Underrated Players in the 2026 Rankings

The Class of 2026 is full of certified bucket-getters, especially at the top of the ranking. However, there are some great players who are, in my opinion, ranked too low.    Over the past two seasons at East Poinsett County, [player_tooltip player_id='2373595' first='Jacob' last='Gaines'] has been one of the best scorers in the 2A classification. #35 in the 2026 class is respectable, but from what he has done so far in his career, he should be higher.   Gaines averaged 16.9 points per game last season, along with 8.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. Gaines is a great inside-outside scorer, hitting 37% of his threes and shooting 55% from inside the arc. If he is unable to create his own offense, he is not afraid of sharing the basketball, always being able to find open teammates.   On the other end of the floor, Gaines can make life difficult for opposing guards, playing hounding on-ball defense for all 32 minutes. Though he is a guard, he has proven that with his athleticism, he can block shots at the rim. If an opposing guard somehow gets past him on the perimeter, he will find a way to chase down and swat their shot.   Chances are, [player_tooltip player_id='2373595' first='Jacob' last='Gaines'] will rise in the next ranking update, so keep an eye on this championship-winning guard.     The fact that [player_tooltip player_id='2228083' first='Lane' last='Webster'] is at #46 is ridiculous. He has been trending upwards over the last few months and deserves to be in the top-15 of this class, if not the top-10.   Webster has recently picked up offers from Stetson, Arkansas State, Chattanooga, and Austin Peay, after previously just sporting an offer from ASU-Newport. The incoming senior was 1st team All-Arkansas Preps by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette after averaging 19.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 3.2 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game last season.   The forward's great play has extended into the summer with his AAU squad, the [program_tooltip program_id='2820896' first='Arkansas' last='Assault']. Against Ryze Athletics in May, Webster logged 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He then followed it up with a great performance against Team Puerto Rico 17U, finishing with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.   [player_tooltip player_id='2228083' first='Lane' last='Webster'] is a superb athlete who brings excellent size to the table. He can play above the rim, play bully-ball down low, and run out in transition. Again, this is an underrated hooper who is already turning heads, he needs to be ranked higher.     #86 for a UCA commit? Yeah right. [player_tooltip player_id='2673223' first='Isaiah' last='Templeton'] is definitely worthy of a top-10 position in the 2026 ranking as he is one of the most versatile players in Arkansas.   Templeton finished the 2024-25 season with all-conference, all-state, and all-tournament selections after averaging 20 points and around 9 rebounds a game. He is a dynamic scorer who is unstoppable once he has it rolling.   He is unfair to guard in the post. Templeton looks much taller than 6'3", and he presents a long standing reach, pairing well with his elite athleticism. With all of that combined, he is a paint beast, as no one can successfully contest his drives to the basket. He can also step outside and nail 3-pointers, making him extra dangerous on the offensive end.   In addition to his incredible offensive ability, [player_tooltip player_id='2673223' first='Isaiah' last='Templeton'] is a lockdown defender. He can send shots into the stands and he can poke passes free, finishing at the other end off the steal. Templeton still has one more year of Devil Dog basketball before moving on to UCA, but I cannot get over the fact that he ranked way too low as this guy will probably dominate in the ASUN.     [player_tooltip player_id='2731188' first='Jude' last='Roberts'] should at the very least be inside the top-100 of this class, but I would have moved him all the way inside the top-50.   Roberts had a great junior season at Woodlawn, averaging 24 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, earning all-conference and all-state honors. So far this summer, Roberts has been deadly during team camps.   Roberts is a great isolation scorer. Once a defender is on an island with him, there is not much they can do to stop him. He has the hesi pull-up jumper in his bag and he can hit his shot over any defender. Off the catch, he has a quick release, and if he sees a lane to the basket in transition, he will get there by any means necessary.   [player_tooltip player_id='2731188' first='Jude' last='Roberts'] is a crafty point guard with a tremendous amount of potential. Woodlawn is a small school in the 2A classification, but I think high-level college basketball is in Roberts' future.     Stephens Christian School is not a sanctioned school in the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA), which is what the vast majority of high schools in the state are in. Despite that, they have a great scorer leading the way: Kason Powell.   Powell may not be playing against elite competition, but he still proved that he was a capable scorer, putting up 24.7 points per game this past season. Against 1A Emerson, Powell played hard despite the loss, scoring 25 points on 11/22 shooting.   Powell's great shooting was on full display against Trinity Christian around the same time, finishing with 30 points on 11/23 shooting. He had multiple other 30+ scoring outings throughout the season, including 33 points against Legacy Academy in January and 31 points in another matchup against Trinity Christian in December.   Yes, Kason Powell plays in the Heartland Christian Athletic Association, which does not offer the same type of competition as AAA-sanctioned conferences. However, Powell has consistently shown just how good of a scorer he is, regardless of the opponent, and I think he is deserving of being ranked.    The list of underrated players in the 2026 ranking is long, but these five players definitely deserved some recognition. With incredible senior seasons, I suspect these players will fly up the rankings.

The Class of 2026 is full of certified bucket-getters, especially at the top of the ranking. However, there are some great players who are, in my opinion, ranked too low.