Here at Prep Hoops Indiana we’ve been high on Hayes for a while now. He is a pure scorer that has gotten physically stronger and has some athleticism that he uses to finish at the end of his drives. The 5’10” guard from Franklin Central High School played very well on Sunday and helped lead Marlin Academy P32 17u to a 3-1 weekend overall at The Stage.

Got the chance to watch 2027 Franklin Central guard Raymond Hayes Raymond Hayes 5'10" | PG Franklin Central | 2027 State IN this past Wednesday when the Flashes hosted Lawrence Central and I can easily say he was the most impressive player for FC. The Flashes were a little shorthanded but that opened more for Hayes throughout the contest. At 5’10, Hayes knows how to creates offense both on and off the ball showcasing quickness in the lane and knocking down multiple threes off the catch. An under-the-radar guard in the 2027 class to keep an eye on.

I remember attending a Franklin Central High School workout prior to last season and thinking “this guy is going to be good.” Hayes went on to average 10.1 points per game as a sophomore and now should blossom even further as an offensive player. He has gotten bigger and stronger, is even more capable off of the bounce now as a scoring threat, and should be improved as an on-ball defender. Hayes is now ranked #113 in our Class of 2027 Prospect Rankings.

Athletic junior guard out of Franklin Central that did a good job balancing scoring and facilitating. Raymond was able to get in his bag during the 1v1 and 3v3 portion of camp. Got in the lane and was able to finish in a variety of different ways. Can stop in a dime and rise up over defenders as well as finish contested layups with either hand. Competes in the defensive end playing with active hands and quick feet keeping the ball in front of him.

Shifty point guard that thrives in transition. Aggressive defender that pressures full court with quick hands looking to turn defense into offense. Steady on the offensive end that balances scoring and distributing. Really good in the pick and roll attacking hard to get in the lane where he has a nice floater. Also a kid that’s capable of stepping behind screens and knocking down the three.

2024-2025 Stats: 10.1 points | 2.2 rebounds | 2.1 assists | 1.4 steals | 38% 3FG

We first started buying stock in this talented scoring guard when attending Franklin Central High School practice in the fall of 2024. At the time, Hayes was a small sophomore who was shooting the cover off of the ball from deep and looked like someone who could command some varsity minutes. He ended up being their second leading scorer averaging 10.1 points per game. Now, having grown to 5’10” or so, Hayes is continuing to become even more of a threat. He was very good over the summer with the Flashes and should step into a go-to role as a junior.

Hayes emerged as a sophomore averaging 10.1 points per game finishing as Franklin Central’s second-leading scorer. The talented 5’10” playmaker looked to have improved even more as a creator showing off some court vision to go along with his shot-making ability. He is shifty enough with the ball in his hands to create separation which he has always used to get his shot off, but on Saturday it led to attracting secondary defenders and generating assists as well. One to watch in the rising junior class.

We identified this smaller guard as a player who would really have a breakout sophomore season and be a big part of what Franklin Central did when we attended their open gym back in the fall. Hayes certainly proved us right as he averaged 10.1 points per game and shot 47-123 (38.2%) from beyond the arc. He has some real shot-making and overall scoring chops.

Hayes really stood out when we went to watch Franklin Central workout this fall. He is a shifty 5’7″ guard that can create his own shot and displayed a real knack for scoring the basketball. Don’t let his size fool you, Hayes is fearless off of the bounce and is a creative finisher against size at the end of his drives. He should factor into the varsity rotation in the Flashes backcourt this season as a sophomore.