Size Abundant in the 2026 Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's not too early to be excited about the rising sophomore class. Particularly impressive is the size of some of the top 2026s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at some of the big 2026s who we expect to stand out next high school season:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elite Talents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2211352' first='Cooper' last='Crawford']</strong>, 6-foot-6 forward, 2026, Lansing (pictured):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Is this a player you're not familiar with? Hopefully that will change soon. He really impressed on the club scene this summer, and has the physical talents to make waves soon. Crawford can put the ball on the deck and attack defenses in a manner unique for someone his size. He's already solidly built and powerful and has length to pass or shoot over defenders. Crawford has a ton of potential and bears watching as a breakout candidate this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2209764' first='Keimani' last='Paul']</strong>, 6-foot-5 forward, 2026, Topeka West:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paul is very long and athletic – enough so to be called upon as an important rebounder and defender from day one at Topeka West. He was asked to do more at the end of the season, and he responded. He is mobile and able to knife through defenses, but should add more power to his game over time. With the small number of top big men returning in 5A, Paul may be a fast riser in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Impressive Physiques:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2209736' first='Ethan' last='Taylor']</strong>, 6-foot-9 center, 2026, Shawnee Mission Northwest:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's no more impressive physique in the 2026 class than Taylor's. He was listed at 6-foot-9 at the start of his freshman season. Word is he's still growing. While Taylor towered over the opposition as a ninth grader, you could see his light feet, springiness and coordination. He didn't take a lot of shots in his part-time role last season, but he did a good job of rebounding and affecting shooters. Taylor's size is already attracting attention from college recruiters. Next season will be huge for this big man.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2211308' first='Dawson' last='Ruder']</strong>, 6-foot-5 center, 2026, Hays:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ruder's role was somewhat like Taylor's as a freshman at Hays. The Indians were rebuilding, and they used Ruder to provide size and energy without having to provide a ton of offense. He's developed physically for his age and plays with a lot of power and strength. His team will probably ask a lot more of him next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Small School Stud:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2209748' first='Sebastian' last='Hines-Turner']</strong>, 6-foot-5 forward, 2026, Wichita Collegiate:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hines-Turner was highly productive forward for the Spartans, getting a lot done around the goal. He dominated on the glass and could get production on offensive rebounds. Developing a more well-rounded offensive game will elevate him into the top bigs in the state regardless of size of school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Big Guards:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2208970' first='Brayden' last='Myovela']</strong>, 6-foot-2 guard, 2026, Maize:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Myovela has a combination of size, explosiveness and skill that is extremely advanced for a rising-sophomore guard. He's solidly built and has good length, which makes him a tough matchup for any opposing guard. Not only can he pass and shoot over smaller guards, but he can bully his way into the lane or explode over an opponent on the break. Over the summer, Myovela appeared ready to assert himself as one of the best guards in the state as just a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">&nbsp;</h2> <!-- /wp:heading -->