It was a classic Muhammad-Gray performance. He was fantastic defensively, contributed on the glass and scored when opportunities presented themselves in the mid-range and around the basket. His strength and athleticism allow him to guard up, making him the type of small-ball four so many programs covet. As the senior leader of the group, he constantly communicated with his teammates defensively and made a point of getting everyone involved at the right moments. Muhammad-Gray consistently finds ways to positively impact games, and his scoring is rarely the biggest reason why.

Gray consistently finds ways to impact the game without needing to score. At 6-foot-5, he’s a strong rebounder and versatile defender who can comfortably match up with twos through fours. He’s especially effective on the offensive glass and can grab a rebound and initiate the break himself. His handle becomes less reliable under pressure and his jumper needs to become more consistent, leaving him at his best right now as an undersized four.

Anytime Muhammad-Gray steps on the floor, he makes his 6-foot-7 225-pound frame felt on nearly every possession. He played one game on Saturday in Imhotep’s matchup against Mt. Zion Prep and was the most physically imposing player on the floor. Whether he was finishing straight-line drives through contact, commanding position inside for rebounds on both ends or walling off paint touches as a defender, Muhammad-Gray’s value is evident. He spends time defending four different positions on the floor, which helps speak to the positional versatility. He’s undoubtedly the anchor for head coach Andre Noble this season and will look to maintain the high standard that the Philadelphia program has carried for over 20 years.

Now close to a year removed from his return to the court after an ACL tear that cost him the 2024-25 season, Muhammad-Gray looks fully recovered and has now been able to focus on making significant strides in his game. A junkyard dog who will do whatever is needed to win, he played more of a frontcourt role last year for an undersized Imhotep group but got to show this summer that he’s plenty capable of operating on the wing at a high level, with improved consistency as a shotmaker and underrated playmaking feel. He’s continued to evolve as an athlete as well and doesn’t seem to be thinking about his injury in the slightest when he takes off to play above the rim. Muhammad-Gray is being prioritized by a handful of mid-major programs and could potentially play his way into Power 5 interest if he decides to play out the season.

Zah has been one of the centerpieces of Final EYBL and is the epitome of a workhorse for the program. He embraces the dirty work and consistently finds ways to impact winning without needing plays called for him. I like how he actively seeks out contact on the offensive end and makes a living at the foul line by putting constant pressure on defenders. Defensively, he offers valuable versatility as a switchable defender who can guard multiple positions and hold his own in a variety of matchups. His toughness, motor, and willingness to do the grunt work make him an essential piece for his team.

Epitome of a work horse who continues to add more skill into his game as the years have past. Brute of a frame at 6-foot-7 that has the look of a sophomore or junior in college and he knows how to use it with force. Like some others on this list, there isn’t much nonsense to his approach. It was good to see him evolve more as a threat from catches on the perimeter than in my last viewing (last summer), and he showed some playmaking chops throughout the weekend, but when he’s at his best is when he’s getting downhill attacking the rim. He can bounce defenders off his path with ease and is no stranger to finishing emphatically if he has room for takeoff. When he has playmaking guards around him, he’s a major factor off the ball as a cutter and can be used as a pick-and-roll/pop threat at any point in the possession. His defensive versatility shines bright given his size, athleticism and power.

Muhammad-Gray finished averaging 15.5PPG, 4 stocks (steals + blocks) and 3.5APG.

Leading the way for a balanced Imhotep group that overcame injury and internal turmoil for another run to the state title game, Muhammad-Gray was as consistent a matchup problem as there was in the entire 6A bracket. His ability to thrive both inside and out, operating as a perimeter creator or a hub out of the post, proved to be almost impossible to handle as the Panthers came up just short of their 11th state title in a 52-49 championship loss. He’s able to operate on the wing, playing off the dribble and making plays out of ball screens or spacing the floor as a shooter. With the season on the line against city rival Father Judge, he showed his versatility by taking over the game from the post, scoring at times himself but really changing the game with his vision as a passer out of double teams. Muhammad-Gray’s rugged approach and two-way versatility should continue attracting attention from a wide range of D1 programs over the next year.

Staring the end of his season in the face after a slow start and a nearly double-digit deficit, Muhammad-Gray flipped a switch and simply refused to allow Imhotep to lose. Having played more of a wing role throughout the year, the Panthers made an adjustment to feature their junior swingman in the post, where he went to work in punishing a less physical Judge rotation. Muhammad-Gray showed great patience while making reads as both a scorer and as a smart passer out of double teams, setting teammates up for a handful of easy looks off slick interior passes. He would finish with a team-high 13 points to clinch a state championship appearance.

Technically the highest-ranked newcomer in this update, Muhammad-Gray slots right into the top 10 after reclassing back from his original 2026 class following the ACL tear which cost him his original junior year. Now healthy and continuing to work off the rust from the time on the sidelines, he’s impressed under a heavy workload as Imhotep’s consistent focal point in an otherwise injury-riddled rotation. He’s shown growth as a consistent perimeter shooter while continuing to develop as a scorer and facilitator off the dribble. Muhammad-Gray’s blend of power, skill, and motor at his size have generated steady attention at the mid and high-major levels.

Muhammad-Gray plays with an attitude that shows up most when he’s fighting for rebounds and guarding players bigger than he is. Far from just a hustle player, he’s dangerous offensively from the elbow and short corner. His teams are able to play through him from those spots and have him knock down spot-up threes too.