2027 Rankings Update: Six Stock-Risers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Champions have been crowned in the California Interscholastic Federation state tournament and the 2024-25 high school season in the is complete. With prospects now resting their bodies and prepping for a long spring and summer of club ball, we took some time to update our SoCal class of 2027 rankings. Below we detail some of the biggest stock-risers of this update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2646501' first='NaVorro' last='Bowman'] | Sherman Oaks Notre Dame</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowman jumped from No. 15 to No. 5 in the latest rankings as he emerged as one of the state's top underclass point guards. The 6-foot-1 sophomore has a combination of basketball IQ, defensive toughness, vision and scoring ability off the bounce that few other prospects in the class possess. Bowman averaged 14 points, four rebounds and three assists while helping the Knights to an appearance in the CIF Southern Section Open Division title game and the CIF State Open Division SoCal Regional Final - where they fell both times to Eastvale Roosevelt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Nick Welch Jr. | Rolling Hills Prep</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a class with limited options and the four and five spot, Welch has established himself as the top big man prospect in Southern California. The 6-foot-9 forward/center has traditional feel, touch and IQ with his back to the basket but what makes him highly-effective and attractive at the next level is his ability to step out and knock down perimeter shots off the catch. Though he can be considered a "stretch" big, he competes inside on the boards and has shown streaks of physicality down low. Welch entered the top 10 at No. 9, up nine spots from 18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Demarcus Henry | Mater Dei</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Henry has always been an intriguing prospect because of his physical make-up: a long, wiry and athletic 6-foot-7 wing with ball skills and a pop of vertical leaping ability. What earned him a small boost from No. 12 up to No. 10 was his increase in production and efficiency and his ability to impact the defensive end in a variety of ways. Henry averaged 15 points and seven rebounds during his sophomore campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2646533' first='Taiwo' last='Daramola'] | Bakersfield Christian</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You will be hard-pressed to find a young big man with an upside quite like Daramola. The 6-foot-9 center is an active and mobile rim-runner who is a sure-handed finisher around the basket with fast-improving footwork and feel as a post scorer. Daramola jumped on our radar last fall at a high school showcase before the season with his rim protection, rebounding and mobility on the defensive end. We gave Daramola a slight bump to No. 17 from No. 19.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2194692' first='Isaiah' last='Barnes'] | Crespi</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barnes jumped up from No. 24 to No. 20 and the best way to describe him is he's a "gamer." There is never a possession where you don't see Barnes giving great effort and energy and doing the things to help his team win. The 6-foot combo guard is a lethal three-point shooter off the catch who can also attack closeouts and get to the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2435392' first='Earl' last='Bryson'] | JSerra</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bryson earned one of the biggest bumps of this update as his rose from No. 50 to No. 26. The 6-foot point guard stepped into some big shoes left behind by CCAA Freshman of the Year Aidan Fowler and helped lead the Lions to a National Division championship at the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic and spots in the CIF Southern Section and State Open Division playoffs. Bryson was a steady ball handler, decision-maker and tempo pusher in the JSerra offense and showed flashes of becoming one of the better on-ball defenders in SoCal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->