With the MaxPreps National Player of the Year
watch list being released yesterday, we are diving deeper on how the top 25 recruits in the Class of 2027 according to
247Sports are performing this season.
Marcus Spears Jr. of
Dynamic Prep (Irving, Texas) is the top player in the class and a leader on the floor for a 14-1 squad. He contributes in every statistical category, averaging 14.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
C.J. Rosser Jr. and
Obinna Ekezie Jr. of
Southeastern Prep Academy (Orlando, Fla.) hold the No. 2 and No. 3 spots.
Southeastern Prep Academy (24-7) has notched wins over
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.),
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) and
Second Baptist (Houston, Texas) this season.
Rosser Jr. averages 16.5 points while Ekezie Jr. sits at 11.3 points per game. Both average 1.6 blocks per contest.
No. 12 Joavon Bardwell, No. 13 Gabe Nesmith and No. 22 Anderson Diaz of Overtime Elite were not included.
Read on for a full look at the list.
1. Marcus Spears Jr., Dynamic Prep (Irving, Texas)
6-9 | 195 | PFThe No. 1 junior in the nation is the son of a former Dallas Cowboys first-round pick. The dynamic forward averages 14.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks under head coach Jermaine O'Neal.
2. C.J. Rosser Jr., Southeastern Prep Academy (Orlando, Fla.)
6-10 | 195 | PFMulti-dimensional on offense, Rosser dominates in the paint and on the outside, where he shoots 34 percent from downtown. Rosser is also a nightmare on defense and has recorded a block in 14 of his past 15 games.
3. Obinna Ekezie Jr.., Southeastern Prep Academy
7-1 | 220 | CThe No. 1 center in the Class of 2027 gets tested down low almost every game and has excelled with multi-block games against nationally-ranked Bartlett (Tenn.) and IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) this season.
4. Paul Osaruyi, Bella Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.)
6-10 | 220 | CThe junior can jump out of the gym and score with both hands near the rim. Against Spears Jr. and Dynamic Prep at the Tarkanian Classic in December, Osaruyi pulled down nine rebounds and blocked five shots in an overtime victory.
5. Moussa Kamissoko, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.)
6-8 | 180 | SFCan play multiple positions while excelling on both ends of the floor. In a win over La Lumiere, Kamissoko produced 23 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
6. Lincoln Cosby, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
6-11 | 195 | FAveraging 5.8 points with 3.4 rebounds per game this season.
7. Ryan Hampton, DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
6-6 | 190 | SFThe brother of 2020 first-round pick R.J. Hampton averages 21.4 points per game for a 14-4 program.
8. Nasir Anderson, Prolific Prep (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
6-4 | 205 | PGPutting up around 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists per game for Prolific Prep (20-2).
9. Jordan Page, Broughton (Raleigh, N.C.)
6-6 | 190 | SGPuts up 21.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game for a team that is undefeated in conference play. Coached by former North Carolina State player Scott Wood.
10. King Gibson, SPIRE Academy National (Geneva, Ohio)
6-5 | 185 | GLeading the way for Kevin Boyle in his first year at SPIRE. Averages 17.4 points per game on 49.2 percent shooting. From the 3-point line he is even better with a 62.5 percent clip.
11. Dawson Battie, St. Mark's (Dallas, Texas)
6-8 | 210 | GPlays all over the floor and had a three-game stretch to start the season where he averaged 25.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
14. Cayden Daughtry, Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
6-2 | 175 | PGLeads the No. 8 team in the nation by putting up 28 points and five assists per game. In a win over nationally-ranked Wheeler (Ga.), the junior put up 19 points and dished out five assists.
15. DeMarcus Henry, AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.)
6-8 | 200 | SFThe son of an NFL player leads AZ Compass Prep (12-1) squad in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks.
16. Davion Thompson, Link Academy (Branson, Mo.)
6-3 | 170 | PGAverages 12.7 points per game against one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Thompson had 15 points and five rebounds in a December win over Long Island Lutheran at T-Mobile Arena.
6-4 | 165 | GLeading the Knights (13-1) with 34.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.6 steals per game. The guard scored 51 points in a Dec. 19 victory.
18. Isaiah Hill, Pike (Indianapolis, Ind.)
7-0 | 205 | CThe big man averages 3.3 blocks per game for the No. 5 team in Indiana while also putting up 8.3 points and 7.3 rebounds.
19. Beckham Black, Southeastern Prep Academy6-4 | 180 | PGTransfer averages a team-leading 17.7 points and 7.8 assists per game. Against No. 6 Bartlett (Tenn.), Black scored 24 points with 10 assists.
20. Malachi Jordan, Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.)
6-7 | 225 | SFAverages 20 points per game and shoots 52 percent from 3-point range. In a 83-75 December win over Montverde Academy the forward dropped 30 points.
21. Josh Leonard, Wilson (Florence, S.C.)
6-7 | 215 | SFLeonard averages 22 and 12 for a top 25 team in South Carolina. Leonard is also an ace on defense with 3.3 steals and 1.4 blocks per contest.
23. Reese Alston, Second Baptist (Houston, Texas)
6-3 | 175 | PGThe son of a former NBA player leads the No. 13 team in Texas with 22.7 points per game. Also averages 5.4 assists and 3.0 steals per contest.
24. Ahmad Hudson, Ruston (La.)
6-8 | 235 | PFA MaxPreps Junior All-American in football, Hudson averages 18 points and 15 rebounds per game. In his best game this season he scored 28 points and grabbed 20 rebounds.
25. Jason Gardner Jr., Fishers (Ind.)
6-1 | 185 | GFishers (12-0) is nationally-ranked thanks in part to Gardner's 21 points per game. In a November win, he scored 22 points while adding eight rebounds, five assists and five steals.