Fernandez, a forward out of Great Barrington Academy in Rhode Island, makes his first appearance in the rankings at #82. A massive prospect in this class, Fernandez does a great job of playing to his strengths and doing his best to own the paint. Offensively, he has good footwork on the block and the ability to turn over either shoulder as a scorer. His motor continues to develop, particularly as a two-way rebounder, and he also shows the ability to protect the rim by blocking and altering a high number of shots.

Among the more improved prospects in the region, Fernandez has gone from the obscurity of Rhode Island freshman-team ball to being a true force at the prep-school level within just a few months’ time. A hulking presence on the interior, Fernandez capped a strong weekend with an effective 18-point effort in a tight third-place win over Redemption Christian. He has soft hands and natural finishing touch over either shoulder, punishing single coverage with patient and efficient moves on the low block. The Dominican national showed glimpses of ball skills and shooting touch to develop over time, while looking more effective changing ends and protecting the rim after having cut close to 30 pounds from his frame. Being this effective already while still in the relatively early stages of development at his size, Fernandez appears to have a bright future with potential for the highest levels of college basketball if he continues on his current track.