Quick Freshman update
In this article:
Florida’s 2026 class is ready to compete with any state’s freshman class. There’s size, skill, and upside all in every region. We’ll talk about five freshman that caught my eye. Calvin Russell FL #13 SG #3 HEIGHT 6'5" POS SG…
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SubscribeFlorida’s 2026 class is ready to compete with any state’s freshman class. There’s size, skill, and upside all in every region. We’ll talk about five freshman that caught my eye.
Calvin Russell Calvin Russell 6'5" | SG Northwestern | 2026 State FL has the makings of a modern day point guard. He’s a long, confident 6’5 guard who handles the ball for Northwestern. I’m buying his upside based on his court vision, size advantage, and the methodical way he scores out of the triple threat. Russell scores off drives and can easily score over the top of his man. His athleticism doesn’t pop on film, but his body positioning does. He doesn’t beat his man with quickness; it’s more about angles. That said, he gets downhill, traps his man on his back, and finishes through contact. You can see athletic bursts from the young guard when he’s attacking off the catch and maneuvering in the lane for finishes. He can hit the midrange pull when teams crowd the paint. Russell is a smooth young ball handler.
Maddox Palmer
Maddox
Palmer
6'4" | SG
Beachside | 2026
State
FL
, like many freshmen, is dealing with some inefficiency issues this season. It’s nothing to worry about when you consider his physical tools. The 6’4 broad shouldered win still gets to the rim and hits midrange jumpers. He hasn’t quite found his range from deep but is attempting two shots from deep per game. He pulls down solid rebounding numbers for a young player. His post game and ability to create his shot are still noteworthy.
Donovan Williams Jr. is an under-the-radar long-term prospect. He’s an athletic 6’3 guard with his fair share of defensive stops on older players. He’s willing to challenge shots at the rim, take charges, and move his feet in isolation. He needs to develop on the offensive end but his tools and athleticism point to growth down the line. He already has a tight handle, even if he doesn’t always know what to do after breaking down his man. He’s averaging 15 points per game this season and getting to the line almost four times a game. His calling card early is scoring off drives and in transition.
Highlights
Jermal Jones Jr
Jermal
Jones Jr
6'5" | CG
Bell Creek Academy | 2026
State
FL
has dealt with an ankle injury this season, but good luck finding where it hurt his production. This isn’t his first varsity season, and it shows. He’s making the game easier for himself by attacking the offensive glass and scoring off putbacks. It shows loads of toughness and versatility. The 6’4 combo has improved as three point shooter, even though he doesn’t shoot it at a high volume. His turnovers are down, which may be a benefit of playing with one of the state’s best assist men Neil Falconer. Jones is stamped as one of the best Florida offers, but the change in the play feels like a reason to consider moving up our preliminary rankings.
Marcis Ponder
Marcis
Ponder
7'0" | C
Miami Norland | 2026
GA
isn’t getting a ton of minutes to start his career 7 foot and 268-pound bigs don’t grow on trees. He’s finishing well around the basket, rebounding his area, and hitting the offensive glass. Since the Prep Hoops freshman showcase, I’ve been sold on what Ponder can become. He could be one of those guys that takes a leap this summer and looks like a different player in his sophomore year.
