Summer Storylines: 2026 Class
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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…
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Continue ReadingThe 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.
The Battle for the Top Spot:
Jayden Johnson Jayden Johnson 6'5" | SG Trinity | 2026 State KY has been our number one player since 2026 rankings launched but there are several players making a push for that spot. Taylen Kinney Taylen Kinney 6'1" | PG Newport | 2026 State KY officially has more power 5 offers than Johnson at this point and DeAaron Watkins DeAaron Watkins 6'8" | PF Daviess County | 2026 State KY and Gabe Weis Gabe Weis 6'8" | PF Washington County | 2026 State KY 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.
So Many Point Guards:
The 26 class is just loaded with point guards. Kinney is at the top of the list but DeMarcus Surratt DeMarcus Surratt 6'3" | PG Frederick Douglass | 2026 State KY , Cole Edelen Cole Edelen 6'2" | PG Male | 2026 State KY , Dayvone Harrison Dayvone Harrison 5'10" | PG Moore | 2026 State KY , Athens McGillis Athens McGillis 5'9" | PG Covington Catholic | 2026 State KY , Jonathan Moss Jonathan Moss 5'10" | PG Daviess County | 2026 State KY , Amari Owens Amari Owens 5'11" | PG Bryan Station | 2026 State KY , Carson Fraley Carson Fraley 6'1" | PG Pulaski County | 2026 State KY , Bryonn Faulkner Bryonn Faulkner 6'2" | PG Ballard | 2026 State KY , Jakobi McRoberts, Cash Harney Cash Harney 5'9" | PG Covington Catholic | 2026 State KY and Sam Spillman Sam Spillman 5'11" | PG Lexington Christian Academy | 2026 State KY all look like they could be future D1 point guards. This could be the best point guard group we’ve seen in a while.
Will anyone leave the state?
Jayden Johnson Jayden Johnson 6'5" | SG Trinity | 2026 State KY just referenced interest in OTE in an article this week. Kinney and James Turner James Turner 6'6" | PF Newport | 2026 State KY 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?
Which players will boost their stock this summer?
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: Max Meagher Max Meagher 6'6" | SF Lexington Catholic | 2026 State KY , Xavier Cosby Xavier Cosby 6'3" | SG DuPont Manual | 2026 State KY , Jagger Mardis Jagger Mardis 6'3" | SG Larue County | 2026 State KY , Dawson Gilbert Dawson Gilbert 6'2" | CG Adair County | 2026 State KY , Bryce Johnson Bryce Johnson 6'4" | SG Saint Xavier | 2026 State KY , Keiji Clifton Keiji Clifton 6'5" | SG Forest Hills | 2026 State NY , Carter Parsons Carter Parsons 6'0" | PG Betsy Layne | 2026 State KY , Jaymes Clark Jaymes Clark 6'0" | SF Male | 2026 State KY and Lemontaie Ratcliff