2026’s You Haven’t Heard of Yet

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the fun things about this job is finding kids before anyone else. Finding a kid that can play and then watch his games or streams and track his progress afterwards. Seeing a kid develop during school or AAU season to gain confidence in their work and love of the game is what makes this fun. Here are some 2026 prospects that we think will become popular very quickly either during this AAU or this coming school season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jarod Trent","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Doddridge","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Jarod Trent is a super efficient scoring guard who really started to come on toward  the end of the season.  Trent shot the ball extremely well from every level as well as displayed himself as a solid ball handler.  Likely to return next year as the leading scorer for Doddridge, Trent could grow into a nice combo-guard type player and quickly climb the ranks of the 2026 class.  His projection as a basketball player might be determined by what he does in other sports, as he's a very solid multi-sport athlete.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["2375657"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='2375657' first='Tyler' last='Jones'] would likely be a star at most schools, but being at a star studded Spring Mills he's not mentioned much.  That will likely change next year after Jones has gained some valuable experience on the 4A varsity level and will look to start contributing next year.  He's a talented guard who handles it very well, shoots it solid and plays is role off the bench.  Jones will have the luxury of playing in front of several college coaches during his high school career and if he wants to play at the next level, given he puts in the work, will have that opportunity.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["2303408"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='2303408' first='Kingston' last='Christen'] will be a scoring force night in and out next season.  The combo-guard and long range sniper has put together some big games already as a freshman and sophomore and we'd expect it to be cranked up a notch next year.  Christen has that u0022Ellis brosu0022 style game that seems to get plenty of attention these days.  Where he might be limited on size he'll make up with basketball IQ and versatility as a true combo-guard.  Add some explosiveness in his game and he's sniffing some D2 looks, but certainly would be a very solid D3 player at this time.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2303399"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='2303399' first='Anden' last='Santamaria'] is tucked away in the eastern panhandle and was on an experienced Musselman roster this year and playing in the 3A division gained some very valuable experience.  With graduation, Santamaria will likely be relied upon for scoring and rebounding and has the size and mobility to do it.  We think Santamaria has a very high ceiling and projecting him at this point would be unfair.  So many variables to consider but he's likely to have a future at the next level if he continues to work.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["2377003"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='2377003' first='Darrell' last='Claybrook'] looks to be one of the next superstars at Fairmont Senior.  He looks the part, plays the part and has already starting building that reputation.  Claybrook was a starter on WV's runner up team and contributed just under 10ppg, but when seeing him on the floor its easy to tell he has the tools necessary to be great and do it soon.  Claybrook certainly has next level talent and athletic ability.  With strength and ball handling he's a D2 level player.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["2243495"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='2243495' first='Carson' last='O'Dell'] started getting known as a scorer last AAU season while on the Big Shots circuit and continued that momentum into this season.  The sharp shooting guard led Hurricane in scoring several times including once for 35 points versus Parkersburg High.  O'Dell is a high IQ, high percentage scorer already with good size for a combo guard.  O'Dell easily grades out as a D2 guard with his high level shooting/scoring.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["2303392"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='2303392' first='Jase' last='Smith'] has missed most of this past season due to injury but word is he's getting back to health and may be on the AAU circuit soon.  Smith is a smooth, slick shooting guard/wing that seems to score at ease.  With great size and length, Smith can catch and shoot or score off the bounce at equal effectiveness.  Smith, if healthy, should make huge contributions and likely be Bluefield's leading scorer next season with their graduation.  Smith's ceiling is really unknown at this time.  On film he looks as he could be as high as a lower level D1 player but with his size and skill at this point he's a solid D2 player with continuing work in the weight room.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["2164534"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='2164534' first='Waylon' last='Colistra'] was one of our favorite players we found during an AAU tournament last summer.  He stood out immediately and anticipated him giving varsity contributions for state champ Morgantown, which is not common for a sophomore.  Colistra is a great combination of strength, great feet, shooting and inside toughness.  His size will pose match up problems for many teams even at the 4A level due to his ability to drag bigger defenders out of the paint.  We'd anticipate him as a starter for Morgantown and possibly their leading scorer with [player_tooltip player_id='1310628' first='Sharron' last='Young']'s graduation.  Colistra is another 2026 with very high ceiling and could teeter between that high level D2 and lower level D1 especially if he gets to the 6'6u0022 to 6'7u0022 range.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6611bc414a4ec"} /-->