2026 Watch List Names to Know I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we'll continue to take a look at prospects from our most recent rankings update, with an emphasis on those appearing on the <em>Watch List</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Why does a prospect appear on the <em>Watch List</em> and not in the rankings? Well, there are a couple of reasons that could happen, with the most common one being this - that our staff had the opportunity to view a prospect, but didn't feel that we had enough of an evaluation to properly rank them. Which, is a way of saying, that in most cases, plenty of the prospects on our <em>Watch List</em> are talented enough to appear in the rankings - we just didn't have the chance to see them play enough.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are five prospects of note from the <em>Watch List</em>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2875023"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c6dce11b9a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Saunders, a guard out of the <em>Taft School</em> in Connecticut, came into New England for a post-graduate year and will leave having proven himself to be one of the region's better perimeter shooters. The 6'2" guard knows how to use screens to get open, is in constant movement off the ball on the offensive end of the floor, and does a nice job of making reads with the ball in his hands. One of the reasons he's so effective as a shooter is that he's always shot ready on the catch, while also showing the ability to really elevate into his jumper. He's a high academic prospect that plays with a good basketball IQ on the defensive end of the floor. He remains undecided on a college destination.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2875557"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c6dce11ba0a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Guilbe, a wing out of the <em>Canterbury School</em> in Connecticut, impressed this winter with his defensive versatility and ability to make winning plays on both ends of the floor. The 6'4" wing has active hands as an on-ball defender, and also in passing lanes, allowing him to create plenty of deflections and steals. Offensively, he's an instinctive cutter that does a nice job of playing through contact as a finisher around the rim. He moves well without the basketball, doesn't turn it over often, and has the ability to knock down catch and shoot jumpers. He remains undecided on a college destination.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2568555"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c6dce11ba56"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Djian, a guard out of the <em>Newman School</em> in Massachusetts, has a versatile offensive game and the ability to play as a primary initiator or scorer. The 6'1" guard does a nice job of knocking down standstill threes off the catch and also shows patience with the ball in his hands as a decision maker. He doesn't force the issue, sees the floor well, and has the ability to get into the paint off the bounce. Defensively, he can guard either back-court spot and does so with a nice combination of positional size, strength, and mobility. He remains undecided on a college destination.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2465145"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c6dce11baa1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vonderheid, a guard out of <em>Kimball Union Academy</em> in New Hampshire, impressed in his post-graduate year in the NEPSAC. At 6'3", he has good size for the position, shows the ability to operate as a handler in ball screens, and is really good in catch and shoot situations, particularly as a spot up shooter in the corners. He has a little wiggle with the ball in his hands, plays with a quick first step, and does a nice job of finishing it in a variety of ways around the rim. Defensively, he sees plays before they develop, allowing him to jump passing lanes and create turnovers. He remains undecided on a college destination.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2553822"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c6dce11bae9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Givens, a guard out of <em>La Salle Academy</em> in Rhode Island, stands out as a two-way playmaker that can really heat opposing ball handlers up defensively. He has a strong, compact build that allows him to play physically on both ends of the floor. His strength, combined with quick foot speed, is an asset on the defensive end of the floor as he does a great job of guarding at the point of attack and staying in front of opposing ball-handlers. He's done a nice job of developing his perimeter jumper so that it's a consistent weapon and plays with good vision out of ball screens and in transition. He remains undecided on a college destination.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll continue our rankings coverage later this week with the look at more prospects from the <em>Watch List</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->