2028 Hidden Gems: 6 Rising Stars You Need to Know

The 2028 girls' basketball class is stacked with skilled, versatile players who can influence games in multiple ways. Here are six hidden gems who delivered strong 2025-26 seasons, excelling in diverse roles while consistently elevating their teams.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />    A knockdown shooter with elite range, [player_tooltip player_id='1068215' first='Payton' last='Lobato'] is one of the best catch-and-shoot threats in the class. The 5'5” point guard delivered a career-high scoring season, averaging a smooth 10.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals across 29 games. She shot 33% from the field, 32% from three, and a sharp 80% from the free-throw line.   Lobato posted 16 double-figure games, including three 20-point outbursts, and drained 65 threes — ranking second among sophomores in her class. Career-wise, she sits at 9.1 points per game with 114 career three-pointers in 66 games.     [player_tooltip player_id='1714899' first='Zoey' last='Barrio'] burst onto the scene as the Bulldawgs' leading scorer this season. The 5'9” small forward averaged 11.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 18 games while shooting 39% from the field, 38% from three, and 72% from the line. She delivered 11 double-digit performances, including a standout streak of seven straight games to open her sophomore year.   Still early in her career, Barrio has averaged 6.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals through 44 games, showing clear star potential.     An intriguing backcourt scorer, [player_tooltip player_id='890710' first='Jazmin' last='De Leon'] served as the Rockets' leading scorer and only player with a double-figure average this season. The 5'6” shooting guard put up 10.5 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.3 steals across 25 games. She was especially dangerous from deep, recording 11 games with two or more three-pointers.     A true floor general, [player_tooltip player_id='1233322' first='Adalynn' last='Day'] enjoyed a breakout career year as a hardworking, high-IQ combo guard. The versatile 5'8” prospect provides excellent pace, vision, active hands, and positional size. In 32 games, she averaged 7.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists (second-best in the 2028 class), and 3.0 steals. One of just two players in the 2028 class to average 5+ assists per game, Day has built an impressive career line of 5.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.5 steals with 37 threes in 84 games.     A high-impact shooting guard, [player_tooltip player_id='1861974' first='Kolbi' last='Henard'] earned her first All-State selection (2A First Team) while helping the Coyotes reach the state title game with a strong 25-7 record. She was one of three Tatum players honored on All-State teams, underlining her value to a championship-caliber squad.     A rising interior presence, the 6'1” [player_tooltip player_id='1227015' first='Gracen' last='Kuykendall'] excels at establishing deep post position, dominating the glass, and creating second-chance opportunities that keep Artesia's offense alive. She also converts consistently at the free-throw line. What's more, she's a willing and capable defender down on the block who has improved at contesting shots without fouling.    Disclaimer: All statistics are sourced from MaxPreps and depend on timely data entry by coaches and programs. Rankings reflect a combination of observed performance, statistics, team context, and future potential.

The 2028 girls' basketball class is stacked with skilled, versatile players who can influence games in multiple ways. Here are six hidden gems who delivered strong 2025-26 seasons, excelling in diverse roles while consistently elevating their teams.