Central Cali’s Class of 2026 Final Player Rankings (21-30)

This is the 6th and final version of the Class of 2026 Player Rankings, which all but the last round can be found at the Nothing But Net Magazine website. I have updated this list to include the 2025-2026 high school basketball season and postseason. I have expanded this list from 60 to 65 players from around the Central Section. This list of players was compiled using my own evaluations, along with feedback from knowledgeable media, coaches, and other relevant basketball personnel from the Section, to make up the top 65 senior prospects for this updated round of player rankings for the 2026 Class. However, the order of players on this list is my own. This list takes into consideration two key factors in determining where players are ranked, and will be the same criteria used each time this list is updated. The criteria for these rankings are as follows: current skill level and production on the court, as well as future projection at the collegiate level. The depth of this class combined with the impact many have had since their freshman year, has led to some impressive statistics and numbers that set some on track to achieve key milestones and even school records. Below are the next 10 players of these players rankings, #21-30, and will be followed by #31-40. In this article, you will find the following information: current rank, their previous rank in parentheses, the player's name, height, player position, current school attending, and college commitment if it applies. We begin this final list with a look at #21, Keyvon Burcher.   21 (31) Keyvon Burcher |5'10| McLane-Fresno   Burcher jumps into the top 30 and comes in at #21 in this final round of player rankings. Burcher has been a staple in the McLane program the past two to three years and was a key factor in the individual and team success he had as a senior. Burcher would lead McLane to a second place finish in the NYL, earned 1st-Team All-NYL, averaged 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals per game, led his team to its first Section title in decades, and was the D4 Section title game's Most Outstanding Player with 21 points. Burcher has a strong handle on the ball, keeps the ball on a string to survey the court, stays on attack mode with use of the crossover, between-cross, toss-cross, and hesitation moves to get his defender off balance, a great burst of speed off the bounce to get by his initial defender, and has the physical build and athleticism to score through traffic and contact at the basket. Burcher has a smooth mid-range jumper off the dribble, moves well off the ball to get open looks off the catch, has the court vision to find open teammates off the drive and kick pass, and is a high-level on-ball defense with active hands to rip the ball from his opponent, and the timing to jump passing lanes and get out in the open court, where he excels in transition. No decision on what he will do next year, but is playing with Fresno-based Goat Hoops 17u squad as an unsigned senior.    22 (NR) Des Patton |5'9| Buchanan-Clovis    Patton is coming off a huge senior season of play, and makes his debut in the final round of the 2026 player rankings, dropping in at #22. Patton was the driving force for the Bears this season and really stepped up his play in TRAC League games, leading Buchanan to the outright TRAC champions and #2 seed in the D1 Section playoffs. Patton would earn the TRAC MVP all to himself, averaged 7.5 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2.5 steals per game to show off his all-around impact on both ends of the court at the guard position, and had some monster games in the regular season, as well as in the first few rounds of the D1 Section playoffs. Patton has elite handles, keeps the ball on a string to survey the defense, has the court vision and decision making to find the open teammate off the drive and kick pass, or out of the pick and roll action, uses the crossover, between-cross, hesitation, and spin-move to create space from his defender, has a great burst of speed off the dribble, and the body control and creativity scoring the ball amongst size in the paint. Patton has good lateral foot-speed, active hands to poke the ball out, and the timing to jump passing lanes and get out in the open court. Great control of the pace of play and leaves it all on the court. Not sure what his plans are for next year, but could be a solid option at the lead guard spot for one of the smaller JUCOs in California.   23 (26) Noah Coulton |6'1| Hoover-Fresno   Coulton moves up three spots in this final round of player rankings and comes in at #23. Coulton was a core part of the Fresno Christian team that won the D4 Section title game last year and made it to the D4 State title game, but decided to transfer out, along with a few other players, and ended up at Hoover of Fresno. After being sidelined due to the CIF mandated 30-day sit-out period, Coulton joined the roster and Hoover made a turn for the better, winning the CMAC 2 League title (co-champs with Garza), and made a run to the D2 Section semifinals, falling to Atascadero. Coulton added the scoring and all-around skill-set to give the Pats the boost it needed and the composure at the lead guard spot it was lacking prior to him joining the roster, with averages of 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and two steals per game. Coulton has solid handles, keeps the ball on a string to survey the floor, has great court vision to find players cutting off the ball or out of the pick and roll, uses the crossover, behind-cross, hesitation, and between-cross to get his defender off balance, moves well off the ball to get open looks off the catch, with accuracy from beyond the arc, and is a savvy perimeter defender with active hands to poke the ball out or the instincts to jump the passing lanes, turning defense to offense.    24 (33) Jaiden Anderson |6'3| Buchanan-Clovis   Anderson had a strong senior campaign and played a crucial role for the Bears, which is the key reason I moved him into the top 30, where he lands at #24 in this updated final list. Anderson's versatility on both sides of the ball made him an invaluable asset for Buchanan, as he could play on the front-line with his athleticism and physical build, or on the perimeter if the team went bigger, having the skill-set to operate off the wing. Anderson averaged 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, was named runner-up Player of the Game in the D1 Section title game, and earned 2nd-Team All-TRAC honors. Anderson has enough handles and moves to create off the wing, gets good lift on the jumper, with accuracy from the mid-range to the 3-point line, crashes the boards with relentless energy, can wall up against bigger defenders or switch off on smaller players, with the foot-speed and agility to stay in front of perimeter players, and excels in the open court. Not sure if he will play football or basketball at the next level, but a player I felt was just scratching the surface of his potential in basketball.   25 (22) Keon Hill |6'3| Hoover-Fresno   Hill rounds out the top 15, moving down 3 spots and coming in at #25 in this final round of player rankings. Hill finishes up an impressive 4-year varsity career, helping the Pats win the CMAC 2 League title, making the semifinals of the D2 Section playoffs, and leading the team in scoring at 14 points per game, to go along with 4 rebounds and 2 steals per game. Hill is an athletic and skilled wing/slasher that can spread the floor with the 3-ball, off the bounce or the catch, has the handles and the moves to create his own shots off the dribble, using the crossover, between-cross, hesitation, and toss-cross to get by his defender, and is a creative scorer at the basket, with the Euro-step and reverse lay-ups in his bag. Hill is active on the glass, can push the ball up the court, and runs the floor well, as he is hard to defend in transition.    26 (27) Myron Pondexter-Johnson |6'4| Central East-Fresno   Pondexter-Johnson moves up one spot in this final list of player rankings for the 2026 class, and drops in at #26. Pondexter-Johnson was at Clovis West for his junior season, but returned to Central East for his senior season, where he had been his first two years of high school. Pondexter-Johnson had a solid year, despite the down season for the Bengals, who were in the D2 Section title game the previous year and lost in double-overtime. Pondexter-Johnson has solid handles, shifty moves to create off the bounce, is an elite athlete/slasher that can take flight en route to the basket, and can space the floor with the 3-ball off the catch to open up driving lanes. Solid on-ball defender with a long wingspan, active hands, and foot-speed to stay in front of his opponent and disrupt his dribbling space, and looks to turn defense to offense, where he excels in transition. There is still so much potential in his game and if he gets to the right program that will develop him up, he could be a player to keep an eye on in the next few years.   27 (23) Keshawn Black |6'4| Bakersfield (Bakersfield College)   Black moves down four spots and ends at #27 in this final list of player rankings. Black had a solid season for the Drillers, earning 2nd-Team All-SYVL honors while putting up good numbers that highlight his all-around impact on the game, with 8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. Black is active on the glass, has good touch on put-backs off the glass, has enough handle to push the ball off the defensive rebound, has the court vision to find open players from the top of the key, or from the low-block to players cutting off the ball, and can spread the floor with the jumper, from the mid-range to the 3-point line. Black does the little things that don't show up on the stat-sheet, diving on the ground, tying up the opposing player after the rebound, and being able to defend in the post or on the wing.    28 (15) Devin Gaines |6'6| Buchanan-Clovis   Gaines moves out of the top 20 and ends up at #28 in this final round of player rankings. Gaines was another player that was part of the Fresno Christian D4 Section title and run to the D4 State title game, but decided to transfer to Buchanan for his senior season, and played a key role for the Bears winning the TRAC and making it back to the D1 Section title game. Gaines did not put up gaudy numbers, but gave the Bears the ability to mix-up the line-ups and adapt to their opponents weaknesses and take advantage when necessary. In the second league game against Clovis North this past season, Harris was in foul trouble and Gaines was inserted, and his length was still a problem for the Broncos, but the Bears were able to run the floor faster with Gaines at the 5 spot. Gaines is active on the boards, alters shots in the paint, as well as having the strides to close out on perimeter shooters, and can space the floor with the jumper from the mid-range to the 3-point line off the catch.    29 (NR) Samuel Catalina |6'5| Porterville   Catalina makes his debut in this final round of 2026 player rankings and comes in at #29. Catalina provided the interior punch needed by the Panthers this season, to go with its quality guard play, and he was integral in Porterville winning the EYL Championship. Catalina had a great season individually as well, earning 1st-Team Al-EYL honors, averaging 11.5 points and 10 rebounds per game, an impressive double-double, and from my understanding, was not available in the playoffs, which would have been a huge loss and explains why the Panthers were knocked out of the D2 Section playoffs in the first round despite the #5 seed. Catalina uses his length and wingspan to alter/block shots in the paint, has the strides and agility to close out on perimeter shooters, is active on the glass, giving his team second chance scoring opportunities, while limiting the opponents to single shot possessions. Catalina has nice touch around the basket, uses the baby hook to score in the paint, and is effective with the face-up jumper from the mid-to-high post. Catalina runs the floor well in the open court and should be a player that can impact the game at the next level.    30 (28) Peyton Powell |6'1| Justin Garza-Fresno   Rounding out the Top 30 and moving down a few spots is Peyton Powell. Powell has been one of the staples of the Garza program the past few years, and he made the most of his senior season, earning 1st-Team All-CMAC 2 League honors, and averaging 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, showcasing his impact on various aspects of the game. Powell was key in helping Garza win the CMAC 2 title, shared with Hoover, and making it to the D3 Section semifinals, before falling to CVC. Powell is a swiz army knife on the court, as he plays with relentless energy, can handle the ball and control the pace of play, crashes the boards to be a good positional rebounder, and gets into the paint routinely, where he is able to score through contact on shots around the basket. Powell is effective with the jumper, can connect on the 3-ball off the catch, and is a tenacious perimeter defender.

This is the 6th and final version of the Class of 2026 Player Rankings, which all but the last round can be found at the Nothing But Net Magazine website. I have updated this list to include the 2025-2026 high school basketball season and postseason. I have expanded this list from 60 to 65 players from around the Central Section. This list of players was compiled using my own evaluations, along with feedback from knowledgeable media, coaches, and other relevant basketball personnel from the Section, to make up the top 65 senior prospects for this updated round of player rankings for the 2026 Class. However, the order of players on this list is my own. This list takes into consideration two key factors in determining where players are ranked, and will be the same criteria used each time this list is updated. The criteria for these rankings are as follows: current skill level and production on the court, as well as future projection at the collegiate level. The depth of this class combined with the impact many have had since their freshman year, has led to some impressive statistics and numbers that set some on track to achieve key milestones and even school records. Below are the next 10 players of these players rankings, #21-30, and will be followed by #31-40. In this article, you will find the following information: current rank, their previous rank in parentheses, the player's name, height, player position, current school attending, and college commitment if it applies. We begin this final list with a look at #21, Keyvon Burcher.