2026 Rankings Update: Top Power Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have gotten through Memorial Day and are ramping up to the start of "summer ball" in the coming days. AAU season is more than halfway over and July will be here before you know it. It's time to update our rankings, starting with the class of 2026. These rising Seniors have seen a lot of movement over the years and have had a few players transfer out of state. Here's a look at the highest ranked power forwards in this update. This does not include players who were covered in the Top Ten Article or any of the other breakdowns we have already published.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"77245","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"97","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6834ebfa367ef"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2628796"],"_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-683757bab2b4b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Modi is a versatile and skilled big man who gets better every time I see him. His high school statistics don't jump off the page but his size and ability is the type of player that college coaches covet. A good shot blocker who is switchable across multiple positions, Kouyate is playing for the Mali U17 team this summer and is only going to get better against that type of competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1359138"],"_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-683757bab2bbb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">James is an intriguing player because he has the physical skills to be a big time impact player and has earned a bunch of D1 offers. He's also been known to disappear at times during the AAU season when he's surrounded by more talent. I would argue that's more to a lack of assertiveness than due to any lack of talent, etc. Turner has a chance to really turn it on this next year and show why he's been so highly recruited up to now. I expect his stock to trend up, long term.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1702596"],"_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-683757bab2c04"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The biggest name to transfer so far this spring, Landon just went from LaRue and enrolled at Adair County. Blakey is a versatile player who can score the ball on the low block or knock down an open three. He's capable of protecting the rim on defense and can switch across multiple positions. It's hard to believe there aren't more scholarship level schools wearing out Blakey's phone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1737528"],"_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-683757bab2c49"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hayden is another player who is underrecruited, in my eyes. A big body at 6'7, Shouse averaged 22 and 9 last season and shot 45% from three and 58% overall. Scholarship level programs all across Kentucky and surrounding states would be wise to make it a priority to see Hayden play this summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2171645"],"_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-683757bab2c8d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Simpson is a face up 4 man who can play some 5 when needed. Jarett is an excellent passer out of the high post area and is capable of knocking down open threes as well (he shot 40% from three). Simpson still needs to get more comfortable with physical play and become a more active rebounder to reach his ceiling but he continues to improve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->