2028 forwards who helped themselves this summer

The summertime is always a season of separation, with prospects moving the needle over the course of June scholastic events and the July AAU live periods. Keep reading for a look at several PA-based forwards who boosted their stock with consistently strong play this summer.    His breakout began down the stretch of the high school season but Niare showed this summer that he's really putting the pieces together at an accelerated rate. Shining consistently across both scholastic and grassroots situations, he imposed his will with his trademark athleticism and nonstop energy on both ends of the floor. Where he's grown leaps and bounds is in his skill game, turning occasional flashes into much more routine circumstances where he handles the ball from the perimeter or knocks down multiple 3s. His upside could be really high with another inch or two on his frame but as things stand today there will ought to be a handful of D1 programs vying for Niare's services this time next year.     Brand showed flashes last year during his first season in the region but mostly bided his time among a deep rotation after heading to Westtown from Woodward Academy (GA). Getting extended opportunities as a featured piece for his AAU team this summer, he experienced some growing pains but showed increasingly consistent flashes of his considerable natural talent. He's a dynamic threat as a faceup scorer out to the perimeter with a dangerous catch-and-shoot stroke and increasing athleticism as a finisher in traffic. Brand is still behind in terms of game reps and it shows at times when it comes to his decisionmaking and feel for the game, but with strong bloodlines and clearly projectable tools, he could emerge as a high-upside D1 prospect if things come together.     Stiehler first caught the eye on film in the high school season but getting a chance to see him up close this July made it clear that he's ready to make a big jump forward in terms of production this year. More of a complementary piece as a sophomore, he was a focal point for his Team Fermin group and got the opportunity to showcase a burgeoning skillset as a faceup scorer. He maintained the same energy level that he'd shown in a smaller role, remaining a force near the rim with great hands and a wide base to carve out space in the paint. His biggest long-term value may come on the other end where he's extremely switchable with his strength, quick feet, and low center of gravity. Very young for his grade, Stiehler is under the radar in recruiting circles but has a chance to change that in a big way over the next year.     A seldom-used bench piece as a sophomore, Tesfaye caught the eye this June as someone who can grow into a focal point for the Tide in the frontcourt. He stands out immediately with his size and a sturdy frame, but has an intriguing inside-out skillset to match. Tesfaye is able to operate as a hub from the pinch post or the perimeter with soft hands and solid passing vision. He's a capable finisher inside with flashes of a smooth catch-and-shoot stroke out to 3. His future may be in baseball, where he's a standout on the pitcher's mound, but Tesfaye showed this summer that he's grown into a legitimate prospect on the hardwood.     Condon has been one of the standouts in his class within District 1 since he came into the high school ranks, but opted for changes of scenery this summer in both high school and AAU. Slotting right into the starting five for GA and emerging as a valuable swing piece for K-Low on the Adidas circuit, he showed growing comfort against a new level of competition than he'd faced in the past. He shines with his versatility, operating all over the floor whether he's attacking slower forward off the bounce, finishing near the rim off cuts, or spacing the floor to the perimeter. The budding forward made the most of his moves this summer and is positioning himself nicely as a scholarship-level prospect.     Erfle made his return to the court this spring more than a year removed from an ACL tear suffered during his time at La Salle. After some time to get his feet back under him in a smaller role for a loaded [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'] group, he broke out in a big way with Penn Charter in June. Having grown several inches and added 30+ pounds to his frame since suffering his injury, he's emerged as a dangerous threat on the wing or frontcourt as one of the more consistent and dynamic shooters in the state. With hints of emerging athleticism and a growing skillset off the bounce, he projects as a priority target for high-academic programs across a wide range of levels.

The summertime is always a season of separation, with prospects moving the needle over the course of June scholastic events and the July AAU live periods. Keep reading for a look at several PA-based forwards who boosted their stock with consistently strong play this summer.