From the Expo to the Rankings: New 2028 Names

The Expo gave us a chance to put some new eyes on the 2028 class, and a handful of players did enough to work their way into our latest rankings. For some, it was our first real time seeing them and for others it was another opportunity to add to what we saw during the Spring and Summer. Making the rankings is only the beginning. Each will have to find a role, earn varsity minutes and show that what caught our attention translates when the games count. These are six newcomers who made the debut with expectations to keep progressing.    Carlson first caught our attention back in April, and there's been enough there to warrant bringing him into the rankings. At 6-foot-3, he's a strong guard who plays with patience you don't always see from young players. We also saw him at the Expo and he showed that he could get defenders off balance around the basket, plays well off two feet and doesn't rush himself when traffic arrives. Carlson is comfortable with the ball in his hands and is also capable of running the offense which showcases his versatility. The varsity game will test that patience against more physical defenders. He doesn't need to walk in and be a primary option, but if Carlson can protect the ball, finish and use his size from the guard spot, there are ways for him to earn trust and build from there. He's now on the rankings this go round.     Paswater made his case with fee of the game and just knowing where not be on the floorl. At The Expo, he consistently looked like he understood what each play needed and it wasn't just scoring. He attacks gaps, moves without the ball and creates for teammates and that helps. We've seen another side of him as well, where his rebounding, toughness, and ability to grab the board and start the break with a solid outlet pass helped him standout at one of our events. He's a fill the gap type of player and doesnt have to dominate the ball to be effective. Hopefully he brings those intangibles to the team this year because that could have him grow even more and be utilized this season.     Hicks was probably one of my bigger surprises from The Expo that I want to keep tabs on for the year. I didn't know what to expect coming in, and he kept making me look back over at his court. There was a calmness to how he played, but he wasn't passive. Hicks pushed the pace, operated out of the high post, showed good footwork and found some creative finishes when the initial look wasn't there as well. He also can hit mid range jumpers and hit the 3-ball and that versatility is something that can be used on varsity this year. I want to know what he looks like with a defined role. This is his debut into the rankings, but also could be a wake up call to the rest of the conference as a secret weapon.     Jones went from a new name at The Expo to someone I thought was legitimately one of the better players in the gym at times. He just kept showing up. His length created deflections, he switched onto different matchups without backing down and there was a toughness to him defensively that played against whoever was in front of him. Then he'd come back offensively with a turnaround jumper, a strong finish or a play through contact and not just forcing shots the entire time but making the most of him minutes when he got out there. We also got to see Jones out there with the team during the Grandview League and that was another positive sign because there's clearly an opportunity for him to compete for something and earn his minutes. Nothing is guaranteed, but if the defense travels and he can make timely offensive plays within their system then he should get some minutes. I'm curious to see how it pans out but he made a rankings push.     Demitri's Expo showing gave me an idea of what he could bring to Air Academy this year to compete for some minutes at one of th guard spots. He can play both on and off ball, he's a head-up guard who sees the floor early and isn't afraid to advance the ball instead of pounding it into the ground and can score when the game calls for it. He also showed he can beat the first defender and get paint touches, and any time that a guard can do that, I feel that they can fight for some minutes. Demitri isn't a guard who says away once bigger bodies were waiting inside and had a couple of finishes and Air Academy will be a team trying to right the ship so they'll need reliable contributors. He's a prospect who we still have to wait and see on, but, a player who competes defensively and makes plays on that end can earn a spot and we saw glimpses of that. He's now in the rankings.     Rynes has been building toward this rankings debut for a few months. He first jumped onto our radar in July with his rebounding, physicality and ability to impact the paint on both ends. I also liked his footwork on the block, and he showed some great timing as he was challenging shots around the rim. The Expo gave us another look as he added a little more to his game. Rynes runs the floor well, makes smart decisions, plays with a motor and even flashed some touch at the high postt. That's a useful combination for a young big trying to crack a varsity rotation at Summit. He doesn't need the offense run through him but he can give effort and rebound, protect the paint, sprint the floor and five some transition baskets. If those things translate first, the rest of his game has room to come along with them. He's a player we ranked for the first time that we hope to see more of.

The Expo gave us a chance to put some new eyes on the 2028 class, and a handful of players did enough to work their way into our latest rankings. For some, it was our first real time seeing them and for others it was another opportunity to add to what we saw during the Spring and Summer. Making the rankings is only the beginning. Each will have to find a role, earn varsity minutes and show that what caught our attention translates when the games count. These are six newcomers who made the debut with expectations to keep progressing.