Central Cali's Class of 2026 Player Rankings (21-30)

This is the 5th version of these player rankings for the Class of 2026, which have previously been featured on the Nothing But Net Magazine website. I have updated this list to include the Spring and Summer club sessions, and the Scholastic Live Periods of June. I have expanded this list from 55 to 60 players from around the Central Section. This list of players was compiled using my own evaluations, along with feedback from knowledgeable media, coaches, and other relevant basketball personnel from the Section, to make up the top 60 rising senior prospects for this updated round of player rankings for the 2026 Class. However, the order of players on this list is my own. I will update these rankings by the end of the calendar year and expand the number of players if needed. This list takes into consideration two key factors in determining where players are ranked, and will be the same criteria used each time this list is updated. The criteria for these rankings are as follows: current skill level and production on the court, as well as future projection at the collegiate level. Below is the next 10 players of these players rankings, #21 through #30, and will be followed by players ranked #31-#40 layers. In this article, you will find the following information: current rank, their previous rank in parentheses, the player's name, height, player position, and current school of attendance. We begin this updated list with the sharp shooter from St. Joseph, Gunner Morinini.   21 (34) Gunner Morinini |6'1| SG (St. Joseph)   Morinini comes in at #21 in this updated list of player rankings, moving up 13 spots and is one of the top stock risers from this class. Morinini has been the marksman for the Knights since his sophomore season, as he is one of the top 3-point shooters in the Section, if not the state, and was a pivotal piece for St. Joseph, as it won the D1 Section Championship and made it to the Elite 8 in the State Open Division Playoffs. Morinini averaged 9 points and 4 rebounds per game, and was the team's weapon to space the floor, which allowed the Knights to use their depth of interior players to dominate the paint and crash the boards. Morinini played great in the June scholastic live events in Arizona and California, and was the premier guard for Team Build Up 17s, as well as a solid showing at the Invite Only Pangos Premier 80 Showcase. Morinini has solid handles, improved the variety of his moves to create space from his defender, has expanded his shot making to be a true 3-level scoring threat, and has the court vision to find open players off the dribble drive. Morinini moves fluidly off the ball, knows where to be on the court ready for the catch and shoot, and is an underrated on-ball defender. Morinini will be called upon to be more of a facilitator and shot creator for the Knights this coming season, and will be seeking his 3rd Section Title, as he was called up to varsity for the playoffs his freshman season.    22 (24) Noah Coulton |6'2| CG (Immanuel)   Coulton moves up two spots in this updated list of player rankings, and comes in at #22. Coulton, another key piece of the D5 Section champs, and D5 State runner-ups, Fresno Christian has transferred out and will be attending Immanuel of Reedley for his senior season. Coulton had a great junior season of play and earned 1st Team All-Northwest Sequoia League, as the Eagles would go undefeated in league play. Coulton played club ball in July with What Wins 17s at the Made Hoops Cali Live showcase in SoCal and Big Time tournament in Las Vegas, with quality showings at both events. Coulton is a high-level lead guard, keeps the ball on a string to survey the floor, makes nice use of the crossover and hesitations moves to create space from his defender or get by his opponent, is accurate with the 3-ball off the dribble or the catch, has nice touch on the floater down the lane, and is a creative finisher around the basket. Coulton has the court vision and decision making to make the right reads from the top of the key or off the dribble drive. He will be a valued new piece for the Eagles of Immanuel, who is looking to get the program back to where it was in the 2010s.   23 (13) Keon Hill |6'3| GW (Hoover)   Hill is coming off a solid junior season for the Patriots, as he would be one of the team's leading scorers at 12 points per game, despite a tough season for Hoover, who moved up into the top tier of the CMAC League. Hill slides in at #23 on this updated list, moving out of the top 20. Hill has a strong handle on the ball, has the physical build and moves to create off the dribble, attack the basket, and finish through contact at the rim. Hill can space the floor with the 3-ball, is a good positional rebounder, has active hands and quick feet to stay in front of perimeter defenders, and creates turnovers to get out in the open court. Hill gets good lift on the mid-range jumper, excels in the open court and will be relied upon to help lead the team in scoring, as well as impacting the defensive end.   24 (17) Keshawn Black |6'4| WF (Bakersfield)   Black made his debut in these player rankings in the last round of updating, and moves down seven spots in this updated list at #24. Black provided key interior play last season for the Drillers, and was often tasked with defending the opposition's bigs that had the height advantage, and he was up to the task most of the time. Black averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game his junior season and showed improved perimeter play this June with the Drillers at the Fresno State team camp, North Bakersfield's summer league, and at the California Scholastic Live tournament to close out the month. Black uses his wingspan and strong build to control the glass, has enough handle to push the ball, has improved moves to create off the perimeter and attack the basket, and is able to finish through contact around the cup. Black has nice touch around the basket, is effective with the mid-range jumper, alters shots around the rim, and has good court vision to make reads from the high-post to cutting teammates. Black will be key for the Drillers this season, who are looking to give Bakersfield Christian a run for the SWVL title.    25 (11) Aidan Beechler |6'2| CG (Clovis East)   Beechler has moved out of the top 20 and comes in at #25 for this updated list of player rankings. The reason for the significant drop is based on two factors: Beechler suffered a season ending knee injury during league play this past season, which took him out of play for the Spring and Summer; and secondly, from what I have been told by the family, he will not play this coming season to fully recover for post-high school play. Given the amount of play missed since last season, with the predictions of not playing this coming season, I felt it best to move him down in this updated list and if is able to return and play, that would likely lead to his ranking going back up. Beechler has a strong handle on the ball, the moves to create his own shots off the dribble, strong build to finish through contact down the lane, and has a smooth stroke on the jumper with range on the 3-ball. Beechler can play on or off the ball, as well as quality on-ball defense. Clovis East will have a lot of spots to fill this coming season, and no Beechler will only compound on that problem, as Lydell Farmer has transferred to Phoenix Prep, younger brother Tristan Beechler has transferred to Lincoln of Stockton, and Asher Thompson will either transfer or not play for the Timberwolves. Beechler will likely go the JUCO route after high school, as he will have limited exposure since midway through his junior season.   26 (23) Jensen Hirschkorn |6'8| WF (Kingsburg)   Moving down three spots and coming in at #26 in this updated list is the baseball phenom, Jensen Hirschkorn. Hirschkorn had a standout junior season, as he averaged 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game, and was named Defensive Player of the Year for the Tri-County - Kings Canyon League. He provided the interior presence on both ends that helped the Vikings make a run to the D3 Section semifinals. Given his season averages and production, it may seem to low of a ranking, but Jensen has been on the diamond since the end of the season, with the Vikings baseball team that lost in the D2 Title Game to Ridgeview, and then he was off playing in various camps, all-star games, and travel ball. Given that Hirschkorn has not seen any regulation basketball game action since late February, I moved him down a few spots. Hirschkorn controls the glass, is a high impact rim protector, makes good reads with court vision and precision from the top of the key, and the ability to connect on the perimeter shot with accuracy from the mid-range to the 3-point line. He has good touch around the basket and will be a focal point in the paint on both ends this coming season, which I have been told he will play. As mentioned above, he is a high-level D1 prospect with the potential to be drafted after his senior season, as a 6'8 pitcher that has been lights out the past 6 months or so, and I was not sure he would play his senior season if the focus was solely on baseball. Hoping he does play, because he is a D2 prospect with limited time to work on development over the past 3 years, and would help Kingsburg in a major way.    27 (27) Myron Pondexter-Johnson |6'3| WG (Clovis West)   Pondexter-Johnson holds steady at the #27 spot in this updated list, and showed flashes over the Summer of taking over some of the defensive and athletic aspects of the game that were placed on the shoulders of Fresno State incoming freshman DJ Stickman. Pondexter averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds a game this past season, but I anticipate that those numbers will increase in the upcoming season, which he displayed the ability to do over the month of June with the Golden Eagles at the Fresno State Team Camp, its own event, and at California Live at the end of June. Pondexter is a great athlete with bounce to be a good positional rebounder, shot blocker on the perimeter, the footwork and active hands to poke the ball out from his opponent, and excels in the open court with stylish dunks in transition. He moves well off the ball on back cuts for lobs, is creative on finishes at the basket, and has improved his efficiency from the 3-point line off the catch. Pondexter's senior and 4-year varsity play will be needed this coming season for the young but talented Golden Eagles.    28 (26) Peyton Powell |6'1| CG (Justin Garza)   Powell had a productive junior season, averaging 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists per game to help the Guardians to a co-NYL Title, which has landed him at the #28 spot in this updated list. I first saw Powell last year at our 4th Annual Junior/Senior Showcase in Bakersfield, CA, and he displayed impressive two-way guard play, which translated to his level of play during the season. Powell continued to show his ability to impact various facets of the game during the month of June, where I was able to see the Guardians at the Clovis North Nike Shootout. Powell has good handles, the moves to create off the dribble and get into the paint, and has the court vision to find open teammates, or score with creativity around the basket. He is able to space the floor with the 3-ball, has active hands on defense to rip the ball and create turnovers, is a good positional rebounder, and likes to push the pace of play with good control while weaving through the defense. Powell, and rising sophomore Josiah Wilson, will be the catalysts for Garza this coming season, as it is poised to make a run at another NYL title.   29 (31) Micah Fox |6'5| WF (Lemoore)   Moving into the top 30 for this round of player rankings for the rising senior class, and coming in at #29 is Micah Fox. Fox put up great numbers last season for the Tigers, as he would lead the team in points, rebounds, and blocks per game, with 16, 9, and 2 respectively. Fox has good length and size to be a quality rim protector and interior presence on the defensive end, crashes the boards with enough handle to push the ball, has active hands to deflect passes that lead to turnovers, makes good reads in the open court, and can space the floor with the 3-ball off the dribble or the catch. Fox is another intriguing hidden gems in the Section that contributes to the game in various ways and will likely lead Lemoore in various statistical categories this coming season.    30 (25) Derek Jimenez |5'11| (Centennial)   Rounding out the top 30 and moving down a few spots is lead guard, and multiple sport athlete, Derek Jimenez. Jimenez was named Rookie of the Year in the SYRL his freshman year, and last year made the move from Liberty to Centennial of Bakersfield. Centennial was one team that did not play during the June period, as a lot of its core roster are football guys, so their play was limited as a team. Jimenez played with a local club team from Bakersfield, but I was not in attendance at any of the events they played in over the Spring and Summer. Jimenez keeps the ball on a string to survey the floor, can catch fire from beyond the arc, off the dribble or the catch, and makes good reads to find open teammates. He is a tenacious defender, has active hands and quick lateral movement to be a tough on-ball defender, and likes to push the tempo in the open court. Jimenez averaged 9 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals per game this past season, and will likely be called upon to up his scoring and play making, as the G-Hawks graduated their top two scorers from last season, both guards. Jimenez recently received an offer from Carleton College for football.

This is the 5th version of these player rankings for the Class of 2026, which have previously been featured on the Nothing But Net Magazine website. I have updated this list to include the Spring and Summer club sessions, and the Scholastic Live Periods of June. I have expanded this list from 55 to 60 players from around the Central Section. This list of players was compiled using my own evaluations, along with feedback from knowledgeable media, coaches, and other relevant basketball personnel from the Section, to make up the top 60 rising senior prospects for this updated round of player rankings for the 2026 Class. However, the order of players on this list is my own. I will update these rankings by the end of the calendar year and expand the number of players if needed. This list takes into consideration two key factors in determining where players are ranked, and will be the same criteria used each time this list is updated. The criteria for these rankings are as follows: current skill level and production on the court, as well as future projection at the collegiate level. Below is the next 10 players of these players rankings, #21 through #30, and will be followed by players ranked #31-#40 layers. In this article, you will find the following information: current rank, their previous rank in parentheses, the player's name, height, player position, and current school of attendance. We begin this updated list with the sharp shooter from St. Joseph, Gunner Morinini.