New England's 2026 Small Forwards

The Class of 2026 rankings week coverage continues with a look at the Small Forwards.   [player_tooltip player_id='2341304' first='Abdou' last='Toure'] holds the top spot at the Small Forward position and checks in at #2 overall in the rankings. There's not much more to be said about Toure at this point after he led Notre Dame-West Haven to a state championship and was named Connecticut's Gatorade Player of the Year. One of the top prospects in the class nationally, he's an elite athlete and scorer that just flat out knows how to get a basket. On top of that, he continues to improve with the ball in his hands and on the defensive end of the floor.   With that being said, here are nine Small Forwards of note from our latest rankings update.   [player_tooltip player_id='2341352' first='Jaxson' last='Terry'] #9   The CATS Academy wing is a versatile offensive performer that can do a bit of everything on that end of the floor. At 6'6" with plus athleticism, he's shown to be a strong finsher in the paint, attacking the basket off the bounce in the half-court and while running the floor in transition. He's a confident ball-handler that can get to his spots in the half-court and has proven to be a big time shot maker in the mid-range. His feel for the game continues to improve, as does his effort on the defensive end of the floor where he can guard up and down a position and makes plays both on the ball and in passing lanes.   [player_tooltip player_id='2341312' first='Harrison' last='Aligbe'] #20   A prototypical big wing, Aligbe was a primetime performer this winter for the Winchendon School. The 6'8" wing has a frame that looks like it could support additional weight, has incredible length, and is a big time athlete. He plays with a good motor, particularly on the defensive end of the floor where he has a nose for the ball on the defensive glass and the ability to guard four positions. Offensively, he flies up and down the floor in transition, can finish plays with either hand at the rim, and does a good job of creating off the bounce. He continues to improve as a shooter from behind the arc and should be above average at that at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='2325855' first='Brayson' last='Green'] #23   There might not be a more impressive wing athlete in New England than Green, who played a big role in Putnam Science Academy's run to a national prep championship this winter. The 6'5" wing is explosive and super long, both of which allow him to thrive as a slasher and defender. He's relentless when he attacks the rim, showing the ability to finish highlight reel plays over defenders. He can get by defenders off the bounce and shows the ability to make good passes on the move. Defensively, he's one of the better rebounders at the position and plays with a great motor on the glass. His physical traits allow him to guard up and down a lineup.   [player_tooltip player_id='1532461' first='Julian' last='Dent Jr.'] #33   At 6'6" with a wiry frame and long arms, Dent Jr. is one of the top wing defenders in this class. The MacDuffie junior is great both on the ball and off of it, using his length and quickness to make plays that lead to easy scoring opportunities in transition. He's particualrly impressive when he guard the ball, showing the ability to generate steals and also to block shots at the rim. With his combination of size, length, and athleticism, he's a good rim scorer that can really get into the paint off the bounce. He finishes with touch at the basket and uses either hand to score over the defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='2425649' first='Yeshua' last='Kesse-Beda'] #35   Another prospect that fits the mold of a modern day wing, Kesse-Beda is a long and lean 6'7" athlete that had a strong junior season at CATS Academy. He's at his best playing in space where he uses his athleticism and length to make plays. He can finish at the rim with authority or touch, showing the ability to make plays in a variety of ways. He's come along as a shooter and looks to be someone who has serious 3-and-D potential down the road. Defensively, he thrives as an athlete that can make plays off the ball and that can switch ball screens or defend multiple positions.   [player_tooltip player_id='2634105' first='Bennett' last='White'] #51   A 6'8" wing at the Newman School, White had an impressive junior season in which he showed off a versatile offensive game. A nice athlete, he tried to dunk everything at the rim on one end and blocks a lot of shots on the other. He can space the floor with his shooting ability and with a quick first step, has the ability to attack closeouts. When he gets to the rim, he does a nice job of drawing contact that leads to plenty of foul calls. Defensively, he's versatile and can guard multiple positions with ease. He moves well laterally, rebounds by the rim, and blocks shots from the help side.   [player_tooltip player_id='2634181' first='David' last='Flores John'] #73   A 6'6" wing at Cushing Academy, Flores John has a great understanding of how to play at different speeds on the offensive end of the floor. A high IQ playmaker, he does a great job of switching up his tempos, playing off euro-steps, and generally keeping the defense off balance with ball and shot fakes. The lefty can make shots from behind the arc, gets to the rim off the bounce, and impresses with his decision making in transition. He can defend multiple positions, is fundamentally sound as a rebounder on his box outs, and does a good job of talking through switches.   [player_tooltip player_id='2553713' first='Jonovan' last='Bracey'] #112   The King School wing had a strong junior season, proving to be a jack of all trades for his team. He's really good with the ball in his hands, particularly when making plays from the perimeter. He does a good job of handling the ball, has a quick first step, and plays with good burst when attacking the rim. He can make shots in the mid-range, but is at his best using his length and athleticism to make plays in the paint. Defensively, he can guard a variety of postions and is a switchable defender that covers lots of ground quickly. He rebounds in space and by the rim and can block shots from the help position.   [player_tooltip player_id='2553805' first='Nicholas' last='Tarro'] #192   A state champion in Rhode Island at La Salle Academy, Tarro proved to be one of the top juniors in the RIIL and one of the state's most versatile prospects. Offensively, he used his strong frame to finish plays in the paint, but also showed a good feel for the game when making plays on the perimeter. He could finish with either hand at the basket and utilized shot fakes to keep defenders off balance. He rebounded at a high level on both ends of the floor, proving to be a nightly double-double threat. Defensively, he used his athleticism to guard in space and his strength to guard in the paint, proving to be capable of guarding each spot on the floor.   Keep an eye out for our breakdown of the Power Forwards, coming soon!

The Class of 2026 rankings week coverage continues with a look at the Small Forwards.