Prospects Prep Hoops is highest on Nationally: Part 3

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our 2026 national rankings just dropped and there's a handful of players Prep Hoops is highest on compared to the rest of the industry (247, Rivals, ON3, ESPN). In this article we'll break down five prospects who we ranked highest in our 2026 national rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1728587"],"_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-68262865645cf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Prep Hoops ranking: 96th</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next highest national ranking: Rivals 119th</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the best pure point guards in the country, Ertel is a throwback style point guard who is tough, makes shots and takes care of the basketball. A perfect fit at Purdue, Ertel was an early commit and has been balling out on the 3SSB circuit for Indiana Elite this grassroots season. With how impactful Ertel is on both ends of the court and excellent intangibles, he is a guy I'd bet on having a productive career for the Boilermakers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1782683"],"_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-6826286564650"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Prep Hoops ranking: 97th</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next highest national ranking: 247 140th</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most productive guards in EYBL session I, Brown averaged almost 18 PPG and dished out over 6 APG. Earning a recent offer to Oklahoma State University after that impressive weekend with Team Durant, Brown Jr could be one of the bigger summer stock risers from the point guard position. A quick guard who sets the table for his teammates, Brown Jr led EYBL Session I in assists per game! Brown Jr has played for some of the top high school and grassroots programs in the DMV and impacted winning wherever he went.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2251704"],"_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-68262865646ba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Prep Hoops ranking: 100th</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next highest national ranking: 247 142nd</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A wing sized prospect with guard skills, Johnston is a connector piece offensively who can be a play-finisher off cuts and make the right read as a passer within the flow of the offense. Defensively, Johnston can defend up and down the lineup with switch-ability and can impact the game as a help-side rim protector. Johnston is currently committed to Marquette alongside fellow top 150 prospect Sheek Pearson, making the Golden Eagles one of two schools in the country with multiple commits in our 2026 national rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1708701"],"_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-682628656471e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Prep Hoops ranking: 105th</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next highest national ranking: 247 139th</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another early commit, Smith is staying home to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes with [player_tooltip player_id='2829368' first='Marcus' last='Johnson'] giving Ohio State two early commits in the 2026 national rankings that are both from the Buckeye state. Smith is a skilled stretch forward who exploded in session I of 3SSB action with ridiculous efficiency numbers for a player scoring 20 PPG. Things are starting to click for Smith on both ends of the court and his rate of improvement makes him a prospect we want to be ahead of the rest of the industry with his ranking. If Smith continues to play at the level he did in Texas for Session I, I'd be shocked if multiple websites don't add him to their top 125 sooner rather than later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1716474"],"_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-6826286564782"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Prep Hoops ranking: 121st</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next highest national ranking: 247 149th</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the toughest point guards to defend in the country, Neal is a blur on the court and create for himself or teammates, Neal was third on EYBL in assists per game in session I. Winning Gatorade player of the year in North Carolina as a junior, Neal showed how impactful he is to winning regardless of environment. Neal recently secured his first high major offer from Boston College in April and I expect more schools to follow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->