2026 Rankings: Top Five Breakdown
In this article:
The Prep Hoops SoCal staff put its collective heads together to come up with the initial class of 2026 rankings which includes 55 ranked players and 40-plus more on the watchlist for the next update. In this piece we break…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Prep Hoops SoCal staff put its collective heads together to come up with the initial class of 2026 rankings which includes 55 ranked players and 40-plus more on the watchlist for the next update. In this piece we break down each of the top 10 prospects in this class and why they fell where they did in the rankings.
No. 1 Brandon McCoy Brandon McCoy 6'4" | CG St. John Bosco | 2026 State CA-S , St. John Bosco
The quick hitting evaluation of McCoy is that he has all the basketball tools and physical tools that high major programs look for in a long-term impact wing. At 6-4 with a combination of smooth and explosive athleticism, three-point shooting consistency and great feel as a playmaker, McCoy checks all the early boxes of a high major recruit.
No. 2 Jason Crowe Jr Jason Crowe Jr 6'4" | PG Inglewood | 2026 State CA-S ., Lynwood
Crowe put together a historic freshman season as he led the state in scoring (per statistics entered to MaxPreps) and helped Lynwood to deep playoff runs. The 6-foot-3 lefty is as confident as they come with the ball in his hands and has some of the deepest three-point range that you’ll find anywhere in the country. Crowe took on multiple defensive schemes designed to stop him and didn’t miss a beat as a main scorer and playmaker for his high school team.
No. 3 Tajh Ariza Tajh Ariza 6'8" | SF Westchester | 2026 State CA-S , St. Bernard
Ariza has an intriguing mix of size, length, athleticism and the overall feel for the game you look for a in a two-way prospect at this age. The 6-foot-6 wing is already a high IQ and impactful defensive player both on and off the ball and has great instincts when anticipating passing lanes. Offensively, Ariza can do a little bit of everything as a dribble, pass and shoot threat who can also get into the lane and score at the rim.
No. 4 Alijah Arenas Alijah Arenas 6'5" | CG Chatsworth | 2026 State CA-S , Grant
Outside of Crowe and Kaiden Bailey Kaiden Bailey 6'3" | PG Calvary Chapel | 2026 State CA-S , there aren’t many prospects who score the ball as smoothly and effortlessly as Arenas. The 6-foot-5 combo guard is a high level shot creator for himself off the dribble and has a quick release with deep range on his three-point shot. From what we saw this summer, Arenas has made big strides as a playmaker for teammates and decision-maker in ball screen action, which only enhances his upside.
No. 5 Kaiden Bailey Kaiden Bailey 6'3" | PG Calvary Chapel | 2026 State CA-S , Crean Lutheran
It seems like we’ve been watching Bailey play for years now because we’ve seen him in so many events. The 6-foot-3 guard never ceases to impress with his multi-level scoring acumen and sheer confidence in his abilities. Bailey is one of those guys who plays like he doesn’t see defenders. He knocks down contested jumpers with ease, gets to the rim and finishes through contact and, as we saw at the Pangos All-American Camp, he competes at a high level against top competition.