Class of 2026 Rankings: The Top 10, in detail
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The top tier of the Class of 2026 is taking shaping with elite talent at the top, a group of lead guards that have D1 upside and a small town wing-forward prospect with big time upside. Jalen Montonati OK #1…
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Continue ReadingThe top tier of the Class of 2026 is taking shaping with elite talent at the top, a group of lead guards that have D1 upside and a small town wing-forward prospect with big time upside.
There’s a lot of quality shooters in the Class of 2026, but there’s a strong argument that the best shooter in the class is also the best player. It’s not just that he has deep range from three, it’s the quality and variety of looks that he knocks down. Montonati of course is nearly automatic when the ball is swung or kicked out to him, but he’s also capable of burying contested off the dribble looks from deep. Or breaking out a strong iso game in the mid-range. Another feather in the cap is the clutch resume he’s starting to build. He won an Area Championship last year over Broken Arrow with a loud shooting performance. Then took down Dale with a barrage of three-pointers in the closing moments in the semifinals of the ToC.
Along with his elite shooting, he’s a skilled post finisher, who is starting to have the physicality to match his aggressive playing style. Shooting and scoring at elite levels are already two traits that Montonati has a great handle on. What will be interesting in his further development regarding his place in the national hierarchy is how will his ball handling continue to develop and what level of athleticism does he end up at. Does he have the ceiling to be more of a dynamic, slashing scoring two guard? Or is his path more along the lines of a wing prospect, who can punish mismatches by dragging bigs away from the hoop with his shooting? While also posting up wings and guards who aren’t as physical as him?
Montonati is a big time prospect and his production likely speaks loudly than any words I can write.
Woodson is continuing to be one of the most productive players in the Class of 2026 for the second straight year. Always a physical player, there’s now more quicker movements and more explosive lift to his game. As evident with the high regularity of his dunks and general presence . Players of his size and movement profiles will always get opportunities at the next level. Especially when he starts to physical mature and become stronger, he’ll be even more terror around the rim.
As a catch and shoot option, he’s becoming very reliable as a shooter. His off the dribble game is still a work in progress He’s comfortable attacking an open lane, where he can explode for a dunk, or just resetting with a couple dribbles to take a jumper. But there’s been some youthful instances of trying to do too much, as he’s not currently a dynamic driver/player off the dribble. It’s important for Woodson to keep the game at his pace, and blend his strength and size with his improving handles when trying to expand his offensive skillset. When he’s sped up by smaller players, that’s when the errors are more likely to occur.
Successfully blending his great profile as a physical forward prospect, with his expanding skill game will be a fun area to watch on the high upside prospect.
Wilson is a strong mix of athletic upside and skilled scorer and has been a steady riser over the last year. He immediately stands out on the eye test, with a strong frame, long wingspan and juice to his movements. The sophomore doesn’t just show off his big time athletic ability in transition, he has a suddenness to his movement that allows him to pair a nimbleness on his drives with the power to finish strongly.
With his ability to catch fire from three, Wilson profiles as the type of prospect who as an upperclassmen will be one of the most complete scorers in the state. Even now as a sophomore, he could be in that conversation if Holland Hall makes a deep run in Class 5A. It’s really hard to poke a hole in a prospect with as complete game as Wilson has. There’s tremendous floor with his skill level and competitiveness, with the upside to be among the very best thanks to his size and athletic ability.
Highlights
Flemons is an interesting mix of throwback elements with some glimpses of advanced skillset for a physical big. He has a massive frame and soft touch around the rim, which makes him a force at the basket. The Redhawk is also steadily hitting jumpers in pick and pop and other floor spacing situations. To go along with his touch from the outside, Flemons has good vision out of the high post as a passer. Allowing guards to play off of him, or feeding his fellow post player, senior Erik “Big E” Madrid. This vision and feel could eventually translate into being an effective passer out of short roles situations, giving him the potential to develop into more of an “European” style big.
A couple area of improvement for his development, will involve his quickness and if he gets any more lift. While he does have solid timing as a shot blocker and power as a dunker, he doesn’t have the suddenness that is often seen by prototypical high fliers and rim protectors. But if he continues to be a skilled, power big, he can carve out his own path to next level success.
Hall is one of the hidden gems of Oklahoma. He’s developing into a big time athlete with the way he can finish at the rim in transition, with a savvy scoring game to match. The Roland Ranger is dominating eastern Oklahoma with his quickness and defensive anticipation, while also putting on a show with dunks. But he’s much more than just an big time athlete feasting on small town competition, he has a tight handle and smooth mechanics when pulling up off the dribble. If betting on upside, Hall is one of the more intriguing longterm bets in the class because he seems to ooze big time potential with every game watched and highlight clip viewed.
Highlights
Hopkins has started to put up big time numbers in the last month which matches his upside as a dynamic two way guard. He’s slippery off the dribble, with the wiggle and burst to seemingly carve up any defense. That same athletic ability and feel for the game allows him to shine in transition, on both ends of the court. On defense, his quick hands make him a terror, picking the pocket of ballhandlers or getting into passing lanes for steals and deflections. The Carl Albert Titan is poised to finish his sophomore year strong for the Class 5A contenders, with the potential to blow up this summer at the 16U level and enter his junior year as one of the best players in Oklahoma, regardless of grade.
Williams is one of the better shooters in the class, and this summer showed big time promise with more to his game in the mid-range and off the bounce with a floater and good body control on drives. Unfortunately that improved scoring ability has yet to translate to his sophomore campaign. He remains a great floor spacer, who is making good strides in other aspects of his game. But with other prospects taking production leaps, Williams needs to find the extra gear to his game, especially on the offensive side. There remains great potential in his profile with shooting, collegiate pedigree and work ethic but like many prospects at this critical stage of development, production has to start matching potential.
One of the quickest players in the state, Wilks is a blur on both ends of the court. That quickness and savvy play allows him to play bigger than his size. There’s also been signs this year that he’s improving as a three pointer shooter, a key component for a smaller guards to make it at the next level. An injury has kept him out of a few contests in January, and it’s been felt for the Falcons as his toughness and dynamic play is the type that can elevate a squad. Wilks profiles as a classic “heart over height” guard who is tough to bet against, because of his winning mentality.
The sophomore continues to shine as a Swiss-Army knife type contributor for one of the best teams in the state. He can’t be left open along the perimeter, while also becoming a tough finisher through contact at the rim. Like any Swiss-Army knife, it isn’t just scoring that makes him standout. Forsythe is usually one of the first players on the floor for a loose ball, while also playing good all around defense. Last but definitely not least, he’s becoming a very quality passer and playmaker in his playmaking opportunities.
After a summer as a primary ballhander at the national 15U level, he’s taken a backseat to his older brother as primary ballhandler this high season. The flashes he does get to show, including a recent performance against Millwood, are very promising that his handle is continuing to become tighter and more shiftiness to his movements. The younger Forsythe looks like he will be more than ready to take over the reigns from his older brother next year, and seeing how his athleticism continues to improve will be one of the bigger indicators to his longterm potential.
The small town standout is one of the most unique prospects in the state, as he blends a great foundation of physical traits with a modern versatile skillset. Clark has a physical frame, with good vertical lift when it comes to getting up for dunks, rebounds and protecting the rim. He’s also a physical finisher and general imposing presence around the rim. Strides made as a shooter and passer have helped his longterm upside. Clark has put together some strong scoring performances this year largely because he can shoot easily over outstretched arms. While his passing ability adds an even bigger impact to the game. He often looks for outlets or pushing it ahead in transition. Even in the halfcourt, he’s starting to improve as a passer out of crowds and on drives. Improving his foot speed and ball handling ability remain the areas to watch as the hybrid forward attempts to transition more to perimeter play at higher levels of basketball.