Fall Rankings Rundown: 2028 Power Forwards

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='933384' first='Leah' last='Werth'] (2028) from Homestead High School at our Sophomore ID Camp in the Fall of 2025.   It's September, which means it's time for the rankings throughout the site to be updated. About a week ago we released the updated list of 2028 prospects, but I would like to turn my attention to the power forwards in this article. Below is a list of those prospects with "power forward" listed as their primary position, followed by some attention for the newcomers, and a look at a couple of ladies who are on the rise.   .    NEWCOMERS:    Reniah is someone I had the opportunity to see in early July, and she really impressed me with her play and potential. She was at Evansville North as a Freshman but transferred to Harrison last year. She is very strong, physical, but also fairly athletic in most directions. When I was able to see her, she could post up defenders and use her power inside, but I felt like she preferred to catch it on the wing and "bully" her way to the basket more. She has some touch in the mid-post, so if she can extend it, watch out!     When I saw Claire throughout the Spring and Summer playing "up" on the grassroots circuit, she struck me as a "lunch pail" kid...she always just went to work, battled, and made a lot of hustle plays. She does have good all-around skill and some athletic ability, but it's her willingness to do the "un-fun" things that make her stand out. She has a nose for the ball and rebounds outside of her area. She defends players bigger than herself, and she can score it inside or in the mid-post. She's just a nice ballplayer.     Jolie popped up on my radar in mid-July and was very intriguing. She is very long, wiry-strong, fast, and somewhat bouncy. She is a very active forward who can play at all levels athletically. She can put it on the floor, she has a nice face-up game in the mid-post, and she can occasionally post up smaller defenders. I think she herself can become a really good defender, because she has the length and athletic ability to be able to sit down and defend the ball. Right now, she is all upside, so I'm curious to see her Junior year.     Each year it seems like there is a forward similar to Natalie who picks up recruiting momentum heading into their Junior year from some of the Midwest's better small colleges, and while Natalie might be a little under the radar right now, I feel like if she has a good 2026-2027 Winter, she could have several followers come April. She is so long, athletic in all directions, and bouncy. She has very good balance and change-of-direction, plus she has some ball skill and the ability to make open rhythm jumpers.    .   STOCK-RISERS:    Leah is yet another big school kid who is just starting to get a lot of opportunity for her Varsity program, but she has also shined on the grassroots circuit each Spring & Summer. She has been impressive enough to earn Division I offers and just recently committed. She has always been a really nice, long, wiry-strong athlete who runs the floor well, she glides almost effortlessly at times, and she has some bounce. She really worked on her skill, too, and she has a soft shot with range to '3'. She could have a breakout year.     Lauren grew up as a Lake Central kid, then after her Freshman year, she transferred the 5 1/2 miles Southwest to Illiana Christian High School. She is a very skillful forward, she is a tremendously hard worker, and she has some physical talent as well. Most noticeable about her skillset is her versatility. She has always been a capable shooter to 3-point range, but now she is countering that with better drives, plus she can pick-and-pop or pick-and-roll and catch and finish around the basket. Lauren is an excellent rebounder, too.

The featured image is of Leah Werth Leah Werth 6'0" | PF/SF Homestead | 2028 State IN (2028) from Homestead High School at our Sophomore ID Camp in the Fall of 2025.