2028 Rankings Update: Power Forwards

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='933384' first='Leah' last='Werth'] (2028) from Homestead High School.   Tuesday afternoon, we released an updated rankings list for the Class of 2028. The current list consists of a Top 75, along with a watch list of 86 prospects. All in all, it expanded by 11 prospects overall, which we introduced in a couple of articles last Tuesday morning. At this point in time, we turn our attention to the power forwards in the group, highlighted by 5 players near the bottom of this article who have really stepped up their games over the past 3 months.    .    Like many kids who go through a program with the depth of Homestead, Leah has worked on her game and greatly improved while still waiting for her turn in the rotation. This coming season, following several quality 2026 graduations, she should get a huge opportunity, potentially as a starter. She is a nice all-around athlete, she has worked to become an excellent perimeter shooter, and she plays with a great deal of versatility. She can be used in pick-and-pop situations, she can get downhill off the dribble, plus she plays with a nice motor and is really good at rebounding outside of her area.     Gabbi is one of the transfers I mentioned earlier this month, but what's great about June was that I got a preview of seeing her with her new Ben Davis team a week ago. She has always possessed good size, strength, but also skill, and versatility. Ben Davis already returned good size to their roster, but now they can play even bigger with Gabbi focusing on her face-up play in the mid-post and around the perimeter. She can put it on the floor a little, get to the basket, or knock down the jumper. Defensively, she's a solid interior defender, and does a solid job coming over from "help" side.     Jaylee is a fun watch, because she is an absolute bruiser inside, though she also possesses some skill around the perimeter. There are a lot of situations where she likes to initiate contact, play with physicality, and use her athleticism at her size to finish over/through taller defenders. She has a motor and a nose for the ball, making her a tremendous rebounder, but she can also hold her ground as an interior defender, box out, and limit possessions for the opponent. Around the perimeter, she is improving her handle and jump-shot, and as both of those continue to develop, she's becoming an inside-out problem.     Aubrey is another reason for Ben Davis fans to be excited about this coming season. I haven't seen her on a grassroots roster this Spring, but she played last weekend for the school team. She is incredibly long, wiry-strong, and fluidly athletic. She can get out and run the floor well, often out "rim-running" her opponents from defense to offense. She has good hands, can run, catch, and finish in transition, but she also has nice skill in the halfcourt offense. She can face the basket and knock down shots in the mid-post, or she can go to the block against shorter defenders and extend over them to finish.     Maggie is another talent I'm not sure has ever played grassroots basketball. For Batesville, as a Freshman she saw action in just 4 games. Then as a Sophomore, she erupted as a prospect, averaging a double-double of 11.5 points & 10.3 rebounds, including a whopping 5.1 offensive rebounds per game. She also shot 58% from the field, so her efficiency inside the arc was outstanding. She has some length, strength, and solid athleticism, plus she plays with a strong motor. If she were to have any interest in college hoops, I think she could be a nice fit as a defender/rebounder for several of the top small colleges.

The featured image is of Leah Werth Leah Werth 6'0" | PF/SF Homestead | 2028 State IN (2028) from Homestead High School.