'28 Rankings Update: Stock-Risers

As we break down freshman prospects in our January rankings <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/01/updated-2028-maryland-rankings/">updates</a>, one of the most important groups to talk about is the Stock-Risers. Players that have earned early minutes at their high school programs, players that have made the most of their spurts of playing time on deeper teams, and players that are just flat-out better than we originally thought! Let's dive in!    -A wing prospect that earned some extended run in the John Wall Classic and a few other games early in his freshman season, Green showed a diverse skillset that speaks to his long term upside as a prospect. Green is capable of knocking down open C+S looks from the perimeter, can switch onto forwards in the paint, moves well off the ball to earn trips to the charity stripe, and plays within the team concept by moving the ball to find the open man. As some of the upperclassmen return from injury, I think he will still find a way to see the floor as a team-first guy that will make the right play in his opportunities. Seeing the floor as a freshman in a program that doesn't often play underclassmen early bodes well for his future on Wisconsin Avenue.     -A favorite among our team of scouts, Brooks has impressed early for Loyola Blakefield as a heady point guard that earned early time with his perimeter shooting. Brooks' floor-spacing ability has opened up the middle of the floor well for the Dons and Brooks has flashed the play-making ability as a quick guard that can attack closeouts and make the right read in the halfcourt. After a growth spurt pushed him to 5'11, he is growing more confident as a finisher in the paint and has become more aggressive at the defensive end of the floor. The confidence and feel combined with the ball skills make him a prospect that needs to be on radars this season.     -The smooth lefty scorer has impressed early playing for a Mt. St. Joseph's team that graduated a ton of their depth. Early uses a tight handle to throw his defender off balance and get to his spots to pull up for smooth jumpers from all 3 levels. He uses an unorthdox dribbling cadence that is difficult for defenders to time steals and he is beginning to see the floor much better as a play-maker. Early's play has earned him a starting role amidst a 4-game win streak for the Gaels     -Love what I've seen early from the Good Counsel freshman as a dependable floor general that makes the most of his playing time on a deep Good Counsel team. Brown has an advanced handle but he gets to his spots pretty efficiently, is difficult to stay in front of, and makes the right play to score or pass on the fly. Brown will need to add some weight to his frame and get off the ground a bit more to mold himself into a consistent finisher in the paint but he has the skill base and work ethic to get there.     -This one is a long term play for the freshman from Russia, as I think he will be a player to watch down the line for Bullis as a he debuts at #30 in our rankings. A sturdy guard with an advanced skillset, Zubatyuk bullies his way to spots on the floor and can hit perimeter C+S looks. Understanding the team concepts--especially at the defensive end of the floor-- will be key to earning time for a top-heavy Bullis team loaded with upperclassmen talent. If he continues to grow and improves his lateral quickness and footspeed to be more of a switchable threat at the defensive end, he could quickly shoot up our rankings.

As we break down freshman prospects in our January rankings updates, one of the most important groups to talk about is the Stock-Risers. Players that have earned early minutes at their high school programs, players that have made the most of their spurts of playing time on deeper teams, and players that are just flat-out better than we originally thought! Let's dive in!