2026 Watchlist: A Deeper Dive (Part 1)
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In case you missed it, we released our initial 2026 watch list, a list of 50 players that will eventually expand to 250-300 over the course of their high school careers. This week, we’ll take a quick look at each…
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Continue ReadingIn case you missed it, we released our initial 2026 watch list, a list of 50 players that will eventually expand to 250-300 over the course of their high school careers. This week, we’ll take a quick look at each of the 50 players on this initial watch list, going through them alphabetically by last name. The initial 2026 rankings will be released sometime in the spring, after getting a chance to see more of these players in person on the grassroots circuit.
See the entire watchlist here: https://prephoops.com/iowa/rankings/iowa-2026-rankings/.
SG Brock Badding Brock Badding 6'1" | SG Kuemper Catholic | 2026 State IA (Kuemper Catholic)
Badding has stepped in and made an immediate impact on the Knights’ varsity roster, averaging 8.7 points a game off the bench while shooting 37.4% from behind the arc. A talented shooter off the catch who moves really well without the ball in his hands, he’s a threat to get scorching hot in a hurry, and as he continues to develop his ball-handling and all-around offensive game, he could turn into a deadly scoring threat like his older brother Parker was.
SG Nicolas Ballenger Nicolas Ballenger 6'0" | SG St. Albert | 2026 State IA (St. Albert)
Another talented off-ball scoring guard from the Hawkeye 10 Conference, the 5-11 Ballenger has provided a major perimeter scoring spark for the Falcons, averaging 11.8 points on 45-38 shooting splits. He has shown some secondary ball-handling and playmaking abilities, but is at his best right now when he’s looking to score.
SF Talan Becker Talan Becker 6'5" | SF Muscatine | 2026 State IA (Muscatine)
Becker hasn’t received many varsity minutes this year for the Muskies, but the 6-3 wing is a big part of the future for this group. He’s a good athlete who uses his physical frame to get to the rim.
PG Parker Berns Parker Berns 5'10" | PG Waterloo West | 2026 State IA (Waterloo West)
Berns, a 5-10 point guard, hasn’t gotten much varsity run this year for a good West team, but he has a lot of talent and should be a major contributor for the Wahawks for the next three years. He’s a floor general who sees the floor well and loves to get others involved.
PG Brady Boulton Brady Boulton 5'8" | PG Montezuma | 2026 State IA (Montezuma)
Boulton is small at 5-8, but has proven himself to be a dynamic three-level scorer already for the Braves, averaging a team-high 15.5 points a night. He shoots it well both off the dribble and the catch, uses his quickness and handle to get to the rim, and is a pest at the top of the Braves’ 2-3 zone with his speed.
SG Cameron Boyd Cameron Boyd 6'1" | SG Storm Lake | 2026 State IA (Storm Lake)
One of two Tornadoes in this batch, Boyd is leading Storm Lake is scoring (12.9 points) and assists (2.3) this season while shooting 42% from behind the arc. A versatile three-level scorer who can create his own shots, he gets his shot off quickly and has a ton of range.
PG Cameron Casel Cameron Casel 5'10" | PG Bellevue | 2026 State IA (Bellevue)
A quick, high IQ guard who has shown good ball-handling and court vision early in his varsity career, Casel has the reins of a high-powered Bellevue offense and has performed admirably, getting others involved and getting to the rim when the opportunities present themselves.
PF Ryan Clair Ryan Clair 6'4" | PF East Sac County | 2026 State IA (East Sac County)
Clair will likely be averaging a double-double next season, as the strong freshman is already putting up impressive numbers for the Raiders – 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds a game on 60.6% shooting. He has soft hands and good touch around the rim.
PG Noah Conley Noah Conley 5'11" | PG Heelan | 2026 State IA (Sioux City North)
A quick guard who is a big part of the Stars future, Conley has made a major impact on both ends of the floor for North as a freshman, averaging 10.1 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.9 steals a game. He can score from all three levels and he has quick hands and feet defensively.
PF Jaidyn Coon Jaidyn Coon 6'6" | SF Storm Lake | 2026 State IA (Storm Lake)
A powerful, athletic 6-4 power forward, Coon is averaging 12.5 points and 8.3 rebounds a game for the Tornadoes while shooting nearly 53% from the floor. He has great hands, good feet, and soft touch around the bucket, and has shown the ability to occasionally step out and knock down a jumper.