National Prep Championships: Junior (2026) wings to watch

As is annual tradition, the top prep schools in the country will convene next week to crown an undisputed national champion as part of NERR's National Prep Championship. While post-grads tend to garner the bulk of the attention in the prep school landscape, a number of 2026 prospects figure to play a significant factor in determining the ultimate champion. After previously profiling the top 2026 bigs and shooters, we now take a look at some of the top junior wings to watch in West Hartford.    A quintessential fit for the modern positionless game, Terry shines with his ability to impact a game across all facets based on what his team needs. Truly a jack of all trades, his toughness, IQ, and well-rounded skillset make for a highly-valuable lynchpin on the wing. Terry has thrived at times throughout the year as a floor-spacer, as a secondary ballhandler, as a shutdown defender, and as a go-to scorer. His maturity and leadership combined with such versatility provide a clear recipe for a future winner at the mid or high major level.     The most refined scorer on this list, Pendergrass was among the top bucket-getters in the Elite Prep League as just a junior. The Maryland native is a matchup nightmare with natural shotmaking touch from all over the floor and comfortable ball skills to work to his spots off the bounce. Comfortable in transition or a halfcourt setting, Pendergrass has made strides in his efficiency and shot selection throughout his first year at Hargrave. With the prevalence at the next level of mismatch scorers at the ‘4', it's no wonder why Pendergrass has already seen an array of high-major recruitment.     As an explosive an athlete as you'll find in the region, Edmond has adapted seamlessly to the rigors of prep school ball after coming over from Notre Dame Fairfield (CT). A prototypical complementary wing, he uses his twitchy leaping ability, instincts for the ball, and reliable shooting stroke to make a consistently loud impact on limited touches. Edmond provides versatility on the defensive end as well, with his quickness and tough-nosed approach able to bother both opposing guards and wings. After being the go-to guy in his old high school setting, the adaptability into a complementary role has been great to see from Edmond, who should be a popular name among mid-major coaches heading into EYBL play.     While his production can come and go among a talent-laden Newman lineup, it's impossible to watch Costello without being struck by his long-term potential. With premium size for a wing forward and the movement skills of a guard, he shines in a complementary role with his ability to space the floor and get out in transition. Costello is a dynamic shooter off the catch for his size, with flashes of ball skills and athleticism tossed in that point to upside as a big shooter at the highest levels. His size and translatable supporting skillset provide a combination of floor and ceiling that makes for a really interesting prospect.     New on our radar after moving cross-country from Rancho Christian (CA), Kesse-Beda shows the type of steady, low-maintenance impact we love to see from a wing prospect. He stands out immediately with his positional size and a chiseled frame, allowing him to guard up and down a lineup defensively. Kesse-Beda builds his offensive game around a smooth and reliable 3-point stroke off the catch, with a clear IQ in terms of his positioning and connective passing. He won't be a fit for systems that require their wings to put it on the deck extensively, but his size and plug-and-play skillset figure to draw mid-major eyes in the region before long.     Fresh off a state championship at Charlestown (MA), Williams-Crawford wasted no time getting acclimated to prep ball, winning co-DPOY honors in the vaunted NEBL. A sinewy wing with enormous length and twitchy fluidity to his movements, he thrives within his role as a defensive ace, cutter, and transition playmaker. A clear D1 prospect, Williams-Crawford has the defensive tools and team-first approach to eventually translate to the highest levels if he's able to polish his ball skills or increase his consistency from the perimeter.     Similar to his teammate in Edmond, Green has made an immediate impact in his first year at Putnam with his low-usage, high-impact play on the wing. He makes his living as an ace defender, using his quick-twitch athleticism, enveloping length, and hard-nosed demeanor to smother opposing wings while making off-ball plays across the court. Offensively, Green thrives as a spotup threat and as a cutter, where he'll look to put any opposing rim protector on a poster. Green's length and ability to thrive without needing the ball in his hands should attract wide ranges of D1 attention over the next year.     A transfer from Canada, White has had some huge games this year in which he's swung the outcome with his exploits from beyond the arc. As a dynamic floor-spacer on the wing who's comfortable shooting from deep range out of all kinds of actions, White has proven to bring an elite skill to the table as more or less a shooting specialist. While he can be somewhat one-dimensional, at least within his current role, the combo of size and shooting is sure to attract a wide range of coaches into the grassroots season.     One more newcomer to the region, Carter has made a splash with his hard-nosed, athletic play since coming to Hargrave via Astronaut (FL). Carter is at his best in transition where he can use his instincts and physical tools to wreak havoc filling lanes and playing high above the rim. He shows instincts as a cutter in the halfcourt with the bounce and aggressive mentality to finish strong in traffic. Despite limitations with his ball skills, Carter has proven himself as a clearcut D1 wing with a wide range of potential levels based largely on his consistency as a shotmaker.

As is annual tradition, the top prep schools in the country will convene next week to crown an undisputed national champion as part of NERR's National Prep Championship. While post-grads tend to garner the bulk of the attention in the prep school landscape, a number of 2026 prospects figure to play a significant factor in determining the ultimate champion. After previously profiling the top 2026 bigs and shooters, we now take a look at some of the top junior wings to watch in West Hartford.