Top Class of 2026 Centers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2886050' first='Aliyu' last='Idris']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Late December, we updated the 2026 player rankings. In this feature, the first of the positional breakdown series, the focus is centers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"77243","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-694efc4a19d69"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2631817' first='Lawson' last='Lee']</strong> (Battle Ground Academy) remains the only signee of the center group and fortunately for college recruiters out there the Class of 2026 is loaded with high-end talent. Specifically. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2886050' first='Aliyu' last='Idris']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2139567' first='Avery' last='Coles']</strong>,<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1570497' first='D'Nharayane' last='Vital']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2352126' first='Austin' last='Tinnon']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2973722' first='Stefan' last='Radivojevic']</strong> all will contribute ASAP for college programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With upstart basketball academy Tennessee Collegiate Academy (TCA) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1570497' first='D'Nharayane' last='Vital']</strong> is averaging 4.5 points per game with 5.5 rebounds per game and importantly 1.4 blocks per game in longer games than TSSAA play. He came from Louisiana's St. Catholic and actually held the #4 overall ranking for PrepHoops Louisiana as late as this past summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1570497' first='D'Nharayane' last='Vital']&nbsp;was the talk of the JSE Coaches Event and he did not disappoint showing off an impressive 6'11 and 240 pound frame. Vital is a traditional big and his NBA comparable would be Rudy Gobert. Vital is a quick jumper that runs the floor well and thrives in pick and roll situations. He is a servant big and does not look to score unless required, but when he has his eyes on the goal, he can finish. He is easily the biggest player in the state, and on the EYBL Circuit he was still a giant among the top players in the nation. He is a top player in the state because he has locked in on the basics and fundamentals and built his body. He will play college basketball in the future. He has interest from UNC, and Wake Forest and picked up plenty of offers in the state as well. - <a href="https://prephoops.com/author/donald-w-tatumgmail-com/">Donald Tatum</a> July 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two days before Christmas Tullahoma star center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2352126' first='Austin' last='Tinnon'] </strong>earned a Tennessee Valley Community Christian College offer. He was integral to Tullahoma's 2025 Runner-Up finish in 3A. Austin is a mobile center with better than average footwork and range out to 15'-18'. He rarely travels despite catching both with and without his back to the basket. Tinnon's GPA is well over 4.0 on the weighted scale.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2139567' first='Avery' last='Coles'] </strong>passed 1,000 career points two weeks ago and helped his White House Heritage squad escape November and half of December without a single blemish on their record. This past summer Coles grew to the mythical height of 7-feet tall. His college recruitment continues as it has since a year ago though no commitment is imminent. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No senior center in Tennessee is more powerful than <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2886050' first='Aliyu' last='Idris']</strong> who roams the lane for Whitehaven High Head Coach Willie Kemp.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Committed</strong></span><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2631817' first='Lawson' last='Lee'] (Samford University)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->