They’re only sophomores. Think about that for a second. Most of the kids populating the latest class of 2028 rankings can't even legally drive a car without a parent in the passenger seat, yet they're already carrying the weight of "five-star" expectations and "can’t-miss" labels.
It’s a bit wild. Honestly, it’s a lot wild.
If you follow high school recruiting, you know the drill. Scout services like 247Sports, Rivals, and On3 start dropping these lists earlier and earlier every year. By January 2026, the initial "feeling out" phase is over. We’ve seen these athletes through their freshman seasons and a grueling summer circuit. Now, the rankings are hardening into something that feels official, even if a lot can change before they actually step onto a college campus.
The Big Names To Watch Right Now
In the basketball world, the conversation usually starts and ends with size and "re-class" potential. Right now, the class of 2028 rankings have a few guys that look like they were built in a lab.
Take AJ Williams out of Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in Georgia. He’s a 6-foot-8 small forward who plays with a level of fluidity that just doesn't make sense for a kid his age. He’s currently sitting at the top of several major boards, and for good reason. He isn't just a "prospect"—he's a producer. Then you’ve got Bentley Lusakueno and Erick Dampier Jr. (yes, the son of that Erick Dampier). Dampier Jr. is already pushing 6-foot-10 and has the kind of defensive instincts that make scouts drool.
Over on the gridiron, the story is always about the quarterbacks. Jayden Wade from IMG Academy has been the "it" name for a while. Being the QB1 at IMG as a sophomore is basically like being a minor celebrity. He’s got the frame—6-foot-3, nearly 200 pounds—and the arm talent to back it up.
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But it’s not just the signal-callers.
- Brysen Wright, a wide receiver from Mandarin in Florida, is a human highlight reel.
- Jalanie George is an edge rusher out of Arizona who is already terrorizing varsity offensive lines.
- R'Monie Edwards is a mountain of an offensive tackle from Texas who basically anchors the entire left side of the line by himself.
Why These Rankings Feel Different This Year
The NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) era has changed everything. It used to be that rankings were just for bragging rights or to help college coaches build their big boards. Now? A high ranking in the class of 2028 rankings can literally be worth six or seven figures before the kid even graduates high school.
We’re seeing players like Mason Collins (a top-10 basketball recruit) already getting serious looks from blue-blood programs like Syracuse and UNC. When Bill Belichick—now the head coach at UNC in this 2026 reality—starts extending offers to sophomores, you know the stakes have shifted.
"It's early, but the physical maturity we're seeing in the 2028 class is ahead of schedule," says one veteran scout I talked to recently. "The gap between a freshman and a sophomore used to be huge. Now, these kids are training like pros at 14."
The Science (and Stress) of Scouting Sophomores
How do you even rank a 15-year-old? It’s basically educated guessing mixed with a lot of projection.
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Scouts look for "projectable frames." This is basically code for "will this kid grow three more inches and stay fast?" They look at "motor"—does the kid play hard when the cameras aren't on? They also look at "bloodlines." It's no coincidence that names like Dampier or McCarty show up on these lists. Biology is a hell of a head start.
But there’s a downside. The "ranking fatigue" is real. When you’re labeled as the #1 player in the country in the class of 2028 rankings while you’re still taking Algebra 1, the pressure is immense. Every bad game is scrutinized. Every social media post is picked apart.
The Risers and the "Sleepers"
Rankings aren't static. They’re more like a stock market.
- Theo Swafford (Baseball): A shortstop out of Sierra Canyon who jumped to the #1 spot after hitting .366 as a freshman. He’s got that "it" factor.
- Kameron Mercer: A guard from Ohio who has been a steady riser because he’s a pure "bucket getter" who doesn't shy away from the spotlight.
- Adan Diggs: A combo guard from Arizona who is starting to climb into that elite "top 5" conversation because of his defensive versatility.
What You Should Actually Care About
If you're a parent or a fan, don't get too married to the specific numbers. Being ranked #12 vs. #22 in January of your sophomore year doesn't mean much in the long run. What matters is the tier.
Are they in the "five-star" conversation? Are they getting "Power 4" offers?
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The class of 2028 rankings are a roadmap, not a destination. We’ve seen plenty of "can't-miss" sophomores disappear by their senior year. Conversely, there are kids right now who aren't even on the radar who will be first-round picks in five years.
Honestly, the most important thing for these kids is just staying healthy and keeping the grades up. No matter how many stars you have next to your name, you can't play on Saturdays (or Sundays) if you don't qualify or if your knees give out because you played 100 AAU games in a single summer.
Actionable Insights for Following the Class of 2028
If you want to stay ahead of the curve on these recruits, you've got to look beyond the star ratings.
- Watch the "re-class" rumors. A lot of these elite kids are actually older for their grade and might jump to the 2027 class if their development stays on track.
- Follow the offers, not the rank. A kid might be #50 on a list, but if Georgia, Bama, and Ohio State all offer him in the same week, he’s actually a top-10 talent in the eyes of the people who matter.
- Check the multi-sport data. College coaches love guys who also do track or play multiple positions. Look at Jasir Fontenot or Dillon Mitchell—track stars who are using that speed to skyrocket their football stock.
- Ignore the "highlights" on TikTok. Watch the full game film. Anyone can look like LeBron in a 30-second clip. The real players show up in the fourth quarter when they’re tired and the shots aren't falling.
Keep an eye on the summer 2026 circuit. That’s when the class of 2028 rankings usually undergo their biggest shakeup as kids travel across the country to face each other head-to-head for the first time.