To conclude our fall Under the Radar series, we reach a group of 2028 wings and forwards (including centers) that is much deeper than I initially expected.
For both prep and public schools, I'm monitoring a bunch of players who could break out as upperclassmen or otherwise garner more attention. We have an even split of five prep school and state association school talents below, and four Best of New England ranked players compared to six unranked names. And as I did in the 2028 guards roundup, I've labeled one player here as a clear Division 1 prospect that those colleges should get to know.
As always, positional designations are fluid. I've got some 2-3 types of wings, small forward and power forwards, and a few true post players. And some of these schools aren't your typical championship contenders; you can truly find intriguing talent all over New England.
Here are my 10 final under-the-radar nominations in the 2028 class.
MORE UNDER THE RADAR: 2027 guards | 2027 wings and forwards | 2028 guards
Ellen Baranowski, Norwood
6-2 center
Hometown: Norwood, Mass.
Baranowski overpowered her MIAA opponents as a sophomore, averaging 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks per game. She's just taller and stronger than most players she competes against. Baranowski is primarily a post presence and play-finisher, but she can make layups with both hands and has a nice turnaround lefty layup in her bag. She's also shown flashes of quality court vision out of the post.
Faith Boothe, Kolbe Cathedral
5-11 wing
Hometown: Bridgeport, Conn.
Boothe hasn't received the same publicity as some of these other names. But her natural athleticism and burst have popped in the brief times I've watched her play. Booth can shake defenders with her handle and outrun them. She has a pull-up scoring game and can make tough shots at all three levels. Her hops also help her block shots and create chaos on defense. I want to see more all-around consistency from Boothe, but her innate tools give her intriguing potential. She's someone I want to watch more of as a candidate for our Best of New England rankings.
Marybel DoRosario, Taunton
6-0 forward
Hometown: Taunton, Mass.
This is another deep sleeper prospect who I would consider for the Best of New England rankings but need to watch more. DoRosario is another standout athlete, fast in the open floor and explosive around the rim. When I watched her with BCRI during the grassroots season, she made an impact as a lockdown defender and slashing wing. She averaged 14.8 points, eight rebounds and a block per game as a sophomore at Taunton.
Kayla Dunlap, Natick
6-0 forward
Hometown: Natick, Mass.
Last year, Naya Annigeri was the Division 1 college prospect hiding in plain sight in the MIAA. I believe it's Dunlap in the 2028 class. She has the length and athletic tools to compete at that level. She has already dominated scholastic play, averaging 21 points, five rebounds and three steals as a sophomore. Dunlap has shown flashes of a versatile wing-forward-type who can outleap opponents for rebounds. She's got surprising burst on her drives, she can elevate over defenders on short jumpers and she'll even step out and hit a 3-pointer. Dunlap is already very skilled and still has so much upside to unlock.
Itansan Eugene-Ajayi, Loomis Chaffee
6-1 center
Hometown: Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Eugene-Ajayi is the only player on this list who has Division 1 offers already from Howard and Radford. But I feel like Loomis Chaffee's centers always fly under the radar, and we shouldn't let that happen with the next up-and-coming frontcourt prospect. Eugene-Ajayi is a tough post player who's solid around the basket and a capable rebounder, checking a lot of the baseline boxes coaches want to see. But I think she's a little quicker than I initially expected and she has fantastic hands catching the ball, particularly in the pick-and-roll. Eugene-Ajayi has some sneaky upside as a face-up driver who embraces contact at the basket.
Cheyenne Little, Hamden Hall
5-10 wing
Hometown: Derby, Conn.
Little intrigued me at the NEPSAC Scholastic Showcase, where she had a massive rotation block and some hard-charging driving scores. She can cross over defenders and fly in a straight line. Her defensive activity stands out thanks to her quickness and high effort level. I'd like to see Little get stronger and build out her handle more, but she has a great foundation and could be in line for a larger role after the B Small champs graduated a few of their rotation guards and wings.
Emma Moore, Phillips Andover
6-1 center
Hometown: Reading, Mass.
Moore checks in at No. 41 in our Best of New England rankings. I think her dependability screening, rolling and finishing as a center goes super underrated. Her footwork in the post is rock-solid and she competes as a rebounder too. Phillips Andover is a dark-horse candidate to break the hold Loomis Chaffee and Sacred Heart have had on the Class A title game. I think Moore is instrumental to this team's ceiling.
Lana Orietas, Berkshire
6-0 wing
Hometown: Voorheesville, N.Y.
In her first season on the Bears, Orietas averaged 11.5 points and eight rebounds while making our All-Class B Large second team and All-Tournament first team. She's one of the better shooters in NEPSAC with an easy-looking form and ability to spot up quickly on the perimeter. Orietas is also strong at her position and a capable driver. I think she could really break out this winter if she adds some quickness and keeps growing in reading the floor. She's No. 31 in our Best of New England rankings.
Stephie Regan, Dexter Southfield
5-9 wing
Hometown: Framingham, Mass.
Regan possesses some of the most underrated raw toughness in NEPSAC. She's super strong for her position with great defensive instincts. As more of a slashing wing, her baseline drives are difficult to stop and she's constantly cutting all around the floor. Regan battles on the boards too. I think her hustle and ability to impact the game without a ton of touches is very important on a stacked Dexter Southfield team.
Kyla Yurkus, Wachusett
6-2 center
Hometown: Holden, Mass.
Wachusett has won back-to-back MIAA Div. 1 titles with Yurkus anchoring the paint. As the Mountaineers try to three-peat after graduating several top players, Yurkus will become even more of a frontcourt focal point. She averaged 6.4 points last year and is a reliable finisher with some promising touch on short hook shots and mid-range jumpers. Yurkus is also strong and a solid post defender.
