Spring AAU Primer: 2026 Wings to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With playoffs in the city being on to the intersectional rounds the high school season will be wrapping up in just a few short weeks. With that in mind, this highlights a few 2026 wings to watch:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>(Note: this is not at all a definitive list, just part of an ongoing series to highlight some New York natives who are deserving of being recruited)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1729829"],"_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":"It's been a great sophomore year from the 6-foot-5 swingman, who's cemented himself as a high-major prospect over the past couple of months. An improved jumper and ability to handle the ball have made him a dangerous scorer and his a pretty good athlete and defender as well. Two of his brothers have experience playing division 1 basketball already, so there's an understanding of what it takes.","_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='2466505' first='Jahda' last='Swann']","_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":"Thomas Jefferson","_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":"Swann is one of the best defenders in the city regardless of class. A 6-foot-4 wing guard who plays much bigger thanks to his wingspan and athleticism, Swann has been the defensive anchor for the Orange Wave while also finishing second in scoring in his division.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["2207287"],"_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":"Archbold led his division in scoring with just a shade over 20 points, good for #2 overall in Brooklyn behind Jefferson guard [player_tooltip player_id='1988902' first='Connor' last='Sprattley']. A 6-foot-6 rangy athlete who can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, Archbold is at his best when he's drawing fouls or finishing over/through defenders. There has been flashes of being able to shoot it from beyond the arc this year as well, if he can become a consistent threat as a shooter- look out.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2148602"],"_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":"A transfer to Roselle Catholic has paid big dividends for the 6-foot-7 Rochester native. A springy athlete, he's an effective slasher and is able to take his man off the bounce. The lefty forward has also proven to be a very good shot blocker who's able to guard multiple positions.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["2027756"],"_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":"Barnaby-Alexander has had to sit out this season after transferring into Nazareth from Monsignor McClancy in September. A 6-foot-4 wing guard, AAU will be the first u0022liveu0022 game action that he has seen in months, and it will be interesting to see how he's developed behind the scenes over the past several months. Given the amount of production graduating this season, there's room for Barnaby-Alexander to grow into an important piece for the Kingsmen","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["2027764"],"_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":"The Long Island wing is the second biggest player on Mount Sinai, so he plays as more of a big man. He's been effective all season, routinely posting double-doubles. Vales is capable of taking his man off the dribble, scoring on the block, or knocking down threes. A skilled and tough forward, he is one to keep an eye on.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f4670838136"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Want to know what other 2026 prospects in New York you should be keeping tabs on? Click Below: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2024/03/spring-aau-primer-2026-guards-to-know/">2026 Guards (PT 1)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2024/03/spring-aau-primer-2026-guards-to-know-pt-2/?itm_source=parsely-api">2026 Guards (PT 2)</a> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->