Why Phoenix Woodson Is 2026’s Top Prospect

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first batch of 2026 prospects rankings came out on Monday morning. In case you missed it, you can check out the complete Top 20 <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/oklahoma/rankings/oklahoma-2026-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RIGHT HERE</a></strong>. Headlining the 2026 class are two similar prospects. Owasso's [player_tooltip player_id='1552319' first='Jalen' last='Montonati'], who debuted in the number one spot, and Crossings Christian's [player_tooltip player_id='1552378' first='Phoenix' last='Woodson'], who debuted right behind at number two. Anybody who follows basketball in Oklahoma knows that these two are hands down the top two prospects in the state's 2026 class. One might be listed at number one while the other has a two next to their name but this is as close to a tie as it gets in Oklahoma today. And they could very well go back and forth over the next three seasons, battling for the number one spot. In this post, we're putting the spotlight on Woodson and making the argument for why he should be considered the top prospect in the class. To read up on Montonati and what makes the Owasso freshman worthy of that top spot, check it out <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/02/why-jalen-montonati-is-2026s-top-prospect/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RIGHT HERE</a></strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1552378"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnIn addition to watching various highlight clips and game streams, I've seen Crossings Christian's star freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1552378' first='Phoenix' last='Woodson'] in person four times over the last six months. And between what we saw from Woodson in person, combined with all the video and highlights we've watched, making the case for Woodson as the top overall prospect in the state's 2026 class is not that hard.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnFirst off, we're starting with the measurables and the physical aspect of his game. Woodson simply doesn't look like a freshman in high school. He's all of 6'7 and he's not thin by any stretch. He looks like he's already hitting the weight room and adding muscle to his tall frame. So when it comes to the physical side of this, we can't imagine where he's going to be at in three years from now as a senior. Even if he doesn't grow another inch in the next few years, he's still a high level D1 prospect with where he's at already.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnNow let's go to the skill on the floor. The offensive game is incredibly advanced for a freshman in high school. Woodson is a player who can get 20-25 points on any given night in the blink of an eye. And the thing that has impressed us so much about Woodson so far this season is his efficiency on the offensive end of the floor. We couldn't tell you what he's shooting at this season percentage-wise but we gotta think it's probably near the top for freshmen when you consider how many shots he's taking.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnAnd that brings us to the next aspect where Woodson is already dangerous from just about anywhere on the floor. He has the size advantage in just about every match-up he's had this season so of course he's going to be able to eat when he's in the paint. But he's also proving his versatility as a prospect and can be considered more of a wing by stepping out and knocking down shots from 15 feet and then stepping out further and hitting shots at a consistent clip from the perimeter.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnTwo more parts of Woodson's game along the perimeter that should get more attention is what he does when he doesn't just shoot it. He's shown the ability to put the ball on the deck and he actually has some decent handles for a 6'7 freshman. When he puts it on the floor and drives to the rim, he's either finishing or drawing a foul. Then there's the passing. Crossings Christian as a team is excellent at the team basketball dynamic in the half court so Woodson being strong in that department isn't all that surprising. And as Woodson becomes more dynamic and more of a problem for defenses, he's going to be able to showcase some of those cross court passes that we've already seen because he's going to have guys around him that are open.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnBut this isn't just a puff piece about how awesome Woodson is. Although I do think he has a good argument to be considered the top overall prospect in the class, he's also just a freshman. And there are areas of his game that Woodson will continue to work on and improve and when that happens, he is going to be a legitimate candidate to be the next McDonalds All American from Oklahoma.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnWhen I watched Woodson for three days in Tulsa at the Tournament Of Champions, one thing I wanted to see more of was intensity on the offensive and defensive glass. He can be a double-double machine and an absolute force on the glass as long as he puts the effort in. And when you're talking about some of the top freshmen, one part of the game that always comes along is their play on the defensive end of the floor.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnBut again, he's a freshman, there is so much room for him to grow in every aspect of his game and rebounding and defense are just two of them. There isn't a lot to critique already when you look at his offensive game. But as he continues to improve on the defensive end as well as his physicality in the paint with rebounding, he'll continue to show why he might just be the state's top 2026 prospect.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63e15403a61a9"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->