Summer Storylines: 2026 Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2026 class is already halfway through their 15u season of AAU and only a few months away from being in their Sophomore years of high school. Recruiting is starting to heat up for several players and as we head into the summer, there's a lot to be on the lookout for with this rising Sophomore class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Battle for the Top Spot:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1359139' first='Jayden' last='Johnson'] has been our number one player since 2026 rankings launched but there are several players making a push for that spot. [player_tooltip player_id='1359137' first='Taylen' last='Kinney'] officially has more power 5 offers than Johnson at this point and [player_tooltip player_id='1543352' first='DeAaron' last='Watkins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1359134' first='Gabe' last='Weis'] probably have a little more long term upside than either of those guys. There are already 8 guys in the class holding D1 offers. It will be interesting to see if anyone makes a push for the top spot this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>So Many Point Guards:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 26 class is just loaded with point guards. Kinney is at the top of the list but [player_tooltip player_id='1543594' first='DeMarcus' last='Surratt'], [player_tooltip player_id='1359140' first='Cole' last='Edelen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1543629' first='Dayvone' last='Harrison'], [player_tooltip player_id='1575699' first='Athens' last='McGillis'], [player_tooltip player_id='1359130' first='Jonathan' last='Moss'], [player_tooltip player_id='1565985' first='Amari' last='Owens'], [player_tooltip player_id='1359136' first='Carson' last='Fraley'], [player_tooltip player_id='1702598' first='Bryonn' last='Faulkner'], Jakobi McRoberts, [player_tooltip player_id='1359135' first='Cash' last='Harney'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1543588' first='Sam' last='Spillman'] all look like they could be future D1 point guards. This could be the best point guard group we've seen in a while.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Will anyone leave the state?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1359139' first='Jayden' last='Johnson'] just referenced interest in OTE in an article this week. Kinney and [player_tooltip player_id='1359138' first='James' last='Turner'] took a visit to OTE in the spring and the word is that Taylen will go, eventually. With the increasing influence of Overtime Elite, will these top players stay in Kentucky?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Which players will boost their stock this summer?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Sophomore class has a lot of nice players in it and there are several players who could climb the rankings this summer. Some names that could breakout include: [player_tooltip player_id='1558735' first='Max' last='Meagher'], [player_tooltip player_id='1558734' first='Xavier' last='Cosby'], [player_tooltip player_id='1543598' first='Jagger' last='Mardis'], [player_tooltip player_id='1409548' first='Dawson' last='Gilbert'], [player_tooltip player_id='1563824' first='Bryce' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1543639' first='Keiji' last='Clifton'], [player_tooltip player_id='1543638' first='Carter' last='Parsons'], [player_tooltip player_id='1543600' first='Jaymes' last='Clark'] and Lemontaie Ratcliff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->