Preseason Watch List: More 2026 Names To Know

With fall preseason action now in the rearview, the focus has fully turned to the fast-approaching high school season. As teams gear up in the coming week and a full winter of basketball looms, it's time to spotlight several prospects who should be on everyone's radar—whether they're chasing a breakout moment or looking to elevate their stock in the months ahead.    An intriguing addition to College Achieve's new look frontcourt, [player_tooltip player_id='1581755' first='Al'Tariq' last='Reevey'] is as dominant a paint presence as there is in the state of New Jersey. His imposing size and length, combined with his athleticism and fluidity, make him a clear force on both ends of the floor. Reevey also excels as a defensive anchor—regularly altering or blocking shot attempts at the rim and attacking the glass to secure rebounds. Reevey also thrives off high activity play, particularly as a rim runner in transition and off second chance opportunities. Offensively, Reevey has proven to be effective in the low post— frequently catching the ball on the block, making a strong move, and finishing through contact around the basket.     Expected to be a productive and reliable piece in the backcourt for Rutgers Prep this season, [player_tooltip player_id='2505096' first='Nick' last='Nsenkyrie'] provides a strong offensive spark— showcasing his finishing ability both as a downhill driver in the half court and in transition all while also being a reliable spot up shooter from three point distance. Defensively, he's capable of delivering several standout moments, some that may alter the course of a game— applying constant ball pressure, containing drives, and consistently positioning himself to force turnovers—regularly turning defense into easy offense.     A strong bodied scoring guard who invites contact and thrives at attacking driving lanes, [player_tooltip player_id='2342644' first='Justin' last='Hunt'] is a habitual paint toucher who finds any way possible to put pressure on the rim. Hunt does most of his damage by playing off bumps and utilizing good footwork to finish strong at the basket or getting to the free throw line, and even utilizing different types of soft touch floaters. Hunt's also proven to be a diverse scoring threat— knocking down catch and shoot threes, scoring from the mid-post, and even showing flashes creating opportunities off the dribble in isolation scenarios. As Hunt embarks on his senior season, look for him to also flash his passing ability with a few instinctual passes he made on the ball.     [player_tooltip player_id='2628203' first='Jeffery' last='Weinberger'] consistently stands out as a key connective piece for Northern Highlands, both on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. An excellent threat off the ball, Weinberger consistently knocks down catch and shoot threes while also displaying strong finishing ability when attacking closeouts and navigating traffic in the lane. Weinberger's also an impressive defender— pressuring the ball the length of the floor, competing with a high motor, wearing down opposing guards, and making their lives difficult over the course of a game.     A dependable and diverse shot maker, [player_tooltip player_id='2505361' first='Sidd' last='Narayanabhatla'] has proven that he can score from both three point range as well as in the mid range area. Capable of initiating offense and being a reliable decision maker, Narayanabhatla can handle the basketball with poise and confidence, consistently making sound decisions as a primary handler. Narayanabhatla also uses his strong frame to finish effectively around the rim when he gets into the paint.     As one of the state's more under the radar prospects and coming off as impressive a spring and summer as anybody in the area, [player_tooltip player_id='2421359' first='Isaac' last='Shrager'] will look to build upon his consistent and efficient scoring performances from this past AAU season and carry that momentum into his senior year. Shrager is capable of routinely breaking down defenders off the bounce to finish creatively around the rim all while also demonstrating his versatility as a shot maker from beyond the arc and getting to his spots off the bounce, particularly in the mid range area with comfortability.     A point guard who routinely stands out as a keen offensive initiator and a steady and efficient scoring threat, [player_tooltip player_id='1411649' first='Tobe' last='Nwobu'] will look to continue to showcase much of those abilities over the course of his senior season. Nwobu operates effectively as a floor general as he consistently organizes the offense and makes quick and instinctive decisions. As a scorer, Nwobu often times uses his sharp change of pace to penetrate the lane and finish with a variety of floaters and layups, while also proving to be a dependable spot-up shooter from the perimeter.

With fall preseason action now in the rearview, the focus has fully turned to the fast-approaching high school season. As teams gear up in the coming week and a full winter of basketball looms, it's time to spotlight several prospects who should be on everyone's radar—whether they're chasing a breakout moment or looking to elevate their stock in the months ahead.