Rankings Release: The 2026 Small Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue our positional breakdowns for the <em>Class of 2026</em> with a look at the <em>Small Forwards</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top ranked <em>small forward</em> is <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2341304' first='Abdou' last='Toure']</em></strong> (<strong><em>#1</em></strong>). The top overall prospect in the region, Toure is an elite scorer of the basketball, capable of getting it done in the half-court and in transition, on the ball or off the ball, and at all three levels. On top of that, he's a gifted athlete and hard-nosed defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are five more <em>Small Forwards</em> of note from our rankings update:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2425649"],"_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-68b8e45accacc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kesse-Beda, <strong><em>#40</em></strong> overall and <strong><em>#11</em></strong> among the small forwards, has really developed his overall game over the last year. At 6'7" with plus length and good athleticism, he has the ability to make a two-way impact and does so with a high motor. He's a talented rebounder, is elite in the open floor, and has the ability to create his own shot off the bounce. Defensively, he can guard up and down a position, has the ability to make plays in passing lanes, and is really good at the top of a press. He's a definite scholarship prospect that should play at the Division I level when it's all said and done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>*After the release of this update, it was noted that Kesse-Beda will attend SoCal Academy this year.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2625766"],"_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-68b8e45accb26"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Geren, <strong><em>#62</em></strong> overall and <strong><em>#18</em></strong> among the small forwards, made a statement during the scholastic period, announcing his presence in the region for his post-graduate year. The 6'6" wing can really shoot it from behind the arc and does a great job of moving without the basketball to get open. He makes plays with a high basketball IQ, is a willing ball mover, and knows how to create space with the bounce to get his shot off. He's a good finisher in the paint, has touch in the mid-range, and is a high percentage shooter in catch and shoot situations. He's a high academic prospect that should draw plenty of attention from academics in the region this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1456843"],"_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-68b8e45accb6e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Evans, <strong><em>#102</em></strong> overall and <strong><em>#26</em></strong> among the small forwards, is a high level athlete that uses his athleticism to impact the game on both ends of the floor. A gifted defender, he makes plays on the ball and in passing lanes, using his quickness to his advantage to turn turnovers into transition offense. He's a grab and go rebounder that uses his length as a finisher around the rim and his quick burst to get by the intial defender in the half-court. He has some wiggle with the ball in his hands and some shot creation ability too. On top of that, he's done a nice job of developing his perimeter shooting over the last year. He's drawn interest at the scholarship level and has a chance to improve his stock further this season at <em>Northfield Mount Hermon</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2553805"],"_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-68b8e45accbb0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tarro, <strong><em>#134</em></strong> overall and <strong><em>#33</em></strong> among the small forwards, could the top prospect in the RIIL this winter. The 6'3" wing is a good athlete that knows how to put the ball in the basket. He knocks down shots in catch and shoot situations and does a great job of leveraging his shooting to open up driving lanes. He attacks the rim off drives, is a high IQ cutter off the ball, and can finish above the rim with his athleticism. Defensively, he does a nice job of guarding on the perimeter, using his lateral mobility to his advantage when defending the ball and, on top of that, is a high level rebounder. He'll be highly recruited in New England, particularly at the Division III level, but could intrigue scholarship level schools too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2896608"],"_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-68b8e45accbf1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Narasimhan, <strong><em>#218</em></strong> overall and <strong><em>#49</em></strong> among the small forwards, is a versatile wing that can really shoot the basketball. At 6'5", he has good size for the position and does a nice job of operating as a screener in ball screens or a movement guy in DHO actions. His ability to space the floor stands out, but he's also capable of making good decisions with the ball in his hands. Defensively, he's good in team concepts, knows where to be in rotations, and has the ability to rebound the ball in space and in traffic. He's a high academic prospect that should be a priority recruit for schools in the NEPSAC and NEWMAC this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keep an eye out later this week for more positional breakdowns for the <em>Class of 2026</em>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->