No Longer Rookies: 2028's set for Sophomore Takeover

With so much talent in the state of Florida, and the class of 2026 finishing out their last travel season and beginning their senior year after years of development, a new group of players is just getting started. The class of 2028's time is now, with only a few set for a Sophomore Takeover.    [player_tooltip player_id='1003101' first='Gabby' last='Mallory'] is an explosive player with the ball in her hands. She doesn't need many dribbles to get past her matchup, but if you recover, she has a smooth handle to counter defenders with a quick crossover. When she gets downhill, she is determined to get to the rim—able to split defenders and finish off two feet in traffic, causing problems for teams and putting them in foul trouble. She is also gaining confidence in her shot off the dribble, which becomes a major problem when paired with her quick first step, giving defenders very little time to react.     [player_tooltip player_id='1124488' first='Riley' last='Turknett'] is a guard who is always active on both sides of the ball. Offensively, her head is always on a swivel, looking for the best option for her team. Her ability to play aggressively and decisively is well beyond her years. She has a scorer's mentality but an even stronger winner's mentality, consistently making winning plays. Defensively, her feet are always moving and her hands are active—you never have to tell her to move her feet. She is a strong two-way player and a name to know.     [player_tooltip player_id='1169442' first='Vickiana' last='Chery'] has one of the smoothest jump shots, complete with a beautiful follow-through. Her form is consistent from the base to the release, all in one fluid motion, and she shoots it the same way every time. She's the type of player defenders hate to chase off screens because if she catches it, it's going up. If you close out, she has the handles to put it on the floor and can freeze defenders with hesitations to get off a floater or runner. Vickiana is definitely a player to keep on your watchlist.     [player_tooltip player_id='1235067' first='Malayah' last='Rypien'] has a long, collegiate-like athletic frame and uses it to space the floor with her shooting ability. She easily shoots over the top of smaller defenders—and even those her same height—because she shoots with confidence and great mechanics. This allows her to get her shot off the dribble, even after a pump fake, as her base remains balanced and she uses her length to shoot over the top. As she continues to improve her ball handling, I foresee her becoming an even bigger threat by creating more of her own shots off the dribble this year. She is definitely a player you don't want to miss on her rise to stardom.     [player_tooltip player_id='1235692' first='Milaya' last='Chapman'] has the handles, composure, shooting ability, and competitive motor that you notice as soon as she gets the ball in her hands. She is exciting to watch, as she can shoot off the catch or create off the dribble. Some players can shoot, and some can flat-out score—Milaya is a scorer from all three levels of the floor. The more she plays, the better she gets. Her sophomore year has the potential to be a great coming-out party for her.     (cover photo) [player_tooltip player_id='515003' first='Isabella' last='Aloisio'] was a sight to see in July. The first thing that set her apart was her ability to play out of the triple threat with patience and purpose. She gets her defenders out of position with jab steps and gets downhill with few dribbles, then uses pace to throw off their timing. She is also creative at creating space to get to the rim with euro steps and fake passes, finishing off her off leg. Additionally, she can get her shot off quickly on a ball swing, stepping into her shot and releasing smoothly in one motion. Another mature part of her game is her ability to effectively use both on-ball and off-ball screens—a next-level skill.

With so much talent in the state of Florida, and the class of 2026 finishing out their last travel season and beginning their senior year after years of development, a new group of players is just getting started. The class of 2028's time is now, with only a few set for a Sophomore Takeover.