Updated Prep Hoops 2026 Player Rankings

In terms of pure talent and athleticism, few, if any, in the state can match that of Oregon's [player_tooltip player_id='2045301' first='Vaughn' last='Karvala']. The ultra-athletic 6-foot-7 wing handles and shoot the ball well, and he absolutely can soar with the best in the history of high school basketball in Wisconsin. His put-back dunks and breakaway slams permeate social media feeds, and those highlights result in thousands of likes and retweets. With scholarship offers from Arizona State, Marquette, Mississippi, Syracuse and Wisconsin, among others, Karvala is an easy choice to sit at the top of the updated Prep Hoops Wisconsin Player Rankings for the class of 2026 released today. You can find the list of the top 254 players in 2026 <a href="https://prephoops.com/wisconsin/rankings/2026-rankings/">here</a>.   Karvala is coming off a strong junior season for Oregon, which finished 15-11 overall and 9-5 and in third place in the Badger Large Conference. The Player of the Year in the league, Karvala averaged 26.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists for coach Chris Siebert's squad. He shot 41 percent from three-point range, making 67-of-160 attempts. He also connected on 74 percent of his foul shots (114-of-154). In a playoff loss to Verona, Karvala finished with 33 points and 10 rebounds. If there is a knock on Karvala, it might be that he doesn't always seem engaged in every aspect of the game. Part of that is no doubt due to his youth. Karvala figures to have college coaches from across the United State watching his play this spring and summer as he competes with the [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] squad on Nike's EYBL circuit. [player_tooltip player_id='1552512' first='Zavier' last='Zens'] of Wisconsin Lutheran moves from No. 4 to No. 2 in the Player Rankings due in large part to his consistent production and his impressive versatility. The 6-foot-7 forward can affect the game near the basket, away from the basket, on the glass and with his strength and mobility on drives to the basket. Zens helped Wisconsin Lutheran to a 28-2 record and the WIAA Division 1 state championship after also playing a key role a year ago when the Vikings went 30-0 and won the Division 2 state crown. Owner of NCAA Division I scholarship offers from Green Bay, Stetson and Toledo, Zens was voted Player of the Year in the Woodland West and averaged 22.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He flashed his versatility by making 68-of-133 attempts from three-point range for 51 percent while also getting the foul line often off drives to the basket. In the state-title game against Marshfield, Zens scored consecutive baskets late in the contest to help the Vikings overcome a five-point deficit. Zens' list of Division I offers could grow over the next few months as he competes on the Under Armour circuit for the [program_tooltip program_id='2076218' first='Wisconsin' last='Playground Club']. Miami (Ohio), North Dakota State, St. Louis, St. Thomas, Western Michigan and Wyoming are among the schools showing recent interest in Zens.   Kaukauna forward [player_tooltip player_id='1561925' first='Andrew' last='Jensen'] (6-9) remains in the No. 3 slot for 2026. Jensen helped Kaukauna to a 23-4 record and the title in the Fox Valley Association. The first-team all-league selection averaged 17.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists for coach Mike Schalow's squad. He also contributed 2.4 blocked shots per game, utilizing his good jumping ability and excellent timing when blocking/altering shots. Jensen's improved production over a year ago was instrumental in the Ghosts' success. and now he hopes to carry over his strong play from the winter to the spring and summer on the club circuit as he now is playing alongside Karvala with the [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] squad. Jensen currently owns offers from Bryant, Green Bay, Marquette, Milwaukee and Toledo. Wing guard [player_tooltip player_id='2045256' first='Yusef' last='Gray Jr.'] (6-4) checks in at No. 4 in the Player Rankings. An attacking wing who competes with stellar energy and an intense desire to win, Gray led West Allis Central to a 21-6 record, including a 9-3 mark in the Woodland West that included one win over Wisconsin Lutheran. The Iowa State recruit averaged 23.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.4 steals for coach Dave Mlachnik's team. One area of improvement for Gray is three-point shooting as he made just 26 percent of his tries outside the arc (21-of-81). But there is no denying Gray's tenacity or his strong love for the game and desire to get better. Another dynamic player in the 2026 class is [player_tooltip player_id='1959723' first='LaMont' last='Hamilton'], an incredibly quick 6-foot-0 lead guard from Racine St. Catherine's who is ranked No. 5 in the Player Rankings. The Player of the Year in the Metro Classic Conference, Hamilton was at his best in the Angels' biggest games of the season. He had a 38-point effort in an overtime victory in November over Racine Park, which went on to finish second in the WIAA Division 2 State Tournament. During Metro Classic play, Hamilton had games of 39, 18, and 33 points against Racine Lutheran, a team that finished in a first-place tie with St. Catherine's in the league standings. Hamilton also went for 36 and 38 points in wins over a very good Dominican squad. Hamilton averaged 30.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 5.0 steals as St. Catherine's went 21-5 under coach Ryan Thompson. As for the next level, Hamilton is receiving scholarship offers in both football and basketball. He is a standout wide receiver for the state-championship St. Catherine's football team in addition to his strong play as the Angels' point guard. In basketball, Hamilton owns offers from Detroit Mercy and Western Illinois. The best pure shooter in 2026 checks in at No. 6 as [player_tooltip player_id='1561888' first='Josh' last='Manchester'] of Mount Horeb can swish jumpers with the best of them. The 6-foot-4 guard earned Player of the Year recognition in the Badger Small while leading the Vikings to a 25-3 record and the league title. Manchester made 42 percent of his shots from three-point range and many of his attempts were several feet beyond the arc. He went 93-of-221 from distance and averaged 31.1 ppg for coach Todd Nesheim's squad. Unfortunately for Manchester, he was unable to play in the Vikings' two sectional games due to an injury sustained in the regional final. Manchester, however, is expected to be a full strength for the club season and he has joined the [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro'] program so he will get plenty of exposure on the EYBL circuit.   No. 7-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='1561889' first='Amare' last='Hereford'] (6-2) of Beloit Memorial is a scoring combination guard with good shooting range and the ability to attack the basket and finish through contact. Hereford's quickness, shiftiness and consistency, not to mention the difficulty opponents experience when trying to guard him, has led to several Division I offers, including Cal Poly, Northern Illinois, South Dakota State and Western Illinois. Hereford, who averaged 26.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.5 steals to lead Beloit Memorial in all four categories, will play in the same backcourt at Hamilton on the club scene with the [program_tooltip program_id='2076433' first='Kevon' last='Looney Power 5'] squad. No. 8-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='1749722' first='Jakari' last='Smith'] (6-5) of Milwaukee Bradley Tech is an athletic wing who owns Division I scholarship offers from Cal-State Bakersfield, Milwaukee, Robert Morris (Pa.) and Southern Utah. A first-team all-league pick in the Gold Division of the Milwaukee City Conference, Smith topped the league in rebounding as 12.2 rpg while also tossing in 19.6 ppg. Smith is a three-year varsity performer at Bradley Tech and he scored a career-best 42 points in a playoff win over Tenor/Veritas. No. 9-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='1781157' first='Rashaad' last='Davis'] (5-11) of Nicolet has the quickness to match guys like Hamilton and Hereford in the 2026 class, and also like the others, he makes big shots in big games. The fearless point guard helped Nicolet to a 19-7 record under coach Terence Smith, averaging a team-best 21.7 ppg while also adding 2.9 rpg, 3.9 apg and 2.2 spg. Davis owns DI offers from Southern Utah and Western Illinois. Rounding out the top 10 is Lakeside Lutheran power forward [player_tooltip player_id='2025184' first='Wes' last='Rahn'] (6-8), a physically strong and versatile player who can set screens in the pick-and-pop, rebound and score on put-backs, and muscle his way to the basket off post-up moves. Rahn averaged 20.1 points, 13.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a junior, helping Lakeside Lutheran to a 17-9 record under coach Todd Jahns. He has scored 1,022 career points for the Warriors. Rahn, who owns several D2 scholarship offers, figures to get looks from some D1 programs during the AAU season as he competes with the [program_tooltip program_id='2076023' first='Wisconsin' last='Academy'] program. No. 11-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='1561869' first='Matthew' last='Kloskey'] (6-5) of Division 2 state champion Wauwatosa West is one of the biggest risers in the Player Rankings. An athletic player who plays above the rim and can make mid-range jump shots, Kloskey had 29 points and seven rebounds in the Trojans' overtime victory against Racine Park in the D2 title game. He averaged 22.0 points and 7.8 rebounds on the season and recently picked up a Division I scholarship offer from IU Indianapolis. Each of the remaining players in the top 20 hope to land additional offers from NCAA DI and DII programs over the next few months. That list features ... No. 12 [player_tooltip player_id='2045266' first='Mike' last='Wilson'], 6-2, PG/WG, Madison West (no offers yet). No. 13 [player_tooltip player_id='1561939' first='Ethan' last='Joling'], 6-6, SF, Hortonville (offers from DI Bryant, Milwaukee and Southern Mississippi). No. 14 [player_tooltip player_id='2116495' first='Cahlil' last='Jones'], a 6-2 guard from Germantown (no offers yet). No. 15 [player_tooltip player_id='1973149' first='Chris' last='Pohl'], a 6-8 forward form Marshfield (DII offers from Michigan Tech, Minnesota Duluth, Northern Michigan, Saginaw Valley State and Winona State). No. 16 [player_tooltip player_id='1561953' first='Thian' last='Riak'], a 6-4 wing from Madison La Follette (missed most of 2024-25 with injury). No. 17 [player_tooltip player_id='2411140' first='Kevin' last='Pittman'], a 6-10 forward from West Allis central (DI offer from Western Michigan). No. 18 [player_tooltip player_id='2391091' first='Tyler' last='Tiutczenko'], 6-7 forward from Pewaukee (no offers yet). No. 19 [player_tooltip player_id='1561944' first='Jacob' last='Hibner'], a 6-3 guard from Stoughton (DII offers from Michigan Tech, Minnesota-Duluth, Northern Michigan, Rockhurst, Winona State). No. 20 [player_tooltip player_id='2045263' first='Kayden' last='Schultz'], a 6-3 guard from Plymouth (DII offers from Michigan Tech and Parkside).

In terms of pure talent and athleticism, few, if any, in the state can match that of Oregon's Vaughn Karvala Vaughn Karvala 6'7" | SF Bella Vista Prep | 2026 #103 Nation AZ .

The ultra-athletic 6-foot-7 wing handles and shoot the ball well, and he absolutely can soar with the best in the history of high school basketball in Wisconsin. His put-back dunks and breakaway slams permeate social media feeds, and those highlights result in thousands of likes and retweets.

With scholarship offers from Arizona State, Marquette, Mississippi, Syracuse and Wisconsin, among others, Karvala is an easy choice to sit at the top of the updated Prep Hoops Wisconsin Player Rankings for the class of 2026 released today. You can find the list of the top 254 players in 2026 here.