Class of 2028 Rankings: 3 Big Questions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coin Flips to decide the top tier?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sheer potential at the top of the Class of 2028 makes for an exciting a group. There's a handful of prospects with a legit claim to the top spot. Which should see lead to continual movement as they develop. The current top spot can easily be flipped based on which trait a person may weigh as more valuable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Want a dawg on defense and an energy giver on offense? Look no further than David Douglass. He blends a fantastic motor, with playmaking abilities in transition, havoc causing on defense and the ability to get hot in the mid-range/three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Want arguably the best athlete in the state of Oklahoma? Look no further than [player_tooltip player_id='2677145' first='Rodney' last='Washington']. The McAlester Buffalo not only is arguably the most explosive leaper of the last decade plus in Oklahoma, he's a speedy transition threat and relentless driver and acrobatic finisher in the halfcourt. He's already consistently scored buckets against some of the top national competition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Want a lights out perimeter shooter? Look no further than [player_tooltip player_id='2635389' first='Parker' last='McDaniel']. He's an absolute weapon from beyond the arc. With the type of game changing ability to heat up and hit college quality movement threes that college coaches covet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Want a bouncy guard, who is only scratching the surface of his potential? Look no further than [player_tooltip player_id='2509295' first='Keaton' last='Murry']. He's maturing into a modern combo guard with next level height and athleticism. Slippery off the bounce and a more than capable perimeter shooter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Want a prototypical small forward with a rare combo of skill and size for an Oklahoma? Look no further than [player_tooltip player_id='2408566' first='Carter' last='Coleman']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The current pick at the top spot is Coleman. It's a bet on potential. There haven't been many recent players with his size, his athleticism and his skillset at this stage of their in Oklahoma. He already has a good production baseline, with the room for there to be much more. He's agile and fluid in his movements on the perimeter and as a driver. Coleman has flashes of playing around the rim with authority. Which is hopefully a sign that his sophomore season will see him become a tonesetter in the paint on both ends of the court. Sparking energy with big time dunks and being strong on defense with blocks and rebounds. All the tools are there for him to play at the highest levels of college basketball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Coleman may currently have the number 1 next to his name, it's hard to go wrong picking any of the top 5, maybe even 6. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Which untapped upside forward has the highest ceiling?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The current favorite is Brian Hopgood, as the big man is agile and light his feet for his height. He not only is an enforcer around the rim, he has a developing jumper. His ability to rebound already gives him a clear path to college. With the room for much more. Because of his tenacity around the basket and size, he clearly has the highest floor among the developmental forward prospects. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's a strong group of interesting prospects right behind him. Especially with the rise of [player_tooltip player_id='2823630' first='Ivan' last='McFarlin II'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2491346' first='Aiden' last='Bezenah']. Both are players who have the potential to potentially step out onto the wing. McFarlin in particular has looked explosive and fluid this spring and summer. While Bezenah currently has a little more to his offensive skill set, with face up attacks and a solid jumper. He's also clearly still growing, and could very well top out even taller. They both have the potential to sky rocket with strong sophomore campaigns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Remaining in the mix are [player_tooltip player_id='2712639' first='Garrett' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2638586' first='Kadon' last='Gaines']. Smith is a tweener prospect, with an outstanding motor. He's starting to have glimpses of possibly becoming more of a wing, while also being a mismatch problem as a 4/5. Gaines meanwhile is turning into a classic stretch four or even a wing. He's a lanky floor spacing threat, who should continue to fill out into an unique offensive weapon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Can the Class of 2028 be deep with star power?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's some similarities in the Class of 2028 to one of the deeper recent classes in Oklahoma, the Class of 2021. Clear star power at the top, and a good depth of name that follow. When the Class of 2021 was heading into their sophomroe seasons, some of the best players in the group had yet to emerge. Here's a look at the candidates among the current 2028s to make such a rise. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps at the top of that next tier are Edmond guards [player_tooltip player_id='2381835' first='TJ' last='Newton'] and Jerrel Copeland. They've already made their marks as freshmen and now could be main men for their schools this winter. Fellow 405 guards [player_tooltip player_id='2554643' first='Slade' last='Black'], [player_tooltip player_id='2560270' first='Joshua' last='Baba'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2437536' first='Devion' last='Gillispie'] all have given glimpses of their upside as freshmen. And now have opportunities for sophomore breakouts. [player_tooltip player_id='2464132' first='Scyon' last='Wilborn'] has switched schools to Mustang and is the potential conductor of one of the more talented teams in Oklahoma.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While a lot of the talent is in the OKC Metro, there's two rising 918 standouts to keep tabs on. Kamerion Compton-Nero's future is very likely on the gridiron. But he'll also be a show stopper on the court as well. He already has a State Tournament appearance under his belt. Meanwhile Jarius Boswell is establishing himself as a key part of the winning culture at Tulsa Memorial. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside the main metros there's eastern Oklahoma standout [player_tooltip player_id='2398309' first='Damonte' last='Owens'] and 580 sleeper [player_tooltip player_id='2961657' first='Kaiden' last='Elder']. Owens is already one of the most savvy guards in Oklahoma, and looks like a future 2500 point scorer for the 3A contending Roland Rangers. While Elder is a microwave scoring guard and is next up in the strong line of "overlooked" Lawton tough guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->