Initial 2026 Class Rankings: The Top Ten
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Yes it’s early for ranking the Freshman class but several of these guys have already been playing varsity for a year or more and several are already claiming D1 offers before they even started high school classes. Here’s a breakdown…
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Continue ReadingYes it’s early for ranking the Freshman class but several of these guys have already been playing varsity for a year or more and several are already claiming D1 offers before they even started high school classes. Here’s a breakdown of our initial top ten in the 2026 class.
Johnson is likely to find himself as a top 25-50 national prospect when sites start ranking the class. Jayden is a big guard who is super skilled and a high level shooter. While he’s not yet really athletic, Jayden keeps growing and his athleticism should come along as he stops growing and starts adding muscle to his frame.
Turner is a very high level kid, potentially. He’s got a long frame and is very athletic. James plays above the rim on offense and is a really good rim protector on the defensive end. He may not be super well known across Kentucky because NKY kids don’t get a ton of notoriety outside the area but the 6’6 forward has serious potential, long term.
Weis came to our freshman showcase earlier this month and put on a show despite not touching a basketball for 2 weeks before camp while he was on a mission trip. Gabe is big enough to play down low but flashed some perimeter skills in stretches as well. If he’s allowed to play on the wing more long term, look for Gabe to be a potential power 5 college prospect down the line.
Highlights
Watkins, like Turner suffers from a bit of a geographical issue where he lives in far western Kentucky where kids are often overlooked. DeAaron is another big prospect who has the potential to be a big time recruit soon and could play his way onto the national radar in the future. The big fella has shown he is not only athletic but also can step out and score from the perimeter.
This is a placeholder spot until everyone actually gets eyes on Big Sam in a DeSales uniform this winter. He could be the best 2026 in Kentucky or he could be a project big man. We’ll know more about Mbingazo when we update rankings this winter. For now he starts at #5 based on potential and what little has been seen in highlight clips.
Kinney has a chance to be really good long term and has come with a lot of hype already based on his summer AAU success and some early low D1 offers. If he grows and gets stronger, watch out.
Long and athletic, Max had a big spring and summer of AAU and ended his summer playing up a grade level on the EYBL 15u. Meagher has shown the ability to score the ball at a high level and has the ability to switch and guard multiple positions when he’s engaged on that end.
Bender has the potential to be a nationally ranked player in the 2026 class as he continues developing. Jordan has started to fill out his frame and his coordination has come a long way in the last 18 months or so. Already 6’6, Bender could become a big, strong wing down the line. As it is, he’s a tenacious rebounder who could be a lockdown defender in time.
Fawns is one of the better scorers in the class already and has shown that he can get a lot of buckets at the varsity level over the last two seasons. Luke is a good athlete and has shown himself to be a more than capable shooter with long range on his jumper. Don’t be surprised if he’s averaging 18-20 points per game this season.
If you’re someone who values length and upside, DeMarcus has plenty of both. Surratt has shown the potential to be an absolute lock down defender and is capable of dunking on anyone who gets in his way on offense. DeMarcus needs to stay in the gym and improve his perimeter shooting but he’s capable of keeping defenses honest as it is.