Preseason Position Breakdown: 2026 Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The fourth and final piece in this series features my top 5 "forwards" in the junior class. It's almost an insult to call someone a "center." So these are prospects that primarily operate inside the arc, either on offense or defense. But regardless of how you might label them, these are my five:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1576717"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67446aed14f86"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brown's combination movement skills and physical tools allow him to impact the defensive end in a multitude of ways. He can go from being disruptive with his off-ball activity on one possession to defending wings in space on the next. Meanwhile, he's refining his game inside the arc on offense, comfortable slashing to the cup or making the read to a cutter/shooter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1493183"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67446aed1501b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Steadily growing into his body, Corrao has an array of modern big man skills. When he catches the ball out on the perimeter, he can make decisive passes, drive versus other forwards, or shoot the three. His stability and flexibility on the block are notable too, able to win with quick post moves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2251711"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67446aed15091"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hughes is dangerous wherever he catches the ball because there's no spot he can't get to, especially versus other forwards. If he gets it around the arc, then he can drive and shoot over defenders or back his man down into the post. Hughes can create for others out of his post ups and use his long arms to clean the glass too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2492438"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67446aed1510e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coming over from the Chicagoland area, Walker is your classic rim runner. He's always a threat to space the floor vertically, whether he's rolling to the basket or already there, set up on the weak side. Walker plays with a similar intensity on defense, attacking rebounds out of his area and contesting shots in the paint. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1576722"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67446aed15182"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wheatley is rounding out into a versatile forward, who plays with toughness while still processing the game. Wired to reject every shot that comes his way, he has the reach to make life difficult for drivers. On offense, Wheatley punishes mismatches in the post and is gaining confidence in DHO and pick-and-pop situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>HM: [player_tooltip player_id='1608228' first='Blake' last='Adams'], [player_tooltip player_id='1460808' first='Nigel' last='Adamson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2643812' first='Maddox' last='Bennett'], [player_tooltip player_id='2643821' first='Kellen' last='Burroughs'], Emmanuel Butts, [player_tooltip player_id='2400241' first='Jalyn' last='Hopkins'], [player_tooltip player_id='1406915' first='Derek' last='Lang'], [player_tooltip player_id='2251715' first='Mikey' last='Mita'] Jr, [player_tooltip player_id='2643828' first='Zane' last='Pacek'], [player_tooltip player_id='2400237' first='Michael' last='Pereira'], [player_tooltip player_id='2251323' first='Elijah' last='Perez'], [player_tooltip player_id='2643825' first='Luke' last='Scraff'], [player_tooltip player_id='1865294' first='Cameron' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='2537824' first='Joseph' last='Terreri Jr'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2056714' first='Ryan' last='Warren'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->