Top Class of 2026 Small Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='1943896' first='Nickalai' last='Anderson']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Late December, we updated the 2026 player rankings. In this feature, the second of the positional breakdown series, the focus is small forwards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"77247","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69506d12d2f06"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior poised to play small forward at some college level generally need to be able to guard two maybe three different positions. Because colleges switch so frequently, an ideal small forward must be quick enough to deter a speedy guard and strong enough to avoid post punishment. It is rare that any high school senior possesses both of those physical traits. A few in our senior class do.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tier One</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While two Tier One small forwards (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1277259' first='Cam' last='Swearengen']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2083148' first='Axton' last='Perry']</strong>) signed to Division 1 programs in November five will ultimately play at the D1 level, including State Champion <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1943896' first='Nickalai' last='Anderson']</strong> (Providence Christian Academy).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High-flying lefty Nickalai signed to D2 Lenoir-Rhyne University and possesses the height and agility to someday leap to D1, if he chooses to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two of the best prospects in the entire class, regardless of position (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1760996' first='Fred' last='Smith Jr'].</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1659513' first='Christopher' last='Washington Jr.']</strong>), remain uncommitted. Both will have a D1 option or several. Washington Jr. initially verbally committed to University of Alabama but did not sign and is now uncommitted.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tier Two</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A few high-ceiling dudes populate Tier Two. <strong>Keeper Jackson</strong> continues to tantalize onlookers with his pro-ready body and yet the skills and development lag behind making the promise far, far from grasp.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Charlie Taubenheim</strong>, <strong>Louis Taylor</strong>, and <strong>Abe Reinbold</strong> are becoming increasingly comfortable attacking from the outside with both Taylor and Reinbold largely unfamiliar with defending the arc. Reinbold projects as a college "3" and Taylor must morph into a small college 3/4, at minimum. White House asks Taylor to essentially grow roots under the basket on defense, and it inhibits his development somewhat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"[Abe Reinbold] was raw defensively and he has played in the post," said McMinn County Head Coach Jay Johnson via phone call mid-December. "He is still learning, but his progress is coming along with close outs and turning and running. Him being in a gap is a lot easier than for a small guard. His size gives people problems even if they get a step on him because he can 'wall up' and make it hard for them to shoot over him."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tier Three</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tier Three extends down to 122nd ranked <strong>Tahj Davie</strong>. These six guys could wind up at Division II, Division III, NAIA, or junior college. It is a mixed bag of varying skills though the tier does not vary in size. Kipras stands 6-foot-5 like Tahj Davie and <strong>Joshua Sain</strong>, <strong>Amaury St. Ann</strong>, <strong>Kamden Hines </strong>are all 6-foot-4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sain is an adept scorer</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tier Four</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Potential Mr. Basketball <strong>Cayman Camfield </strong>(Wayne County) impressed at the Lighthouse Classic in Corinth, Mississippi late November. His position after high school is a bit inconclusive because he does a bit of everything offensively and the team asks him to defend like a center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lipscomb Academy forward <strong>Nash Stark</strong> is enjoying the team's remarkable 16-game winning streak to open 2025-2026. Like Camfield, Stark can handle and pass like a wing though stands tall enough to defend forwards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->