Our final watchlist of the season highlights this year's sophomore class. There is a ton of potential across the county in this class and we are excited to see some new names come on to the scene. You can see our 2025 rankings in the tweet below.


Name – Position – School (Wake Hoops class ranking)

Colt Langdon – Wing – Millbrook (1)

Colt is the guy this year for Millbrook and in Wake County after being one of the most productive freshmen we have seen in a while. He is a true 6'8' wing that can shoot the ball as well as anyone. I am a fan of the tough shot-making ability that he has shown this fall and you have to expect that to carry over into the season as well. He can finish well when straight-line driving, but when he gets cut off he can stop and score over the top of defenders anywhere in the mid-range. He especially likes turning drives into mini post-ups where he uses his height and length to get to a fading jumper or a post move. What is maybe most impressive about Colt is his efficiency with the ball. For as much as he scores, he doesn't take a lot of bad shots and he makes most of the good ones that he takes. He is also great on the boards given his size and his ability to push the ball in transition has been fascinating to see so far this fall. All of this being said, he still isn't even a game into his sophomore season yet.

Isaac Ericksen – Forward – Green Level (2)

Isaac is a tall shot maker that led Green Level to their first playoff appearance last season as a freshman. Isaac can score consistently off the bounce, something that is extremely rare in players his age. Because of his 6'7' frame and scoring abilities, Isaac's potential is limitless. He was used as a volume scorer this summer as well, averaging 14ppg for Team Loaded NC on the 15U 3SSB circuit. I think that the biggest thing for Isaac will be to improve his efficiency as he continues to grow within his role. He shot 38% from the field and 27% from 3 last season. Those aren't great splits but he was working on a lot of volume, and he was only 14 years old at the time. Green Level will need him to score the ball to win games and I expect those numbers to naturally improve as he gets older and his game matures. I also want to acknowledge the way that he handled himself last season. Despite being a freshman, on a team full of 3-4 year varsity guys, he stepped in and from day 1 carried himself like the number 1 option that he was. That confidence and maturity is impressive to see at that age and I can only imagine that it will progress to new heights this season.

Kendall Lanier – Guard – Apex Friendship (HM)

Kendall is a steady point guard that will slide into Coach Lowman's system very well this coming season. Kendall plays great on-ball defense and is a knockdown outside shooter. That alone should be cause for excitement but I am more interested in his on-ball creation abilities, as both a scorer and passer. Right now and this season, Kendall is and will be used as a lead guard that can initiate the offense for the Patriots. He has great instincts as a passer and will thrive in the read-and-react type of offense. I think that somewhere in Kendall's future we will see him expand into more of an on-ball scorer, while still being able to create and run an offense at a high level. His shot mechanics are very clean and I've seen flashes of his potential as a shot maker. His 3&D lead guard floor will make him a valuable piece to any team, but his potential as a complete on-ball creator is what makes me fascinated with his development.

Ghab Scott – Guard – Garner (UNR)

I was introduced to Ghab when I saw him play at the One Day Bump a few weeks ago. I was extremely impressed with his ability to control the game with his speed, handle, vision, and defense. After seeing him again this past weekend in the HoopState League, I can confirm that Ghab is everything that I initially thought he was. He is an uber-smart guard that bullies bigger opponents with his aggressive on-ball defense. He has serious point-of-attack defensive potential if he isn't already there and I see him as one of the best perimeter defenders in the county, regardless of class. On the other side of the ball Ghab is a really good decision maker. He is fast and crafty with the ball, which leads to him getting into the paint and drawing the second line of defense fairly often. Whenever he draws help, he almost always makes the right read whether it's a pass or a shot. He is a bit undersized but athletic enough to finish at the rim over bigger bodies. I am a big fan of his game and am excited to see what he does the rest of the fall and this high school season.

Ethan Reid – Wing – Southeast Raleigh (UNR)

Ethan got solid minutes as a freshman for the Bulldogs and he should leap into a starting role as one of the best athletes in the GNR conference. Ethan is an intriguing player to look at because of the upside that his athleticism and scoring ability brings. He already is a plus finisher and shot 16/50 (32%) from the outside as a freshman last season. That inside-out combination for a young and developing player is a huge sign of great things to come. He has serious point-of-attack defensive upside and I'm hopeful that we will see that this season. As Ethan develops at a rapid pace, it will be interesting to see if he becomes more of a lead guard or more of an off guard. He would be scary at both positions and I think that the passing and decision-making ability that we see this year will tell us which one he is best suited for. Regardless of position, Ethan is on this list because of his increased role and limitless potential.