2026 Forwards I’m Excited To Watch This Season (Part II)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The upcoming high school season is about a month away and prospects are getting ready for the new season. Prep Hoops Florida is your year-round source of high school and grassroots basketball coverage from across the state. Here are some 2026 forwards I'm excited to see take the floor this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1660034"],"_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":"u003cstrongu003eJojo Philon III, u003c/strongu003eA 6-7 sophomore small forward who is coming off his best season yet, where he averaged 11.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting 49 percent from the field as a freshman. Philon is a tough and physical wing who can bruise his way to finishing around the rim with his explosiveness. He is a dominate rebounder on both ends of the floor who can push the basketball in transition. On the defensive end he can guard positions 1 through 4 with his length and ability to cover the perimeter at a high level. Look for Philon to have an emerging sophomore season as he continues to elevate his game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2299661' first='Zane' last='Elliott']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"St. Thomas Aquinas","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003e[player_tooltip player_id='2299661' first='Zane' last='Elliott'], u003c/strongu003eA 6-5 sophomore combo forward who can score on all three levels with a ton of confidence. Elliott has good footwork on the interior as well as playing with a ton of physicality where he can score at the rim against multiple defenders. He has also added a nice dribble-drive game where he can get to the front of the rim from the perimeter with a quick step. He is a very active defender where he can get tips and deflections leading to transition points on the offensive end. Elliott is also a pure passer who sees the floor exceptionally well where he can impact the game without the basketball in his hands.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1660032"],"_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":"u003cstrongu003eAlex Constanza, u003c/strongu003eA 6-8 sophomore combo forward has a smooth handle to his game where he can play a primary point guard role this season. Constanza has added more consistency as he is shooting from the perimeter as well as getting to the front of the rim with ease. On the offensive end, he does a great job finishing above the rim while absorbing contact where he can get to the free throw line. On the defensive side, he does a great job at weak-side rebounding and makes very good decisions with the basketball in his hands. His perimeter defense will look to improve with time as he gains confidence in his footwork ability.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1658584"],"_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":"u003cstrongu003eToni Bryant, u003c/strongu003eA 6-10 sophomore power forward who has polished his game into a multi-versatile role on the offensive end where he can play multiple positions. He has a decent skillset where he can finish above the rim as well as building more confidence in a mid-range shot on the offensive end. His defensive presence has continued to improve as he plays with good length where he is quick to get off the floor securing rebounds as well as challenging shots. He can move up the floor with is quick to get into transition on the offensive end as well for his size. Bryant holds offers from Florida State, Jacksonville, Illinois, Iowa and several others.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":2251053,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Evans Barning","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'7u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"University School","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"Ball Don't Stop","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003eEvans Barning, u003c/strongu003eA 6-7 sophomore combo forward and native of Toronto who plays exceptionally hard on both ends of the floor with great length and huge upside heading into the season. On the offensive end, Barning does a great job at finishing above the rim where he can catch lobs as well as hitting shots from the perimeter. On the defensive end, Barning plays with an aggressive edge where he can impact the game with his rebounding.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6536a17bb8d72"} /-->