Leading off the list of stock risers from the August Rankings Update is Babar Johnson Babar Johnson 6'5" | CG Westwood | 2029 State SC . Johnson had a breakout summer, stamping himself as one of the best prospects in South Carolina. He looked strong with both Westwood High School in June and with Upward Stars SE during 3SSB play, particularly in the Palmetto Road Championships, where he looked like he could push for a spot in the National Rankings. Babar has elite physical traits, so as he continues to polish his skill set and improve his feel, the big-name schools will come calling.

I made the walk over to The Bleachery, a sister facility of the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center for a 15u matchup featuring this Upward Stars group and Babar Johnson stood out immediately. The strong and skilled wing looked to provide a real two way impact with his competitive fire shining bright. Johnson’s ability to make shots from the outside along with making plays for others at his size really stood out. Johnson really understands how to play along with really grasping the abilities he possesses and how to use them to impact the outcome of a game. Johnson has a strong frame at this age as well which really allows him to guard multiple positions at a high level defensively. It’s easy to see why my guy Andrew has him ranked so high in South Carolina.

Babar Johnson Babar Johnson 6'5" | CG Westwood | 2029 State SC rounds out the Friday Standouts from 3SSB Palmetto Road. He was a dominant force for Upward Stars, going for 24 points and 14 rebounds in a tight win over AZ Storm. Babar shot an efficient 6-11 from the field, and it felt like most of his misses at the rim he cleaned up himself. Johnson’s size, athleticism, and desire to get to the rim are what made him successful, and it was Upward’s best form of offense. He also knocked down a pair of impressive mid-range jumpers and did a great job of earning trips to the free-throw line. With the positional size and scoring skill that he already has, Babar is easily one of the best prospects in the Palmetto State, regardless of class.

One of the earliest and most high-profile transfers of this cycle was the return of Babar Johnson Babar Johnson 6'5" | CG Westwood | 2029 State SC to the Westwood Redhawks. Johnson played for them his 8th Grade year before spending his freshman season at Gray Collegiate, but now he’s back at Westwood to help them defend their State Championship title in 2026-27.

Headlining my list of impressive 2029s at Phenom Rock Hill Live is Babar Johnson Babar Johnson 6'5" | CG Westwood | 2029 State SC . I got to watch two games from Upward Stars SE 15U this weekend, and it was clear in both games that Babar was the best player on the floor. His scoring ability is his top attribute right now, but he isn’t a one-dimensional offensive player. Johnson can use his handle and physicality to get to the basket, plus he is a skilled shooter on pull-ups and step-backs. Babar had multiple 20-point games in Rock Hill, including a 21-point, 9-rebound, and 3-steal performance on Friday.

Rounding out this month’s recruiting notes is 2029 Babar Johnson Babar Johnson 6'5" | CG Westwood | 2029 State SC . Johnson has had a couple of big announcements over the past several weeks, including a transfer to Westwood HS, the switch to Upward Stars, and now his first offer from in-state D2 Francis Marion. Babar is one of the most intriguing prospects in South Carolina, regardless of class, with his positional size and offensive tools being the motor behind early college interest.

Babar Johnson Babar Johnson 6'5" | CG Westwood | 2029 State SC tops the group as the best-ranked wing in the Prep Hoops South Carolina Class of 2029 Rankings. He played his freshman season at Gray Collegiate Academy, but has already announced his plans to transfer to Westwood High School for the 2026-27 season. Johnson is blessed with elite positional size for his age, plus he is a knockdown shooter. As he continues to learn the game and grow physically, look for him to be one of the best prospects in the state.

Johnson is the first of two 2029s on this list of standouts. Babar is going to see real minutes from game one as a Freshman and will be one of the first guys off the bench for the War Eagles. He will impact the game on both ends of the floor in his minutes, but if given an extended run, he will get the chance to show his long-term ceiling as a scorer, like he did on Thursday. Johnson finished with 10 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals in the big win.