Five 2026s we’re tracking early this spring

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2024-2025 season in the books here are five players to watch in the 2026 class for next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2358170"],"_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-67eae4c61e0cf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Meyers can best be described as a bucket-getter. Thanks to his reliable jump shot and quick first step, he can score from all three levels for the Patriots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">His offense is based around his jumper which he can knock down off the catch and off the dribble. He often finds success getting to his step back from beyond the arch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Meyers is a good scorer there is more to his game than that. He is a capable passer who averaged 2.8 assists last season. He showed promise operating ball screens something that he can continue to improve upon. Koby is also a solid rebounder and a playmaker on the defensive end where his ability to play passing lanes lead him to two steals a game. He also led his team in charges last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/kobymeyers24/status/1904240896662733117","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/kobymeyers24/status/1904240896662733117 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></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":"Brandtley Hack","_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":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Gretna","_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67eae4c61e212"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brandtley Hack was a knock down shooter for the Gretna Dragons last season. He had several games with multiple three's made last season and had a stretch of games where he shot 45% from deep. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hack's shot prep and ability to get his base square to the rim allows him to be effective as a catch and shoot threat. His jumper does have a low release point, but the speed of his jumper makes up for it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Hack's jumper is his main asset, he is also capable of getting to the rim and finishing through contact. He often uses the threat of his shot to drive by defenders who close out to eagerly to dissuade him from taking a shot from beyond the arch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brandtly really found his grove toward the end of the season where he had a five-game stretch of averaging 24 points a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/brandtleyhack/status/1895645574000710070","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/brandtleyhack/status/1895645574000710070 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1587885"],"_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-67eae4c61e297"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1587885' first='Mogtaba' last='Mohamed'] is one of the best connectors in the state. Standing at 6'0'' he started as the third guard for his undersized Buena Vista team where he was one of the best defenders on the team and a solid reliable playmaker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mohamed is relentless in the effort he gives on the court especially on the defensive end. He is often the first on the floor for 50-50 balls and rebounds well for his size. He is a menace at the point of attack pressuring ball handlers and a pest off the ball causing deflections. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offensively he makes catch and shoot shots at a respectable clip to keep defenses honest and has shown flashes of being able to create his own offense at times. Mohamed is a willing passer who makes the extra pass and keeps the offense going. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With his backcourt running mates graduating he will have the opportunity to take on a bigger role next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BleacherPreach4/status/1885363247731110201","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BleacherPreach4/status/1885363247731110201 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></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":"Kevin Matthews","_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":"Bellevue East","_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67eae4c61e397"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kevin Matthews is a do it all guard for Bellevue East. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">His greatest impact comes on the defensive end where he uses his high basketball IQ to read passing lanes. He is also sneakily athletic soaring in to block shots more often than you would expect for someone his size. He plays with a lot of energy and gives consistent effort.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Offensively Mattews has room to grow but he has a solid jump shot to start with. Kevin is also good at getting to the where he is a solid finisher and good at drawing fouls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Chieftains will be losing several starters to graduation allowing Matthews the room to take on a bigger role in the offense next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18934723/Kevin-Matthews">https://www.hudl.com/profile/18934723/Kevin-Matthews</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2453081"],"_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-67eae4c61e418"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gonar Bamach is a prolific scorer and one of the best players in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bamach has averaged 17 points or more in both of his last two seasons. He is an outstanding shooter with the ability to shoot off the dribble and off the catch. He is a smooth scorer overall who can get to his spot at all three levels. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gonar is also real vertical athlete who will opt for the occasional poster dunk to finish his drives to the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He uses that same athleticism and length in other aspects of his game. He is a presence on the boards as he averaged just under eight rebounds a game last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bamach is also a playmaker on the defensive end. He is one of the better shot blockers in the state averaging over three blocks a game, while also being a stingy opportunist playing passing lanes and picking unsuspecting ball handlers for just under two steals a game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While he is a constant threat on offense, he can take his game to another level by leveraging his ability to score and the gravity he creates to get his teammates easier shots. If he can become a playmaker for others while continuing to be a deadly scorer, he could challenge for best player in the state next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/GetBucketsorDie/status/1874112949377523840">https://twitter.com/GetBucketsorDie/status/1874112949377523840</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->