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New Names 2029s Making Their Rankings Debut 

New Names 2029s Making Their Rankings Debut 
Duvalier Johnson
Duvalier Johnson August 18, 2026 @ 03:45 PM
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In this article:

Liam O’Byrne
Liam O’Byrne 6'1" | SF | 2029
CO
Braylon Smith
Braylon Smith 6'4" | SG/SF | 2029
CO
Luke Mantel
Luke Mantel 6'6" | PF/C | 2029
CO
Ray Armstrong
Ray Armstrong 5'11" | SG | 2029
CO
Jamal Mohamed
Jamal Mohamed 6'4" | PF/SF | 2029
CO
<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have the 2029 rankings coming out this week, and there are some names that are being added to the rankings for the first time with their play in the Spring, Summer, and during showcase season. We've gotten eyes on these prospects and are curious to see how their game continues to grow, but this is their first crack at the rankings. Let's see where they fall when those drop this week! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3706218"],"_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-6a84c46932794"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">O'Byrne is a player that we got to see this Summer and his play in the last event really put him over the top. He's a versatile player who makes plays for others. [program_tooltip program_id='2075800' first='PSB' last=''] ran the offense through him because of his ability to space the floor and hit cutters, and he also had moments he went to score himself. Liam is very skilled, and he has the size that you can play him at different positions. He played JV for last year's state champs, and with how many changes that are over there, if he's able to display some of the things we saw this Summer, he will be able to fight for an opportunity. Liam is a three-level scorer who is only going to get better and is a name to watch moving forward. High upside on him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3582595"],"_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-6a84c46932845"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We got eyes on Braylon this past week, and he was one of the more entertaining players at the Sophomore ID Camp. He's a scorer who just kept finding ways to make plays happen. He's constantly moving, he shoots the 3-ball and is an aggressive scorer, and that is exactly what Mead needs this upcoming season. Braylon has solid size for a wing who you could move over to the guard spot at times, and he also stood out on the defensive end on the floor. He rebounds, spaces the floor, and finds holes in the defense. Braylon gets downhill and is a player that I find intriguing. He makes the rankings debut with some momentum right now, and we want to see the type of season he has. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2819828"],"_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-6a84c469328c2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Armstrong is a player we enjoyed watching multiple times this summer as he was a standout at an event with his ability to score in transition, finish inside, and play through contact, and those plays resurfaced with the addition of him showing that he could be a shotmaker as well at our Sophomore Showcase last weekend. Armstrong excels with the ball in his hands and is an active guard on the perimeter, but also cuts and finishes near the basket as well. He can take that momentum into a season where he could be a complementary piece this upcoming season, and this was an offseason of getting better and on our radar. He's making his rankings debut this go-round. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2822847"],"_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-6a84c4693299b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mantel got on our radar earlier this Summer with his inside presence and the way that he controlled the paint. He's a physical big man who uses his body, defends without fouling, and makes things difficult for opponents at times. We liked his decision-making and how he was able to secure a board and get it out to the outlet in a hurry. Any big man who can grab boards in bunches as well as hold their own defensively has a game that translates, and he's a name that's making his ranking debut and is one to follow. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2771077"],"_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-6a84c46932a19"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The big fella got out to our event last weekend and jumped on our radar, and with some of the things that he was doing, you could see a few of the m translating to varsity basketball. He got his feet wet a year ago as he appeared in a few games as a Sophomore and played spot minutes, but he should be in a much bigger role this upcoming season. He's 6'4 and very active; he isn't afraid to use his body and has excellent footwork on the block. He finished with a few hook shots, attacked guys that weren't as big as him, and grabbed boards to get it out to a guard, and those things will earn him some extra minutes. He's now on the radar and making his rankings debut. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->

We have the 2029 rankings coming out this week, and there are some names that are being added to the rankings for the first time with their play in the Spring, Summer, and during showcase season. We've gotten eyes on these prospects and are curious to see how their game continues to grow, but this is their first crack at the rankings. Let's see where they fall when those drop this week! 

Liam O’Byrne

Liam O’Byrne

CO
SF
HEIGHT 6'1"
POS SF
CLASS 2029
View Player
​
Liam
O’Byrne SF
Class
2029
Height
6'1"
HS
Kent Denver
|
CO
New Names 2029s Making Their Rankings Debut 
O’Byrne is a player that we got to see this Summer and his play in the last event...
Written by Duvalier Johnson
Read more at PrepHoops​.com
Prep Hoops

Liam O’Byrne

State: Colorado
School: Kent Denver
Club: PSB
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Braylon Smith

Braylon Smith

CO
SG/SF
HEIGHT 6'4"
POS SG/SF
CLASS 2029
View Player
​
Braylon
Smith SG/SF
Class
2029
Height
6'4"
HS
Mead
|
CO
New Names 2029s Making Their Rankings Debut 
We got eyes on Braylon this past week, and he was one of the more entertaining players at...
Written by Duvalier Johnson
Read more at PrepHoops​.com
Prep Hoops

Braylon Smith

Instagram
State: Colorado
School: Mead
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Ray Armstrong

Ray Armstrong

CO
SG
HEIGHT 5'11"
POS SG
CLASS 2029
View Player
​
Ray
Armstrong SG
Class
2029
Height
5'11"
HS
Vista Ridge
|
CO
New Names 2029s Making Their Rankings Debut 
Armstrong is a player we enjoyed watching multiple times this summer as he was a standout at an...
Written by Duvalier Johnson
Read more at PrepHoops​.com
Prep Hoops

Ray Armstrong

Instagram
State: Colorado
School: Vista Ridge
Club: Olympic City Elite
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Luke Mantel

Luke Mantel

CO
PF/C
HEIGHT 6'6"
POS PF/C
CLASS 2029
View Player
​
Luke
Mantel PF/C
Class
2029
Height
6'6"
HS
Arapahoe
|
CO
New Names 2029s Making Their Rankings Debut 
Mantel got on our radar earlier this Summer with his inside presence and the way that he controlled...
Written by Duvalier Johnson
Read more at PrepHoops​.com
Prep Hoops

Luke Mantel

State: Colorado
School: Arapahoe
Club: Colorado Collective
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Jamal Mohamed

Jamal Mohamed

CO
PF/SF
HEIGHT 6'4"
POS PF/SF
CLASS 2029
View Player
​
Jamal
Mohamed PF/SF
Class
2029
Height
6'4"
HS
Lotus School for Excellence
|
CO
New Names 2029s Making Their Rankings Debut 
The big fella got out to our event last weekend and jumped on our radar, and with some...
Written by Duvalier Johnson
Read more at PrepHoops​.com
Prep Hoops

Jamal Mohamed

Instagram Twitter
State: Colorado
School: Lotus School for Excellence
Club: Colorado Celtics Basketball Club
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

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