Willis is one of the top prospects in the 2028 national class and his willingness to be a legitimate two-way hybrid forward is why some of the biggest brands in college basketball are pursuing him. It’s only a matter of time before the rest join in the running. He’s a fearless, prideful rim protector especially when rotating from the weakside. It doesn’t matter if it’s a springy wing looking to posterize a defender or a rolling 6’10” big man looking to flush off a ball screen, Willis will rise up and meet them in the air to protect his basket. More times than not, he swats it away with authority. Offensively he brings that same style of ferocity when he heads to the rim. He’s effective off the catch where he can attack off shot-fakes and be in the air after 1-to-2 dribbles at most before looking down into the rim. His shooting mechanics are solid and the ball leaves his hands with a soft touch and nice rotation.

Willis has the archetype, playstyle and two-way impact that you see at the highest of levels.

Willis announced a transfer to Utah Prep this weekend, as he’ll immediately be one of the most talented athletes and defenders in the EYBL scholastic league. Willis looks and moves differently than anybody else on the court on the PRO16 circuit and had a monster spin dunk over a defender that was the top play I’ve seen in July so far. Willis flashed some passing ability with a nice assist to a fellow big but that area of his game will be what I’m closely monitoring this winter.

One of my favorite 2028 prospects to watch, Willis is an elite athlete and defender. Making some wow plays on both ends of the court, Willis can block shots, switch onto guards, finish acrobatically at the rim and run like a deer in transition. That type of versatility is exactly what you are looking for in a wing athlete who wants to play as fast as possible. A prospect I got to see on the UAA circuit this summer, Willis continues to shine against top talent from across the country.

Willis has all of the physical and athletic tools one needs to be on track to be a high major caliber forward. At 6-feet-8, Willis is a high energy rim-runner and lane filler in transition who can slash his way to the basket and use his impressive length to extend and score at the rim. Where Willis could separate himself from the rest of the 2028 class is on the defensive end as his combination of length, quick twitch reaction time and lateral fluidity give him potential to be a versatile defensive player.

A prospect I saw at the UAA finals playing up two grades, Willis showed his impressive defensive impact and physical tools, looking like one of the more athletic and well built prospects on the court despite the age difference. Georgia Tech, Missouri and USC are just some of the high major programs to offer Willis and it makes sense when you see how Willis stacks up physically to his peers in the 2028 class.

Playing up two grades, Willis stood out as one of the more natural athletes I saw all weekend. With a strong frame and explosiveness, Willis threw down an and-1 dunk and blocked a handful of shots as a help-side rim protector. Schools like Missouri, USC and Cal have already offered Willis and it was easy to see why due to his two-way impact. Name to watch in the 2028 class from southern California.