Player Rankings Update: 2026 New Faces in the Top 100 (Pt 2)

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">The 2026 rankings have been updated in the state of North Carolina as the grassroots season approaches! Take a look at Part 2 of the New Faces in the Top 100.</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get 30% OFF payment on your first billing cycle with offer code: <strong>JAYANDERSON30</strong>, sign up <a href="https://prephoops.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>TODAY</strong></a>!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1281016"],"_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":"Beale makes his debut in the latest rankings update at 51 out of Garner High. He's an emerging wing/forward presence with a nice blend of athleticism and finishing ability around the rim to complement their frontcourt for the next few seasons. He's a name to keep an eye on with [program_tooltip program_id='2078500' first='Garner' last='Road'] as he continues to develop his skill set as an attacking presence on the perimeter.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["2298977"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Trandafir is an Romanian national out of Rabun Gap to keep an eye on in the latest rankings update at 52. He's shown he can finish around the rim as quite the paint presence and can step out on the perimeter to knock down shots as well. He's a big man at 6-foot-11 who's quite the emerging inside-out presence to keep an eye on this grassroots scene with [program_tooltip program_id='2225832' first='Team' last='Curry'].rnrn[embed]https://www.twitter.com/rarestrandafirr/status/1768464233535095190?s=20[/embed]","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["2382790"],"_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":"Sims was quite the presence in the Southeast Alamance backcourt in 2023-24 in his sophomore campaign as he debuts at 58 in the latest rankings update. He posted 23.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.5 SPG and 3.2 APG on 32 percent shooting from behind the arc and 43 percent shooting from the field to lead their squad to a third-place finish in the 1A/2A Mid-Carolina Conference. He knocked down 68 3-pointers as a sophomore, according to MaxPreps. He's a strong-framed 6-foot-1 guard to keep an eye on in the class in the East.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2301229"],"_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":"Rhodes makes his debut at 60 as a new face in the latest rankings update. He's an emerging guard/wing to keep an eye on in the Chargers backcourt given his knack for scoring and rebounding the ball. He produced 15.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG and 1.3 APG as they finished with 20-5 record and as the regular-season champion in the 3A Big South Conference. At 6-foot-3, he's shown he can use his athleticism and length in a variety of ways to impact the game.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["2290172"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Jones is an emerging new face in the Raleigh area to keep an eye on with Cardinal Gibbons in the latest rankings update as he debuts at 66. He's a versatile presence at 6-foot-6 who's shown he can shoot the ball on the perimeter and defend a number of different positions with his length. He put up 8.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG and 2.9 APG in the Crusaders rotation as they went 18-8 and as the regular-season CAP6 Conference Champion. As he becomes more established in their rotation, he's a prospect to keep eyes on in the 2026 class.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["2362523"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Bailey is a name to keep an eye on in the Mooresville rotation as he makes his debut in the latest rankings update at 74. He's a presence at 6-foot-3 who's shown he can operate in passing lanes and alter shots on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, he's shown he can operate as a catch-and-shoot presence and attack off the bounce. He'll be one to keep an eye on this grassroots cycle.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["2382798"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Tyrance is another sizeable name making his debut in the latest rankings update out of High Point Central at 86. He posted 10.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG and 1.5 BPG as quite the two-way presence in the painted area in his sophomore season for the Bison in the NCHSAA 3A West. At 6-foot-7, he's shown he can be quite the finisher around the rim and has a bright future altering shots defensively as well. He'll be a name to keep an eye on this grassroots cycle as a frontcourt prospect.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["2326899"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Watkins was a leading name for Carrboro this season in the Northern Lakes Conference as he debuts at 89 in the latest rankings update. He's a versatile presence at 6-foot-5 who averaged 13.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.7 BPG and 1.3 APG on 52 percent shooting from the field in 2023-24. He's got a bright future ahead of him after leading the Jaguars rotation in a variety of ways in his sophomore campaign.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["2382791"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Edwards is another backcourt name to get to know out of Southeast Alamance as he makes his debut at 99 in the latest rankings update. He was the second-leading scoring presence in the Stallions' backcourt in 2023-24 as he put up 15.6 PPG, 2.6 APG, 2.6 RPG and 1.5 SPG on 41 percent shooting from the floor. He's a relentless attacker off the bounce who looks to touch the paint and get things going getting downhill.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6601f24f97637"} /-->