Five 2027 Cali Ballers To Get Familiar With
The state of California is known for the talent it produces year in and year out. From youth ball to high school to college—the Sunshine State has a reputation to uphold and for good reason. While the athletes below are…
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Continue ReadingThe state of California is known for the talent it produces year in and year out. From youth ball to high school to college—the Sunshine State has a reputation to uphold and for good reason. While the athletes below are in just 7th Grade (class of 2027), the ability that these young men have would make them starters on most high school varsity programs across the country. Here’s a look at five 2027 prospects to know early.
Caleb Bey | Running Back
I don’t think there are enough words to articulate the potential that Bey has at the running back position. For only being in 7th grade right now, Bey is absolutely rocked up and has a clear hunger to be the best player in the country when his time comes. At 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds he is a combination of speed, quickness and power rarely seen on this level. It’s very tough to draw comparisons this early, but simply looking at him, it’s hard not to see a very similar style to that of Saquon Barkley. His ability to start and stop with extreme explosion puts Bey on another level. Look for him to be a hot commodity by all the schools in the Trinity League.
LJ Riley | Offensive Line
There is no substitute for size and power, and that’s what LJ Riley brings to the table. The big, two-way tackle stands 6-foot-4 and tips the scale at 240 pounds. A dedicated athlete in the weight room, he can deadlift nearly 500 pounds already and has the frame that coaches everywhere are going to be salivating over. There’s no reason he can’t be in the 6-foot-4 to 6-foot-7 range and weigh around 300 pounds by the time his college decision comes around. You will be hearing a lot about him in the future.
Havon Finney Jr | Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
I admit it sounds crazy, but Finney has been an absolute freak since he could literally walk. The dynamic two-way player has been turning heads on the football field for a number of years and first made noise in 2017, when the University of Nevada verbally offered him a scholarship when he was just nine years old. Nine. Years. Old. Now, in 7th grade and standing 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, he hasn’t let up his fierce play at all and is one of the top players on the OG Ducks 14U team.
Brady Bretthauer | Quarterback
The Sunshine State is known for producing talented quarterbacks and one that is looking good early on is Bretthauer. The 6-foot-1, 155-pounder looks to understand the fundamentals of the quarterback position at an advanced level right now. I like how he stands tall in the pocket and the footwork he uses to move around in there to create extra room. In addition to a live arm, Bretthauer has some pretty good athleticism that many quarterbacks on this level don’t possess. He’s not afraid to tuck the ball and take off, and on film the big fella has even hurdled would-be tacklers. It’s early, but Bretthauer has a chance to be a great next-level player.
Carsten Campbell | Offensive Line
While Campbell doesn’t have the crazy height the Riley does, he’s another promising two-way lineman worth keeping an eye on. He’s a strong, stout athlete with thick calves and a powerful lower body that helps him when the battles in the trenches. At center he can shot gun snap which is a skill at this age and has very quick feet. Look for him to be a dominant interior offensive lineman when his high school years come.