Derek Swartz

Uncommitted

SG•New Hampton School•Class of 2028

@derekswartzz

6-5

190 lbs

Portsmouth

91 Rating

#55|247Sports#54|State (247)#10|Position (247)

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Scout Report

A 6-5 wing from the New Hampshire seacoast doesn't usually show up on Big East radars before he's even old enough to drive to his own open gym. Derek Swartz has flipped that script. Five D1 offers as a 2028 prospect, and the schools chasing him aren't dabbling — they're committing real resources to a kid still two years from a varsity letterman jacket in most towns.

Background

Swartz grew up in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a coastal city better known for lobster rolls than basketball pipelines. He's now at New Hampton School, one of the more established prep programs in New England, which tells you his family made a calculated decision early — leave the local path behind, chase better reps and better competition. New Hampton pumps kids into college programs every year, and placing Swartz in that system at his age suggests everyone around him is thinking long-term. His AAU circuit profile is still developing, but the offer sheet already speaks for a kid who's been seen by the right eyes at the right events.

Playing Style

Swartz plays like a guard trapped in a wing's body, which is exactly what makes him interesting. He initiates offense comfortably off the bounce, reads pick-and-roll coverage with more patience than you'd expect from someone his age, and he's not rushing into bad shots just because he can create one. There's a calmness to his decision-making — he'll take the simple pass over the hero play, which coaches notice fast. Defensively, his length at 6-5 lets him guard multiple positions already, and he uses that frame to bother passing lanes rather than just standing in front of his man. He's not a blur in transition, but he runs the lane with purpose and knows when to pull up versus when to attack the rim. The overall feel is a kid who understands spacing and tempo better than his age group typically does.

Strengths

His size-to-skill combination is the headline — a 6-5 frame that already handles the ball like a lead guard is rare at this stage. Scouts watching tape point to his vision in ball-screen actions; he consistently finds the weak-side shooter instead of settling. His defensive length shows up in deflections and contested catches, not just blocked shots. And he's shown he can score at multiple levels, which matters more than any single highlight — pull-up, floater, finish through contact.

Areas to Watch

Like most 2028 prospects, physical development is the obvious variable — added strength will determine whether he can finish through bigger bodies in college or gets bumped off his spot. His outside shot needs more consistency before it becomes a true weapon rather than an occasional makes list. Sharpening his first step would let him separate from length on the perimeter instead of relying purely on size and craft.

Player Comparison

His game draws comparisons to a young Jalen Suggs in terms of frame-versus-skill projection — a guard-sized handle packaged in a wing's body, with the defensive length to guard up a position. The comparison isn't about current polish, it's about shape: both are bigger guards who think the game like true point guards before their bodies fully matured into combo-forward size.

Recruitment

Oklahoma State, Rutgers, Georgetown, Boston College, and New Hampshire have all extended offers — a mix of Big East, Big 12, and in-state interest that shows national and regional programs are both monitoring him closely. For a 2028 prospect, five offers this early is a strong signal that his recruitment will only expand as he gets more exposure on the AAU and prep circuits. No commitment is imminent, and with two-plus years before a decision realistically needs to happen, expect more high-major programs to enter the mix as he continues to develop at New Hampton. New Hampshire's interest adds a hometown-pride storyline, but the power-conference offers suggest his ceiling extends well beyond a regional decision.

Projection

If the frame fills out and the jumper tightens up, Swartz profiles as a high-major combo guard capable of initiating offense or playing off the ball depending on personnel — the kind of positional flexibility programs covet. The pro trajectory is wide open given how far out his class is, but the blend of size, vision, and defensive versatility gives him a legitimate pathway to a multi-year college starter who could develop into a draftable wing if the shot catches up to the rest of his game.

Updated Oct 9, 2026 · Analysis by PrepRadar Scouting Team