Six Sophs Make Significant Rises in the 2026 Rankings
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We debuted the Class of 2026 Rankings after the summer club season. We could tell from the strong impact some 2026s made as freshmen that this would be a fun class to follow. We also knew there would be some…
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Continue ReadingWe debuted the Class of 2026 Rankings after the summer club season. We could tell from the strong impact some 2026s made as freshmen that this would be a fun class to follow. We also knew there would be some significant movement as new guys hit the varsity scene as sophomores, and others grew their roles.
Here are six significant moves we made to update the rankings at mid-season:
Ethan Taylor Ethan Taylor 7'0" | C Shawnee Mission Northwest | 2026 State KS , 7-foot center, 2026, Shawnee Mission Northwest – #1 from #4 (3 spots):
We certainly anticipated this move when we released this list. Taylor didn’t play a majority of the minutes for the Cougars when they went to state last spring. There were other freshmen who made a bigger impact for their teams. So we slotted Taylor at #4. But we were pretty sure he would move up as he developed, because you just don’t find many 7-footers with his smooth athleticism. His stats still don’t jump out at you as a sophomore. But he’s essentially averaging a double-double with three blocks for an 11-0 team. We expect his stock to just keep rising.
Ian Premer Ian Premer 6'6" | PF Great Bend | 2026 State KS , 6-foot-4 forward, 2026, Great Bend – #2 from #3 (1 spot):
The multi-sport star is essentially averaging 20 points/10 rebounds and leading his Panthers to a strong start to the season. Premer may wind up a hotter recruit on the gridiron, but for now he’s one of the most productive basketball players in the 2026 class. He has been a team leader from the minute he reached high school.
Amare (AJ) Batiste Amare (AJ) Batiste 6'2" | CG Wichita Collegiate | 2026 State KS , 6-foot-2 guard, 2026, Wichita Collegiate – #5 from #10 (5 spots):
When two of Collegiate’s most important returners started the season sidelined by injuries, it would have been understandable for the team to struggle out of the gate. But the Spartans held it together and remained in the 3A rankings, due in large part to the leadership of sophomore Batiste. He took it upon himself to raise his scoring profile and helped out a ton on the glass. If the Spartans can get healthy, watch out.
Cooper Carr Cooper Carr 6'2" | CG Baldwin | 2026 State KS , 6-foot-2 guard, 2026, Baldwin – #13 from #18 (5 spots):
Carr had a really good freshman year in which he supported a group of upperclassmen en route to state. He has stepped up big time as a sophomore, basically shouldering leadership and becoming a versatile playmaker. His stat line is impressive – 17 points/7.5 rebounds/7 assists. The Bulldogs are rolling at 9-2 and look like a state team again.
Gavin Popik Gavin Popik 6'0" | CG Olathe Northwest | 2026 State KS , 6-foot-2 guard, 2026, Olathe Northwest – #14 from #22 (8 spots):
The Ravens have suffered a handful of heartbreaking losses. They are just a few points away from a 10-win record. Popik has been huge in keeping the team in games. He is a playmaking guard who can score in a variety of ways. He handles the ball and can direct the team, and he can be disruptive with his length.
Kelan Gruver Kelan Gruver 6'2" | CG Chapman | 2026 State KS , 6-foot guard, 2026, Chapman – #15 from #23 (8 spots):
The high-scoring sophomore was his team’s leader as a freshman. He was one of the few freshmen to receive all-state honorable mention last season and he’s taking his point production to another level. At mid-season, Gruver is racking up 19 points per game, making him once again one of the leading scorers in the 2026 class.