2026 Rankings Update: Risers With Even More Room to Grow

Updated 2026 rankings were released about a week ago, and there is a whole lot to debrief. Will Armishaw has already done a good amount of coverage, but I'll also be highlighting some additional players.   <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/01/icymi-2026-rankings-were-posted-this-week-23/">ICYMI: 2026 Rankings Were Posted This Week</a>   To start, let's look at some guys who rose in the rankings this time around but STILL have even more room to grow.    #106 --> #75 (+31)   Avery-Turner has been one of the biggest risers of this prep season. The 6-foot-4 guard doesn't have an offensive weakness and has really impressed with his three-level scoring ability. He has a beautiful-looking shot from three and the mid range, and he has a really strong body which he uses to bump defenders off of him on the way to the hoop for finishes. I'm also impressed with the senior's ability to find teammates and manipulate the defense with his head and eyes. Avery-Turner is a scholarship player who probably isn't getting the credit he deserves. A 31 point jump in the rankings is a start, but I bet he's still on the rise.     #160 --> #130 (+30)   Brown, another 6-foot-4 guard, is one of the better shooters in the entire NEPSAC. The lefty has a nice-looking stroke and is able to consistently hit shots while on the move or in catch and shoot situations. He's also a very solid cutter who understands how to space the floor, how to read screens, and how to always be ready on the catch. He also defends his position very well and is feisty. Why do I think Brown will continue to rise? He plays for a Cheshire squad that plays excellent offensive basketball, and he fits into everything they try to do. He knows his role, he excels in it, and he's only going to continue getting stronger and more athletic. Trinity is getting a steal.     #111 --> #41 (+70)   Crowdis has been one of the biggest risers of this prep season, but I still think he might be undervalued. The 6-foot-4 point guard has phenomenal size, length, and athleticism for his position, but he also has the skillset and IQ necessary to make every read a floor general needs to be able to make. Crowdis also gets solid elevation on his shot and is a knock down shooter from the mid range and perimeter, while also excelling as a finisher in the lane (especially when it comes to double-clutch layups). Crowdis strikes me as a scholarship player who's getting under recruited.     #168 --> #124 (+44)   Ames plays in northern Maine against iffy competition, but he puts up ridiculous numbers and passes the eye test with flying colors. The 6-foot-2 guard has absolutely no offensive weakness—he can pass, dribble, shoot, and finish—and he's willing to do all the little things his team needs him to do to win (like sprint the floor, rebound, defend, etc.) even though he's the star player and is also tasked with lots of offensive creation and scoring. Colby College got an ABSOLUTE steal, and my prediction is that he'll play a lot of minutes for them next season.     #233 --> #175 (+58)   Maiwen is an extremely intriguing prospect who has improved a ton recently but also has a lot more room for growth. The 6-foot-4 combo-guard has proven to be one of the top public school players in Maine. He has long arms and great size for his position, but he also has an advanced skill set; he can shoot it from the mid range and three, and he has a wiggle to his game that allows him to get into the paint and finish against bigs. He also defends his position effectively and is always playing hard. Most intriguing, though, is the fact that Maiwen looks like he has A LOT of room to grow physically, which could make him a big time college prospect in short order. He could totally be a late-blooming kid.     #221 --> #174 (+47)   As Brimmer and May has outperformed expectations this season, so has Palladino. The 6-foot-3 SG is a knock-down shooter and provides his squad with enough floor spacing and movement shooting to allow their star players to cook. I'm most intrigued by the improvements Palladino has made to his physicality and toughness, though. He has gotten a lot stronger as of late, and it's paying dividends for him defensively and on the glass. The senior has turned himself into a legitimate high level D3 prospect who can play both ends of the floor—props to him.

Updated 2026 rankings were released about a week ago, and there is a whole lot to debrief. Will Armishaw has already done a good amount of coverage, but I'll also be highlighting some additional players.