C/O 2026 Public School Award Candidates and Notable Prospects

We covered the senior class of public school candidates in the first round of award candidates, and now 2026 takes the reigns. Let's take a detailed look at the '26 landscape revolving around the public school players in Maryland/DC.   MVP Candidates   6'6 SF [player_tooltip player_id='1782680' first='JJ' last='Addison'] | Frederick HS   Addison has been making noise on the scene for a while now. A banner in Frederick would help JJ's case as the best forward in his class. His goal now is to remain consistent through a full season and make the necessary plays to make his team better each game. He is capable of making some really nice scoring plays with his natural feel and athleticism. Exciting young wing prospect with time to improve his game even further.     6'3 PG [player_tooltip player_id='1782661' first='Malik' last='Shackleford'] | Friendship Tech Prep (DC)   Shackleford can score the ball in many ways. Has stretches where he looks like he can matchup head-to-head with any guard in the DMV. High-level scoring guard out in DC that pieces together his baskets well. Fills it up from beyond the arc with or without a closeout, has a tight handle that helps him create space to operate how he likes. Impressive to see how quick he can get on a heater and take over the gym.   6'3 G [player_tooltip player_id='2640022' first='Colby' last='Murphy'] | Cesar Chavez (DC)   Colby had a very promising summer and has been on a year to start his high school season as well. Previous watchlist prospect that is fitting the bill so far. Colby puts the ball in the rim from anywhere on the floor and will only expand as a player as his offensive ability increases. He can hit from outside and make midrange shots at the same clip. Has enough size to get his shots off in the paint as well.   6'7 F [player_tooltip player_id='2453732' first='Gilbert' last='Osafo'] | Laurel HS   Lot of hype surrounding what Osafo is capable of. If he can put things together he can be a big-time get for any school. Athletic forward that can create for himself off the bounce and rise up to shoot over the defense. Can score effectively in the post and has a positive impact defensively when he's on the floor. Has a chance to become one of the DMV's top 3-5 forwards in the class if he pieces things together.   Most Improved Player Candidates   6'4 G [player_tooltip player_id='2528359' first='Dion' last='Walker'] | Wise HS   Walker is looking to be a big impact player for Wise this season. He showed well for them during summer play and looks to build on that this season. Confident scorer that has some strength behind his drives to the basket. Will shoot the ball with space and likes to create shot opportunities with his elusive handle. Intriguing and entertaining guard to keep an eye on in PG county.   6'4 [player_tooltip player_id='2471158' first='Damarcus' last='Barnes'] | Bowie HS   Damarcus gets after it on both ends of the floor. Becoming a reliable player for Bowie, and he's looking to add more to his bag as time goes on. Nice size and skill as a 3 guard/wing. He will continue to see his role increase and production expand at Bowie in the class of 2026.    6'6 F [player_tooltip player_id='2453744' first='Arouna' last='Soumaoro'] | Meade HS   Causes problems for the offense with his length and timing. Arouna is a versatile player for Meade with his two-way ability. If he can tap into his full potential, he should be in line to be a key factor in a big season for the Mustangs. He moves well and can fill gaps quickly with his 6'6” frame. Can put together nice baskets and shoot well from beyond. Nice floor stretcher with timely slashing for a team with aggressive guards.    6'4 SG [player_tooltip player_id='1963385' first='Brian' last='McMahon'] | Chopticon High School   Rose up the Prep Hoops ranks after a nice summer. McMahon gets it done for Chopticon, one of their top scorers and they look to him for his basket-making. Looking to be a more consistent scorer with more high-volume games. He can really fill up the scoresheet in a variety of ways. Looking to turn a lot of heads in his junior year with Chopticon.     Defensive Player Of The Year Candidates   6'10 F [player_tooltip player_id='2412775' first='Kaylin' last='Dunbar'] | Jackson Reed (DC)   Kaylin had some very nice preseason outings for the Tentley Tigers. He can defend the rim well without fouling, and shows true discipline when defending shots. Cleans up the glass tremendously on the defensive end, limiting a multitude of possessions to one shot. Leaves a big impact on the game on the defensive side as he is Jackson Reed's tallest player.   6'3 F Sean Hall | Theodore Roosevelt (DC)   High energy player who likes to make winning plays. He can be the grittiest and most determined player on the floor at times. Reads passing and driving lanes well and is strong inside as a rebounder. Good athlete with efficient shot-blocking prowess on the back-end. Seen him take over a game with his defense alone, causing big runs for his athletic team.   6'7 C [player_tooltip player_id='1782601' first='Nazaire' last='Hinton'] | Friendship Tech Prep (DC)   Hinton is a strong defensive force when he's locked in. He can swat multiple shots with his overwhelming height and size. Moves well and gets up with slashers to defend the shot. Beast on the boards, cleans up possessions well. When he plays with discipline, he is the true defensive anchor in the backline of a pesky Tech Prep defense.   6'4 F [player_tooltip player_id='1588125' first='Jonathan' last='Gray III'] | Cardozo (DC)   Jon gives maximum effort while he's on the floor for Cardozo. His energy and willingness to make the hustle plays on both sides of the ball is infectious in the team's success. He is a hidden catalyst in Cardozo's big runs at times because of his rebounding and stout defense at the basket. He never allows for an easy layup while he's nearby and can defend without fouling well at times.     Notable Shooters and Floor Generals   Shooters   6'3 SG [player_tooltip player_id='2343207' first='Jaden' last='McDuffie'] | South River   6'2 G [player_tooltip player_id='1588136' first='Shynard' last='Lewis'] | Lake Clifton   5'9 PG [player_tooltip player_id='2252255' first='Armani' last='Fowlkes'] | Blake HS   6'2 G [player_tooltip player_id='2278975' first='Nicholas' last='Williams'] | Baltimore Polytechnic Institute   6'3 SG [player_tooltip player_id='2252256' first='Elijah' last='Nelson'] | Lake Clifton    Floor Generals   6'1 PG [player_tooltip player_id='2148722' first='Tahj' last='Martin'] | James Hubert Blake HS   6'1 PG [player_tooltip player_id='2620491' first='Diego' last='Joy'] | Jackson Reed (DC)   6'2 PG [player_tooltip player_id='2453724' first='Jalen' last='Johnson'] | Largo HS    6'1 PG [player_tooltip player_id='2540468' first='Tyler' last='Gramling'] | Sherwood HS   5'10 PG [player_tooltip player_id='1782664' first='Tavares' last='Vaughn-Cooper'] | Richard Montgomery

We covered the senior class of public school candidates in the first round of award candidates, and now 2026 takes the reigns. Let's take a detailed look at the '26 landscape revolving around the public school players in Maryland/DC.