#NEXTTTheTuneUp: 2026 Prospect Preview
5 must-see 2026 NEXT circuit prospects to check out this weekend at The Tune-Up in Dallas, Texas. Anthony Hester | Shooting Guard | Little Rock, AR | Buchanan’s Performance Academy 2026 Anthony Hester has one of the highest ceilings of any…
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Continue Reading5 must-see 2026 NEXT circuit prospects to check out this weekend at The Tune-Up in Dallas, Texas.
Anthony Hester | Shooting Guard | Little Rock, AR | Buchanan’s Performance Academy 2026
Anthony Hester has one of the highest ceilings of any prospect that will be in attendance. He’s a bouncy athlete with solid shot creation, a smooth shooting stroke, and impeccable off-ball instincts, Hester makes timely cuts through the lane, sets screens to keep his teammates moving, and finds open catch and shoot looks in the mid-range and three-point range. Anthony makes scoring on the dribble drive appear easy, he’s a bit crafty at the rim and has exceptional control of his body, twisting and maneuvering around contesting defenders to avoid contact and shot blockers when needed. With the ball in his hand, Hester is very tough to defend without fouling him or overplaying his shot or dribble. Hester’s usual knack for making his man foul him can get him to the free-throw line just about any time he has the ball. This baller is incredibly talented and he consistently shows flashes of dynamic playmaking ability yet he’s still extremely raw with an abundance of untapped potential.
Gabe Osburn | Point Guard | Oklahoma City, OK | RSE Elite 2026
Gabe Osburn stands out as a high-level facilitating, playmaking, tone-setting, true point guard who can dominate the ball and create offense for his team each time down the court while keeping a low assist-to-turnover ratio. At times, this kid’s court vision and awareness are just unreal. Osburn has a well-developed art of passing, he utilizes all kinds of different types of passes, he’s good with zipping passes while on the move, and he’s even terrific at deceiving defenders with no look and look-away throws. Very savvy and creative instincts off the dribble, Gabe changes the game with his strong passing abilities and knack for getting the ball out in transition as soon as possible, he stays two steps ahead of the defense and always knows where an open teammate is located. Osburn’s willingness to take chances at times is what makes him dangerous and exciting to watch.
Dakotah Terrell | Center | Fort Smith, AR | Arkansas Mavericks 2026
Dakotah Terrell is a lefty post threat on both ends of the floor that plays with a mixture of power, skill, and finesse. Elite physical tools, standing at 6-feet-6-inches and a strong build, his use of his size make him nearly impossible to be moved after establishing position down low and he uses his length perfectly when closing out by putting both hands high and shutting off any view of the hoop. Terrell covers ground extremely well with the ability to fly from out of the paint and effectively contest jump shooters on the perimeter. Defensively, Dakotah can do it all, stop dribble penetration, crash the glass relentlessly, and defend the paint with his lateral quickness and explosive leaping ability that forces opposing teams to settle for contested floaters, short jumpers, and kick-outs. Terrell can play all game long and never take a play off, his motor doesn’t slow down, and he just keeps coming at you.
Jayvion Phillips | Shooting Guard | Springdale, AR | Arkansas Mavericks 2026
Jayvion Phillips makes his presence felt as a high motor ballplayer that finds a way to impact every possession one way or another. Phillips plays a part in most, if not all rebounding opportunities, he continuously follows teammates’ shots down to the rim creating a plethora of second-chance opportunities game to game. This lefty can also light it up from long distance as well, he’s an impressive jump shooter with the confidence and skills to pull up from the perimeter when given the space. Phillips’ continuous movements can get him open beyond the arc multiple times per game and oftentimes he will make the most out of those opportunities.
Zion Hicks | Forward | Grambling, LA | WBBp Rush 2026
6-foot-1, long and athletic wing with solid versatility on both sides of the ball. Defensively, Hicks can effectively shut an entire side of the paint down by closing off the passing lane and cutting off all dribble penetration and cuts to the hoop. On the offensive end, Zion Hicks can score from all three levels of the floor, whether he’s playing with his back to the basket, driving to the rack, facing up where can get a shot off the bounce, or spotting up from three-point range and knocking down jumpers off the catch, particularly in the left corner where he seemed very reliable.