Other key returners include first-team, all-district picks Brooklin Brown (7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game) and Da'Nae Williams (8.4 points and 1.9 rebounds per game).
Also watch for Riachel Anderson, who was a second-team, all-district pick, averaging 5.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. The Sharks make the jump up to Class 6A this year and have the firepower to contend among the best.
For Phillip II, the decision ultimately came down to the relationships he built with the coaching staff during his unofficial visit to Morgantown.
“Ever since I got on campus, everything just felt right,” Phillip II said on why he picked West Virginia. “The energy around the program, the people, and the way the coaches treated me really made WVU feel like home. I love the offense they run and the relationships I’ve built with the coaching staff throughout the process. I feel like Coach Trickett and Coach Rhett can really help develop me as a QB, and I can see myself growing there as a player and person.”
Bradley Collier
Andre Phillip II had to wait patiently for his opportunity last fall.
Due to transfer rules, the Klein Oak signal-caller was forced to sit out the first five games of his junior season. But once eligible, Phillip II wasted little time making an impact, putting together a breakout stretch during the second half of the year. In just three-and-a-half games, he threw for 456 yards and five touchdowns while adding 560 rushing yards and seven more scores on the ground.
The late-season surge completely changed the trajectory of his recruitment.
After entering the year largely unranked and still searching for major traction on the recruiting trail, Phillip II is now committed to West Virginia and headed to the Power Four level.
“It means a lot to me. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and for those who have supported me through this journey,” Phillip II said. “I’ve worked extremely hard to be granted this opportunity and now I’m looking forward to playing on the next level.”
With his commitment now behind him heading into his senior season, Phillip II says a major weight has been lifted off his shoulders. His focus now shifts toward leading Klein Oak Panthers to a playoff run and finishing his high school career strong.
“It feels good knowing all the hard work paid off,” Phillip II said. “Making my commitment before my senior season takes a lot of pressure off me so now I can just focus on leading my team and enjoying my last year of high school football.
“I want to help lead the team on a deep playoff run and be part of a group that leaves a legacy at Klein Oak. Personally, I’m working hard to become a better QB and overall leader at this level in preparation for the next.”
Watch out for Phillip II and Klein Oak next fall as the look to be a playoff contender in 2026.
VYPE's Jackson DiPasquale breaks down in no particular order the top five 2028 and 2029 high school prospects in Houston who are seeing their recruitment take off.
Also see VYPE's Fab 50 for 2028.
Bradley Collier
Tomball's Ian Thomas looks the part of a premier Division I running back. The son of former Rodney Thomas standout, the 6-foot, 195-pound sophomore is coming off a breakout season for the Cougars, rushing 203 times for 1,528 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Thomas’ dominant sophomore campaign vaulted him to the top of the national rankings, as 247Sports recently named him the No. 1 running back in the country for the Class of 2028.
Recruiting attention has surged ever since. Thomas has already collected offers from programs including Texas A&M Athletics, Texas Longhorns Athletics, Florida Gators Athletics, Florida State Seminoles Athletics, Arkansas Razorbacks Athletics and Stanford Athletics, among others.
Jaylen Addai comes from football royalty. The son of Super Bowl champion Joseph Addai, the Shadow Creek standout has quickly emerged as one of the nation’s elite young playmakers.
At 6-foot-1, Addai possesses the ideal blend of length, speed and explosiveness. Paired with polished route-running ability and dependable hands, he has become a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
Following a strong sophomore campaign in which he hauled in 37 receptions for 779 yards and 14 touchdowns, Addai was recently ranked as the No. 1 overall player in Texas and the No. 2 wide receiver nationally in the Class of 2028.
His recruitment has exploded this offseason with scholarship offers pouring in from powerhouse programs including Michigan Wolverines Athletics, Florida Gators Athletics, Ohio State Buckeyes Athletics, USC Trojans Athletics, Notre Dame Athletics, Oregon Ducks Athletics, Alabama Athletics, LSU Athletics and Texas Longhorns Athletics, among others.
Jackson DiPasquale
The North Shore Mustangs have produced its fair share of elite defensive linemen over the years, sending stars like K'Lavon Chaisson and Dorance Armstrong Jr. to the next level and eventually the NFL. So who’s next in line?
Keep an eye on rising sophomore Ezarian Fields.
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound edge prospect has already created major buzz around the Eastside, with the Mustang coaching staff believing he could be the next nationally recruited defender to emerge from the powerhouse program.
Despite only entering his sophomore season, Fields already owns offers from programs including Miami Hurricanes Athletics, TCU Athletics, Colorado Buffaloes Athletics, Kentucky Wildcats Athletics, USC Trojans Athletics and SMU Athletics, with more expected to roll in after the summer camp circuit.
Fields possesses the traits college coaches covet early in the recruiting process — length, burst off the edge and natural pass-rushing ability. As North Shore continues to add strength and muscle to his frame this offseason, expect Fields to become one of the fastest-rising defensive prospects in the state during the 2026 campaign.
Jackson DiPasquale
College Park's RJ Wyms is a name recruiting fans across the country are quickly beginning to recognize.
After entering last season largely unranked, Wyms skyrocketed up the recruiting boards and is now regarded as the No. 4 overall player in Texas and the No. 6 defensive lineman nationally in the Class of 2028. The rise comes after a dominant freshman campaign in which he totaled 49 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, six sacks and a forced fumble.
The son of Super Bowl champion Ellis Wyms, RJ already possesses the physical tools and instincts that translate to the next level. At 6-foot-2 and 260 pounds, he is a powerful force on the interior, excelling at the point of attack while consistently shedding blockers and disrupting plays in the backfield.
His recruitment has exploded this offseason with offers already arriving from programs such as LSU Athletics, Mississippi State Athletics, Tennessee Athletics, Michigan Wolverines Athletics, Georgia Tech Athletics and California Golden Bears Athletics, among others.
Jackson DiPasquale
Atascocita Eagles has become a breeding ground for elite football talent over the years, producing names like Sam Cosmi, Kenyon Green, Kam Dewberry, Braylon Conley, Tory Blaylock and Cardae Mack, among others.
The next big-time prospect emerging from “The A” is David Dotson.
Dotson is already regarded as the No. 9 overall player in Texas and the No. 7 defensive lineman nationally in the Class of 2028. At 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, he possesses the size, frame and athleticism college programs covet in a high-level defensive line prospect.
His recruitment has taken off this offseason with offers from programs including Michigan Wolverines Athletics, UCLA Athletics, Oregon Ducks Athletics, Texas Tech Athletics, Houston Cougars Athletics, Florida Gators Athletics, Florida State Seminoles Athletics and Vanderbilt Athletics, among others.
Dotson is poised to be one of the breakout defensive players to watch next fall, especially under new defensive-minded Eagles head coach Kyle Coats. Expect his stock to continue rising as he heads into what could be a huge junior campaign.
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