Emerging Names in NEA 2028 Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The preseason showcase gave an early look at some young guards in NEA's 2028 class who are starting to separate themselves. All worth circling as early eye‑catchers heading into the season. Keep us updated on ALL prospects over on “X“ and “Instagram,” just tag @PrepHoops_AR &amp; @VortexSportsArkansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2627529' first='Daylin' last='Hawkins'] - Explosive frame with effort in transition and defensive coverage. Shows flashes of downhill pressure but still learning to trust his tools. Confidence unlocks everything for him once he plays assertive, his athleticism becomes a separator.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2969632' first='Ford' last='Mills'] - High‑IQ point who sees actions in flow and keeps possessions stable. Now he needs to add self‑creation off the dribble to get defenders who sit on his floor general tendencies. Growth comes from hunting pull‑ups and floaters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2961427' first='Conall' last='Qualls'] - Competitive, shooting connector who impacts winning with effort, rebounding, and hustle plays. Adding tighter handling will let him initiate more actions and become a multi-phase contributor instead of just a finisher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2849217' first='Izaiah' last='Walton'] - Lefty perimeter threat with a smooth release and solid instincts as a helper. When his motor and shot discipline stay steady, he becomes a reliable two-way piece. Consistency is the separator for his next jump.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2849985' first='Cassidy' last='Jones'] - Stretch forward with a confident perimeter stroke and natural spacing value. Needs to diversify his game by attacking closeouts, making sharp passes, and using his size to pressure the paint. More attacking equals more matchup problems.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3760542' first='Price' last='Carpenter'] - Crafty operator with natural feel and timing. He can get defenders leaning, but he still needs more consistent separation to fully use his creativity. More pace manipulation, hip attacks, and footwork will open the floor for him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AJ Johnson - Lightning‑quick guard who can beat the first line with burst. Now he has to slow the game down mentally reading defenders, anticipating rotations, and understanding when to push vs. when to pull. IQ growth turns his speed into real advantage creation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jagger Morris - Steady facilitator who understands ball movement. His next jump comes from embracing contact and aggression attacking gaps, forcing help, and becoming a scoring threat. When he starts looking to score, his passing windows open that much more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->