2028s for D1s to Watch in the April Live Period

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're closing on the first live period of the AAU season. I'll be in Ohio for the first UAA stop, and programs around the state will be all over. For the D1 programs who may be reading this heading into the live period, I want to highlight a few kids in each high school class you may want to see before the live period. We'll have the 2028s and 2027s today and round out the articles for the month with the 2026s tomorrow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='936786' first='Leah' last='Awe']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After seeing Awe this past weekend in New Berlin, I'm higher on her than I had been. The now 6'2 or 6'3 wing/forward was an intriguing talent that only added to that intrigue since I last saw her in November. There is still plenty of room to grow, but you won't find many kids her size who can handle the ball, shoot from the perimeter, play with power around the rim, and be a talented defender. She's still young, and schools may not offer after this coming live period, but they'll know who she is when she leaves Manheim, Pennsylvania, next weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='888387' first='Lana' last='Mannetter']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Westosha Central wing earned a Drake offer at the end of the 2024 AAU season, and I'm slightly surprised that was all she got because she was unbelievable in her 2027 [program_tooltip program_id='713043' first='Wisconsin' last='Impact'] group's run to the 15U EYCL title game. Mannetter can get to the rim almost whenever she wants, has the power to finish through contact, and has the speed to get by kids on the perimeter. I'm unsure if she's had P4 interest over the past year, but she'll probably field a call or two from programs at that level this spring and summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1173395' first='Norah' last='Kling']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maybe one of the fastest-rising names in the 2028 class, Kling is a name people may not know well heading into the live period, but she'll make a name for herself. Kling had an excellent second half of the high school season. She's a physical and athletic wing who found ways to produce on the offensive end for Eau Claire Memorial. Kling is an outstanding athlete with the physicality you wouldn't expect from someone her age. She may be the best defender in her class as things stand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992501' first='Kinslee' last='Nelson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Oshkosh West wing is one of the best athletes in this class. Nelson's speed, explosive first step, and vertical all jumped out when I saw her early in the high school season. Nelson may still have plenty to work on in her game, but she's a kid to know as she continues to improve because you can't teach a kid to be as athletic as her, and she has one of the highest ceilings in the 2028 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->