December Rankings: Introducing the Top 5 of the 2028 Ranking

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Merry Christmas Eve! For the first time ever, the 2028 rankings have been uploaded, and there is a ridiculous amount of talent in this group. Several of these players have already been offered, and even as freshmen, there are plenty of reasons why. It was hard to organize the top 5 of this class since there are so many deserving players. Regardless, here are the 5 best that the 2028 class has to offer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1090920"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676b1b2021d37"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1090920' first='Easton' last='McCollough'] has been offered by schools from all of the Power 4 conferences, and most of those were before she touched the court as a freshman. McCollough was a star for the [program_tooltip program_id='715977' first='AAO' last='Flight'] in the AAU circuits, and she is carrying over that stardom to the high school stage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is hard to believe McCollough is just a freshman, because I think she could be playing college basketball right now! She is probably the best shooter in the gym each night. Her teammates love to feed her, and she is lethal off the catch. McCollough has a quick release and always seems to be in rhythm when she goes up for a shot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCollough has a great handle, breaking past presses on her own. If she cannot find an outside look she wants, then she can glide by the defenders and find a way to score inside. However, she has games with 8, 7, 5, 4, and 3 made 3-pointers, so I bet her coaches want her to keep dialing it up from beyond. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is not hard to see why [player_tooltip player_id='1090920' first='Easton' last='McCollough'] has 4 SEC offers, 4 Big Ten offers, 4 Big 12 offers, and 1 ACC offer to choose from. She is not only the best player in the class, but she may very well be a top 5 player in the entire state, that is just how special of a talent McCollough is. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1090910"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676b1b2021d98"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1090910' first='Payton' last='Caudle'] has two offers listed from Kansas State and Oklahoma State, but she recently picked up two more from Miami and Mississippi State. Caudle was an obvious choice to stick at #2 in the class, based on her AAU play and what we have seen so far at Fayetteville High School. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caudle has excellent size for a guard. She is too tough to defend when she has a lane to the basket, using her physicality to force her way inside and to finish through traffic. If a lane is not open, she can turn around and hit a fadeaway jumper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of jumpers, Caudle is an excellent 3-point shooter. She is lethal off the catch and off the bounce. It does not take much time for Caudle to get her shot off and her team runs special sets in order to get her open. Caudle's inside-out scoring ability is a game-changer for the Lady Bulldogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1090910' first='Payton' last='Caudle'] is truly an elite player who continues to get better. It seems that with every passing day, Caudle becomes more and more popular in the national recruiting scene, and she can give McCollough a run for her money at #1. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["753259"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676b1b2021de1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='753259' first='Gia' last='Campbell'] is playing like an elite prospect this season, and she is bound to pick up an offer soon. Though she is a 5'7" guard, she outplays many of the forwards and post players she faces in the paint. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Campbell is on double-double watch every night. On Saturday, Campbell recorded a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, in addition to 4 steals and hitting the game winner. She has that clutch gene in her, and she never wavers against tough defense. Campbell drives hard to the basket, and if she does not finish the first time, she is the first one to grab the miss. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Campbell's rebounding sets her apart from other guards in her class. As I mentioned, she had 10 boards the other night against Warren, but she also grabbed 14 rebounds against Episcopal Collegiate in November. She can either start the fastbreak or give her team second-chance opportunities. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having a guard who can rebound at a high level is rare, yet important, and Bauxite has that in [player_tooltip player_id='753259' first='Gia' last='Campbell']. Watch out for this rising star for the rest of the 2024/25 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1090896"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676b1b2021e4f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1090896' first='Jensen' last='Thrasher'] has already received offers from Illinois State and Central Arkansas, so her appearance at #4 should not be a surprise. Thrasher continues to grind her way for a larger role on this Bentonville team, but what she has done in her career so far is impressive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thrasher has shown most of her skills playing with the [program_tooltip program_id='715977' first='AAO' last='Flight'] in the AAU circuits. She is a pure point guard who knows how to make plays for others. Thrasher puts the ball on a string, as her handle is phenomenal and allows her to blow by defenders whenever she wants. Once she finds a driving lane, she will do whatever it takes to finish over the defense. She embraces contact and can finish with both hands. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thrasher loves to hit contested runners and floaters. She knows how to trap the defender behind her and go to work. When she is coming off a ball-screen, she keeps her defender on her hip while she maneuvers her way inside in order to come away with the best possible look. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1090896' first='Jensen' last='Thrasher'] is a great player who already understands pace of play and interior shot creation. She will be one of the best floor generals in the state for a long time, so keep up with her career trajectory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1055220"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676b1b2021e96"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For whatever reason, Evvi Cooper has yet to be offered to play at the next level. She has already played elite basketball this season, scoring double-digits in nearly every game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It does not take Cooper very long to get her shot up. She has a lightning-fast release and is dangerous when she spots up for a triple on the fastbreak. Catch-and-shoot jumpers are automatic for her, but if she has a chance to drive inside, she will take it. Cooper drives hard to the paint, and if the defense crashes in on her, she can hit them with a nasty euro or step-through to get her shot off. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On defense, Cooper uses her speed and active hands in order to generate turnovers from the other team. She will race down the court to the other end to get some easy points or to dish to a trailing teammate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Evvi Cooper has had multiple games this season where she has dominated on offense and defense. Look for her to continue to be a deadly playmaker for Mountain View for the rest of her career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talent in the top 5 of the 2028 class is something to behold. Three players with Division I offers, and the other two with some on the way. Keep an eye out for these young stars this season, but keep an eye out for those just outside the top 5. My next writeup will break down positions 6 through 10, who all make cases of being some of the best players in the entire state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->