Top Stock Risers from 2026 Rankings Update

The 2026 rankings update saw a handful of players make leaps up our rankings after strong performances in the fall and during preseason scrimmage action. In this article, we'll take a look at six players who rose up the rankings during this latest update.    Mattucci has had a busy fall attending various fall leagues, showcases and other events to show how competitive he is as a player. With such a thin margin between players around this range in our rankings, it didn't take a lot for us to bump Mattucci up a few spots. Impressive performances at early season scrimmages suggest that Mattucci will be one of the top players in Ohio and New Albany should contend for a state title this winter.     One of the more natural wing athletes in Ohio, Prince combines positional size, fluid athleticism and perimeter shot-making ability. Holding a couple MAC offers on the gridiron, Prince has opted to focus on basketball for his recruitment, and he has some upside on both ends of the court. Akron STVM will always play in marquee events around Ohio and that'll give Prince plenty of opportunities to impress college coaches this winter. Expect to hear buzz around Prince this winter as one of the top unsigned seniors in northeast Ohio.     I'm not sure there's a team in Ohio I've seen play more than Princeton in June and fall scrimmages. It seems like every event I'm at, the Vikings are competing against some of the top teams in the Midwest. That's given me plenty of opportunities to see one of the top shooters in the state make shots on any type of rim or court setup possible. With the ultra-green light and a lightning quick release, Santiago Lugo is a guard you have to swarm when he catches the ball. I've liked some of the decision making and passing he's recently shown me when he's been ran off the line by the defense and becoming more than just a specialist will help him get early minutes at the college level.     I'm pretty high on Saint Edward this winter as their 2026 class has a nice core of seniors who have varsity experience and offensive talent. You expect winning in the Eagles program and while they haven't had the Division I talent the past few years that they've been known for the past two decades, this is still a program consistently producing college talent that comes in ready to contribute. You'll never be disappointed with how prepared a Saint Edward grad is to adjust to the college game and Knox's flashes combined with his athleticism make him a player I've slowly started to move up our rankings as he shows traits I want to bet on down the road.     Canton McKinley made the top 10 of our Division I preseason rankings and their athleticism and senior class is a key reason why. Chavers has the physical tools to be an impact defender at the next level and has some loud highlights on that end of the court. A tough wing who usually comes up with more than his fair share of loose balls and creating extra possessions, Chavers threw down some monster windmill and putback slam dunks this fall during various scrimmages. Expect Chavers to go viral for a couple plays by the time the season ends.     Another northeast Ohio prospect trending in the right direction, Owens had strong performances for Euclid after their team brought in a handful of transfers to help compliment him. Owens shows spot-up shooting, the ability to attack a closeout and fluid movement ability for a prospect of his height. That combination of skills usually ends up figuring things out in the long run. Getting more marquee games with the new look Panthers coached by Quentin Rogers will only push Owens harder and allow him more opportunities to be seen.

The 2026 rankings update saw a handful of players make leaps up our rankings after strong performances in the fall and during preseason scrimmage action. In this article, we'll take a look at six players who rose up the rankings during this latest update.