Best Class of 2028 Power Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2543986' first='James' last='Humphreys']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mid-May, we updated the&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/tennessee/rankings/2028-rankings/">2028 player rankings</a>. In this feature the focus is on Class of 2028's best power forwards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2028","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"77245","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68362eafefddc"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Flight</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Early. Remember it is early! Rarely do 15-year-old big men even resemble their future basketball selves. With that disclaimer up top we consider these guys to have the highest ceilings among the Class of 2028.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2543986' first='James' last='Humphreys']</strong> / Brad Beal Elite 15u / Brentwood Academy<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2866495' first='Sochikaima' last='Oputa']</strong> / Pro One 15u / Page High<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2866500' first='Somtochukwu' last='Oputa']</strong> / Pro One 15u / Page High<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2677277' first='Kaden' last='Godwin']</strong> / ISO JOE 15u / Cordova<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2856292' first='Kharlo' last='Dickens']</strong> / [program_tooltip program_id='2317252' first='Mookie' last='Betts'] 15u / Mt. Juliet</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2543986' first='James' last='Humphreys']' basketball floor is the highest of any '28 frontcourt player in Tennessee save [player_tooltip player_id='2194485' first='Joshua' last='Huggins']. In other words, there is almost no chance he won't be a very good high school basketball player as soon as this next fall. Of course, all of the drooling occurs when basketball ceilings are considered, and James has a tantalizing ceiling for several reasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2543986' first='James' last='Humphreys'] is tall. As a true freshman for BA, Humphreys was listed 6-foot-8 and that is an accurate measurement. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2543986' first='James' last='Humphreys'] plays light on his feet. Bigs come in all sizes and with varying levels of coordination, especially in their early teens. Humphreys is managing to play competitively against older players despite still "growing into his body."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In eight E15 games, both with and against the best players in the country, James averaged 8.9 points per game with 7.1 rpg in 22:24 minutes per game. Excitingly, JH hauled down three offensive rebounds per game! Humphreys tied for the team-lead with 13 made three-pointers and finished the octet with a wonderful 50.5% from the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2677277' first='Kaden' last='Godwin'] (Cordova) linked up with Iso Joe this spring/summer and the results are encouraging. Godwin scored 14.2 ppg through 19ish mpg to lead the team in scoring. Kaden is a hard worker and unafraid of contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Oputa brothers are new names to PrepHoopsTN, but they have wonderful size and made the Pro One 15u squad. Sochikaima goes by "Sochi" and he might have the higher ceiling though bigs can always be tricky to project.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Versatility</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A couple of the ranked 2028 power forwards might evolve into small forwards. They could become wing prospects instead of power forward targets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2856292' first='Kharlo' last='Dickens']</strong> might just display the lateral mobility and agility to play wing forward. Time will tell. His older brother, [player_tooltip player_id='2716618' first='Korajo' last='Dickens'] is quite nimble. It might happen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2523939' first='Israel' last='Dillard']</strong> is shorter than Kharlo and most of the power forwards in our rankings. Though he can be listed as a power forward, small forward is also sometimes identifier. Dillard can get around the floor quite well and probably will make the transition to SF ultimately. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2543986' first='James' last='Humphreys']</strong> could be a center someday. He will often play either frontcourt position right now and the difference between PF and C is less clear than ever as teams play 4 or even 5 out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->