Post-grad candidates in the class of 2026

Doing a post-grad year has become an incredibly common pathway for players who are trying to play college hoops at any level. Often times, players will complete four years at their hometown public school before doing an additional year at a prep school, allowing them to get stronger and have an extra developmental year.   Below are some public school players in the class of 2026 who prep schools should be targeting.    Maxwell is a 1,000 point scorer and reigning South Shore League All-Star from Abington High School, but he has made even more improvements to his game this summer. The 6-foot-4 wing has been dominating the AAU scene with Dana Barros; as the star of their team, he has put up some insane numbers and is in relentless attack mode all game. He should be one of the better players in the MIAA and will almost certainly pull his Abington squad to a solid record. Furthermore, prep schools should be all over Maxwell, who could benefit from an extra year of development in terms of his decision making and shooting ability.     There's a very solid chance Rodrigues is the most physically imposing player in the entire MIAA. in a game against BABC about a month ago, the 6-foot-4 wing completely dominated a bunch of D1 prospects with his strength, athleticism and toughness. He's able to attack the boards on both ends and defend virtually anybody (both on the perimeter and in the paint), but he also has some wiggle to his offensive game and is a phenomenal above the rim finisher. His shot from the outside is coming along, too. He should be a star at Attleboro this season and would benefit a lot from an extra year to develop his shot and guard skills.     Cote is a prime post-grad candidate. The 6-foot guard missed the entire 2024 season due to an injury, and he's finally getting back into the swing of things this fall. The southpaw has a beautiful shot from both the mid range and three, and he has a knack for getting to his spots on the floor and using pivot moves and up fakes to get his shot off — think Jalen Brunson. He should be an MIAA star for Wareham High School this year, and being that he's coming off of a serious injury, another year of development and exposure would probably be very helpful for his recruitment and college career.     Klass comes off a Northeastern Conference player of the year run in 2024, and he's back for more with Beverly this year. The 6-foot-1 lefty might be the most exciting scorer in the MIAA and truly doesn't have an offensive weakness. He has an excellent handle and can glide to the rim with his lightning quick first step, but he also has good footwork, balance, and shooting form, which allows him to make shots from both the mid range and three. Klass also has really solid passing vision and can make reads in a variety of situations on the ball. He could be the best player in the MIAA this season and would probably be an excellent prep player, especially if he were able to lean into more of his playmaking ability.     Lopez comes off a big time season for Central Catholic in which he earned player of the year and Dream Team honors. The 6-foot-2 guard has one of the smoother pull-up jumpers in the MIAA and can hit it from both the mid range and three. He uses his positional size and above average hops to elevate above the defense, and he has a pretty-looking shot that he consistently knocks down. Lopez also passes the ball well when the defense collapses on him in the paint, and he's a really solid individual and team defender when he sets his mind to it. Lopez will already be getting tons of D3 looks at CC, but perhaps another year at a prep school could earn him some scholarship opportunities.

Doing a post-grad year has become an incredibly common pathway for players who are trying to play college hoops at any level. Often times, players will complete four years at their hometown public school before doing an additional year at a prep school, allowing them to get stronger and have an extra developmental year.