Notable Names – 2026 Bigs
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Last up in the series of positional breakdowns for the class of 2026 is the bigs. As a reminder, instead of highlighting the Top 5 at each position, we will cover a few prospects to watch over the coming years.…
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Continue ReadingLast up in the series of positional breakdowns for the class of 2026 is the bigs.
As a reminder, instead of highlighting the Top 5 at each position, we will cover a few prospects to watch over the coming years.
While Ben Ahmed Ben Ahmed 6'10" | C Putnam Science Academy | 2026 State New E , Collins Chidera Onyejiaka Collins Chidera Onyejiaka 6'11" | C Newman School | 2026 State New E , and Johnny Bol Akot Johnny Bol Akot 7'0" | C MacDuffie School | 2026 State New E are some of the most well known bigs in the region, the following four prospects are ones to watch this spring and summer:
Mark fits the bill as a modern five; he has the ability to play with his back to the basket on offense and protect the rim on defense, but also has a skillset that expands to the perimeter and enough laterally agility to guard in switches. He has exceptional size and length for the position which nicely compliments his high IQ and feel for the game. Right now, his ability to shoot the ball from behind the arc really stands out and it’s a skill that gives him a high ceiling as a floor spacing big. Defensively, he mixes it up in the post, is a good shot blocker as a help defender from the weakside, and can start the break with his ability to turn rebounds into quick outlet passes.
Booth has quickly staked a claim as the most impressive long term prospect in the state of Maine. He’s an imposing post defender that isn’t afraid to mix it up and contests everything around the rim. Athletically, he’s really come a long way in the last year and now looks like a prospect that should be able to defend effectively when switched onto guards on the perimeter. He consistently runs the floor hard in transition, has nice touch in the mid-range, and has developed a post moves as well as counter moves. He’s gotten stronger and now tries to dunk everything around the rim. He’ll be a fun prospect to watch on the AAU circuit this spring against a higher competition level.
Baum is an intriguing prospect that should continue to rise up the rankings as he develops physically. Defensively, he’s best around the rim, both as a shot blocker and defensive rebounder. On offense, he shows signs of being able to consistently make perimeter jumpers, but really excels in screen-and-roll situations right now. He has a good feel for when to roll, pop, or slip screens and creates scoring opportunities off his cuts out of these actions. He’s willing to mix it up in the paint and does a good job of finishing through traffic. His IQ allows him to make good reads with or without the ball and he’s a capable passer out of the post and double-teams.
Highlights
A throwback, old-school, physically imposing big, Carty has dominated the competition in the MIAA this season. He punishes rims any chance he gets and is impossible to move once he gets to his spots in the paint. He does a good job as an offensive rebounder, both inside and out of his area. Given his size, he has deceptively quick feet and a nice feel for movement in the paint. While not a consistent threat from the perimeter, he has shown signs of being able to make threes in catch-and-shoot situations. Defensively, he’s best around the rim where he can alter and block shots in bunches. He’ll be another prospect to watch this spring and summer as he transitions to a higher competition level on the AAU scene.