2026 Rankings: Early Varsity Contributors, Part II

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2022-23 season proved to be quite the stomping grounds for a few 2026 prospects. Take a look at Part II of the Early Varsity Contributors from the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="--tw-translate-x:0;--tw-translate-y:0;--tw-rotate:0;--tw-skew-x:0;--tw-skew-y:0;--tw-scale-x:1;--tw-scale-y:1;--tw-pan-x:;--tw-pan-y:;--tw-pinch-zoom:;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness:proximity;--tw-ordinal:;--tw-slashed-zero:;--tw-numeric-figure:;--tw-numeric-spacing:;--tw-numeric-fraction:;--tw-ring-inset:;--tw-ring-offset-width:0px;--tw-ring-offset-color:#fff;--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored:0 0 #0000;--tw-blur:;--tw-brightness:;--tw-contrast:;--tw-grayscale:;--tw-hue-rotate:;--tw-invert:;--tw-saturate:;--tw-sepia:;--tw-drop-shadow:;--tw-backdrop-blur:;--tw-backdrop-brightness:;--tw-backdrop-contrast:;--tw-backdrop-grayscale:;--tw-backdrop-hue-rotate:;--tw-backdrop-invert:;--tw-backdrop-opacity:;--tw-backdrop-saturate:;--tw-backdrop-sepia:;font-weight: bolder;font-size: 15px"><em style="--tw-translate-x:0;--tw-translate-y:0;--tw-rotate:0;--tw-skew-x:0;--tw-skew-y:0;--tw-scale-x:1;--tw-scale-y:1;--tw-pan-x:;--tw-pan-y:;--tw-pinch-zoom:;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness:proximity;--tw-ordinal:;--tw-slashed-zero:;--tw-numeric-figure:;--tw-numeric-spacing:;--tw-numeric-fraction:;--tw-ring-inset:;--tw-ring-offset-width:0px;--tw-ring-offset-color:#fff;--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored:0 0 #0000;--tw-blur:;--tw-brightness:;--tw-contrast:;--tw-grayscale:;--tw-hue-rotate:;--tw-invert:;--tw-saturate:;--tw-sepia:;--tw-drop-shadow:;--tw-backdrop-blur:;--tw-backdrop-brightness:;--tw-backdrop-contrast:;--tw-backdrop-grayscale:;--tw-backdrop-hue-rotate:;--tw-backdrop-invert:;--tw-backdrop-opacity:;--tw-backdrop-saturate:;--tw-backdrop-sepia:">There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get 30% OFF payment on your first billing cycle with offer code: JAYANDERSON30</em></span><span style="font-size: 15px">, sign up </span><span style="--tw-translate-x:0;--tw-translate-y:0;--tw-rotate:0;--tw-skew-x:0;--tw-skew-y:0;--tw-scale-x:1;--tw-scale-y:1;--tw-pan-x:;--tw-pan-y:;--tw-pinch-zoom:;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness:proximity;--tw-ordinal:;--tw-slashed-zero:;--tw-numeric-figure:;--tw-numeric-spacing:;--tw-numeric-fraction:;--tw-ring-inset:;--tw-ring-offset-width:0px;--tw-ring-offset-color:#fff;--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored:0 0 #0000;--tw-blur:;--tw-brightness:;--tw-contrast:;--tw-grayscale:;--tw-hue-rotate:;--tw-invert:;--tw-saturate:;--tw-sepia:;--tw-drop-shadow:;--tw-backdrop-blur:;--tw-backdrop-brightness:;--tw-backdrop-contrast:;--tw-backdrop-grayscale:;--tw-backdrop-hue-rotate:;--tw-backdrop-invert:;--tw-backdrop-opacity:;--tw-backdrop-saturate:;--tw-backdrop-sepia:;font-weight: bolder;font-size: 15px"><a href="https://prephoops.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TODAY</a>!</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1672422"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1672422' first='Jamie' last='Dance'] is a name to keep an eye on in the 3A East at Currituck High after a productive varsity debut in 2022-23. He's an active 6-foot floor general that showed he could do a little bit of everything for the Knights, posting 10.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.4 apg and 1.9 spg while shooting 45 percent from the field and 37 percent from behind the arc. He's set to have a solid career for his squad already with his upside in the backcourt and is an early name to track in the state of North Carolina with GBBA Next Up Select on the grassroots scene as well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1907232"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1907232' first='AJ' last='Gillespie'] is a young wing prospect to get eyes on over at Cummings High in the Burlington area. He knows how to use his length in a variety of ways already at 6-foot-4 as evidenced by his production in the Cavaliers rotation in 2022-23. He produced 13.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.6 spg and 1.2 apg while shooting 51 percent from the floor and 31 percent from 3-point land. While he isn't the premier sharpshooting threat just yet, he's ready to show what he can do this summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='2078487' first='Durham' last='Hurricanes'] on the grassroots scene. He's an athletic prospect to keep an eye on given his length and frame on the hardwood.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1411219"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1411219' first='Shimere' last='Garris'] is another GBBA Next Up Select prospect to get to know with his acumen at the lead guard spot for creating for himself and others. He contributed quite a bit in the Hertford County Bears rotation in 2022-23, finishing with 8.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.9 apg and 1.2 spg across 29 appearances on the varsity stage. He's a shifty prospect that can find his offense quickly in the open floor. As he shows he can knock down shots on the perimeter with consistency, he's a name that's due to grow in the 2026 class in the state.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1454560"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1454560' first='Ayden' last='Johnson'] was quite the backcourt presence for Caldwell Academy in 2022-23 in their resurgence in the NCISAA ranks. He finished fourth on the squad this past season in scoring (8.7 ppg) and assists (2.0 apg) while shooting 51 percent from the field and 47 percent from 3-point land in his varsity debut. He's a budding floor general that's starting to show off his ability to finish in traffic and make things happen off the bounce with paint touches. He's a name to watch with Big Shots Elite NC on the grassroots scene this spring/summer.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1682372"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1682372' first='Kai' last='Wade'] is another 2026 prospect to keep eyes on at Orange High alongside [player_tooltip player_id='1281015' first='Cole' last='Cloer']. He's a confident floor general that can get to the paint and finish in traffic and defend with a ton of energy/pressure. He put up 11.5 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.1 rpg and 1.8 spg in 2022-23 as the Panthers made some noise in the 3A East ranks with quite a young nucleus of prospects. He'll be a name to watch with Team United on the EYBL stage this grassroots cycle.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1411217"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1411217' first='Grady' last='Price'] was a featured name for an 18-4 Southeastern Christian Academy squad in his varsity debut and a name to know in the 2026 class. He put up 12.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.5 apg and 1.1 spg in 2022-23 to kick off his varsity career with the Warriors. As he learns to use his length to be a presence on the rim-protecting front defensively, look for his name to grow in the class. He'll run with TSG Hoops this grassroots cycle.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643cb16c305de"} /-->