  Players that can be physical and shy away from it are slipping in the eyes of schools, guys that are embracing what they can physically do and use that as a go-to, and then skillfully work with it are drawing the love from college coaches.  Isaiah is physically asserting himself and that has led to a load of VWBA.      At the Prep Hoops Hoop Fest in May I had a message from both a worker at the event and a college coach asking about plays that this Pittsburg wing talent was making.  Ryder was the go to go guy for his team and that says something, but some of his splash plays really spoke to some potential. Time will be needed to see what that potential is but Ryder can explosively finish, he can attack, and his help side and one pass defense leads to a lot of defensive playmaking. And never have we been in a time where defensive playmaking in help has been more focused on.     The 6'7 frontcourt player from Wichita East has the look of one that can eventually earn the looks of college coaches in the modern game.  When you are 6'7 and growing with the ability to get up and down the floor and use length, you are a player that college coaches put in their notebook and keep an eye on. Defensively they want guys that can laterally step and show to the ball, but also recover and make a play on the ball to the rim if needed.  In looking at Butler tape with One of Us we see that.  And….. Butler has the ability to rim run or be a trail pop guy, and he can make that choice and do those things as well.  What you are seeing Butler start to get comfortable with is the type of game that players with size compete with at the next level.     A player from [program_tooltip program_id='2078454' first='KC' last='Run GMC'] that has dealt with injury, Zach's video really brought me to the word unique.  His first step for a long player that is 6'6 is truly something that is unique to me.  You can see guards switching to him or forwards recovering to him and Zach wins the corner and then uses that length to complete plays. When Zach rips through to the attack, or fakes one way and goes the other, that first step has left many forwards frozen.  And he has been able to finish contested shots right or left, and non contested, that's a physical throw down. Zach's length and quickness has the potential to be a major helpside shot blocking/shot contesting threat.  The type of potential that could have a Jaden McDaniels like impact on the high school side.

What do college programs need? Size. We give you a group of juniors-to-be to keep an eye on this July in the frontcourt!