2028 Standouts Ready to Raise the Bar

The Class of 2028 is loaded with talent across Michigan, and several players are heading into their junior seasons with plenty of momentum after impressive sophomore campaigns. These players have already shown they can make an impact at the varsity level, whether it's putting up big numbers, earning postseason recognition, or playing key roles in their teams' success. Now, with another year of experience under their belts, the expectations are only getting higher. Throughout the spring, summer, and fall, I've had the opportunity to watch talented players from this class continue to develop their skills, build confidence, and expand their games. What makes this group so exciting is that they've already accomplished quite a bit, yet there is still plenty of room for growth. As the 2026-27 high school basketball season approaches, these rising juniors have an opportunity to build on their success, take their games to another level, and make an even bigger name for themselves. Here are some of the 2028 standouts I'll be keeping a close eye on this winter.    Danica is a junior for Grosse Ile who has earned her way into the Prep Girls Hoops Michigan Class of 2028 rankings after showing continued development throughout the offseason. A versatile interior player who brings a combination of size, strength and scoring ability to the floor, Danica has the tools to make her presence felt in several areas of the game. During the Big Cat Fall League, she put together a strong showing with [program_tooltip program_id='932068' first='Michigan' last='Prospects'], displaying her ability to compete physically in the paint while also stepping outside and knocking down shots from beyond the arc. That inside-outside versatility gives her the ability to create different challenges for opposing defenses. Danica also does a nice job on the glass, using her strength to battle for rebounds and help her team secure possessions. Defensively, she stays active in passing lanes and looks for opportunities to disrupt the offense. With Grosse Ile looking to climb the conference standings after finishing in the middle of the pack last season, Danica has an opportunity to help make that happen. Her recent addition to the 2028 rankings is a sign that her development is getting noticed, and I'll be interested to see how her versatility and continued growth translate to the high school floor this winter.     Emily is a junior guard for Caledonia who I believe could be in for an impressive season after showing just how much she can impact a game during the offseason. I had the opportunity to watch her compete with MBA 16U UAA at the PGH Michigan State Tournament, where she played up in the 17U division and put together an outstanding weekend. Her performance earned her First Team 17U All-Tournament honors, and I selected her as my co-MVP after watching her consistently make a difference in several areas of the game. One of the things that stands out most about Emily is her ability to rise to the occasion when her team needs her. In the championship game, she finished with 16 points and knocked down two clutch three-pointers late to help spark an important run. While her scoring ability certainly catches your attention, there's much more to her game. Emily is an unselfish playmaker who sees the floor well and delivers quality passes to create scoring opportunities for her teammates. She also competes hard on the glass, battling for rebounds in traffic and showing a willingness to do the little things that help her team succeed. I really like the toughness, competitiveness and all-around skill set Emily brings to the floor. After proving she can make a major impact against older competition, I'm excited to see how she carries that momentum into her junior season at Caledonia.     Taylor is a junior guard for Thornapple Kellogg who is coming off an impressive sophomore campaign that earned her First Team All-Conference honors. With another year of experience under her belt, I believe she has the potential to take her game to an even higher level this winter. I've had the opportunity to watch Taylor compete during the offseason, including at the Headliners Invitational, where her ability to create offense for herself and her teammates really stood out. One of the biggest strengths of her game is her impressive shooting range, as she can knock down shots from well beyond the three-point line and make defenses extend their coverage. Taylor also has a shifty handle, quick first step and effective hesitation move that allow her to get past defenders and attack the paint. She has the footwork to create separation for her own shot, including a smooth step-back three, but what I really like is her ability to recognize when to score and when to distribute. Taylor sees the floor extremely well, delivering accurate passes in transition and making excellent reads to find teammates in scoring position. Her ability to stretch the floor while also creating opportunities for others makes her a difficult matchup for opposing defenses. After establishing herself as one of the top guards in the OK Gold as a sophomore, Taylor has an opportunity to build on that success and help lead Thornapple Kellogg through another competitive conference season.     Avery is a junior post player for South Christian who has the potential to be one of the more impactful interior players in the Class of 2028 this winter. Standing at 6-foot-3, Avery brings an impressive combination of size, athleticism and mobility that makes her a difficult matchup on both ends of the floor. Throughout the offseason, she continued to establish herself as a high-level prospect with MBA Rise 16U on the PGH Circuit, while also making a strong impression at BCAM Reaching Higher, where she showed the ability to compete against highly regarded post competition. Offensively, Avery has good hands and a soft touch around the basket, along with developing footwork that allows her to create scoring opportunities in the paint. She has also made strides in her ability to finish through contact and attack defenders off the dribble when facing up to the basket, adding another dimension to her offensive game. On the defensive end, Avery's length and body control make her a strong rim protector who can block shots and force opponents into difficult finishes. What makes Avery especially intriguing is that she already possesses the physical tools to compete at a high level, yet her game continues to develop. With her combination of size, versatility and growing offensive skill set, I believe Avery has an opportunity to make a significant impact for South Christian this winter while continuing to establish herself as one of the top prospects in Michigan's 2028 class.     Kaylee is a junior guard for Holton who put together an impressive spring and summer, giving plenty of reasons to believe she could be in for a big season this winter. A dynamic playmaker with the ability to impact the game in several ways, Kaylee continued to turn heads throughout the offseason with strong performances at elite camps and the PGH Michigan Expo, where she earned Top Performer recognition. One of the biggest strengths of her game is her ability to create offense with the basketball in her hands. Kaylee has a shifty handle, explosive first step and impressive speed that allow her to get past defenders and attack the basket. She has the body control to finish difficult shots in traffic, but she can also make defenses pay from beyond the arc, knocking down three-pointers both off the catch and off the dribble. What makes her especially dangerous is that she isn't just looking for her own offense. Kaylee has excellent court vision and does a nice job creating scoring opportunities for her teammates, making her a threat as both a scorer and facilitator. Defensively, she brings plenty of energy and applies pressure on the perimeter, using her quickness to force turnovers and create transition opportunities. Already holding an offer from Alma College, Kaylee is gaining attention for her abilities on the court. I believe her combination of scoring, playmaking and defensive activity could lead to an outstanding junior campaign for Holton as she continues to elevate her game.

The Class of 2028 is loaded with talent across Michigan, and several players are heading into their junior seasons with plenty of momentum after impressive sophomore campaigns. These players have already shown they can make an impact at the varsity level, whether it's putting up big numbers, earning postseason recognition, or playing key roles in their teams' success. Now, with another year of experience under their belts, the expectations are only getting higher. Throughout the spring, summer, and fall, I've had the opportunity to watch talented players from this class continue to develop their skills, build confidence, and expand their games. What makes this group so exciting is that they've already accomplished quite a bit, yet there is still plenty of room for growth. As the 2026-27 high school basketball season approaches, these rising juniors have an opportunity to build on their success, take their games to another level, and make an even bigger name for themselves. Here are some of the 2028 standouts I'll be keeping a close eye on this winter.

Danica Tomich

HEIGHT 5'10"

POS C

CLASS 2028

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Danica Tomich

State: Michigan

School: Grosse Ile

Club: Michigan Prospects

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Emily Stauffer

MI #36

PG #11

HEIGHT 5'8"

POS PG

CLASS 2028

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Emily Stauffer

State: Michigan

School: Caledonia

Club: MBA-UAA

Emily is a junior guard for Caledonia who I believe could be in for an impressive season after showing just how much she can impact a game during the offseason. I had the opportunity to watch her compete with MBA 16U UAA at the PGH Michigan State Tournament, where she played up in the 17U division and put together an outstanding weekend. Her performance earned her First Team 17U All-Tournament honors, and I selected her as my co-MVP after watching her consistently make a difference in several areas of the game. One of the things that stands out most about Emily is her ability to rise to the occasion when her team needs her. In the championship game, she finished with 16 points and knocked down two clutch three-pointers late to help spark an important run. While her scoring ability certainly catches your attention, there's much more to her game. Emily is an unselfish playmaker who sees the floor well and delivers quality passes to create scoring opportunities for her teammates. She also competes hard on the glass, battling for rebounds in traffic and showing a willingness to do the little things that help her team succeed. I really like the toughness, competitiveness and all-around skill set Emily brings to the floor. After proving she can make a major impact against older competition, I'm excited to see how she carries that momentum into her junior season at Caledonia.