2026 Initial Rankings: The Storylines
The race for #1 is on Solid arguments could be made for any of the top four players in these initial rankings to grab the #1 spot. We gave the initial nod to Dubuque Senior big man Tevin Schultz Tevin…
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Continue ReadingThe race for #1 is on
Solid arguments could be made for any of the top four players in these initial rankings to grab the #1 spot. We gave the initial nod to Dubuque Senior big man Tevin Schultz Tevin Schultz 6'7" | PF Dubuque Senior | 2026 State IA , who is coming off a strong freshman season with the Rams, and is off to an excellent start with a loaded Martin Brothers team. Schultz is a 6-8/6-9 big man with outstanding footwork and touch on post touches, the ability to step out and stretch the floor, and he protects the paint on the defensive end. He’s the type of modern big man that college coaches will be all over if he continues to develop the way we think he will.
But Schultz is far from alone as modern bigs at the top of the class, with Evan Jacobson Evan Jacobson 6'7" | C Waukee | 2026 State IA of Waukee and William Gerdes William Gerdes 6'8" | PF Cedar Falls | 2026 State IA of Cedar Falls both possessing similar skill sets to Schultz on both ends of the floor. Schultz’s advanced footwork and touch on the block gives him a slight edge over those two at the start, but it should be a fun battle between these three as well as City High’s Samuel Mbingazo Samuel Mbingazo 6'10" | C Alemany | 2026 State CA-S to see who emerges as the best big in the class. Mbingazo is raw, but at 6-11 he also possesses fantastic size, length, and athleticism. If he develops, he could be the best of the bunch.
Other players who could enter consideration for the top spot down the line include Ballard point guard Jude Gibson Jude Gibson 6'0" | PG Ballard | 2026 State IA , a lightning-quick guard with a high IQ and the ability to control the game on both ends of the floor; Cedar Falls wing Leyton Wolf Leyton Wolf 6'7" | SG Cedar Falls | 2026 State IA , the younger brother of a pair of former Tiger standouts and a knockdown shooter with outstanding size and length on the wing; and Landon Davis Landon Davis 6'8" | PF Waukee Northwest | 2026 State IA , a 6-6/6-7 combo forward from Waukee Northwest who has put together a really good start to the spring with Martin Brothers.
All-Iowa Attack is back
After some down years in the program, All-Iowa Attack is back with a vengeance. Their 2026, 15U, team has gotten off to an incredible start to this spring season, and it’s evident why when putting together these initial rankings. Three players rank within the top 10 in the class in Jayden McGregory Jayden McGregory 6'1" | PG Valley | 2026 State IA (Des Moines North), Julian Manson Julian Manson 6'3" | SF Iowa City West | 2026 State IA (Iowa City West), and Jaidyn Coon Jaidyn Coon 6'6" | SF Storm Lake | 2026 State IA (Storm Lake), with two more, Tino Daye Jr Tino Daye Jr 6'0" | PG Johnston | 2026 State IA (Johnston) and Rio Aguirre Rio Aguirre 6'1" | PG Ankeny | 2026 State IA (Ankeny) just outside the top 10.
Return of the bigs?
As you see at the top of these rankings, there is size and length aplenty in the 2026 class. Even going beyond those top four, there is some great size throughout the rest of the class. The aforementioned Landon Davis Landon Davis 6'8" | PF Waukee Northwest | 2026 State IA , Storm Lake’s explosive athlete Jaidyn Coon Jaidyn Coon 6'6" | SF Storm Lake | 2026 State IA , Ames’ bouncy big Marach Dau Marach Dau 6'5" | C Ames | 2026 State IA , and a potential sleeper from Keokuk in Jaxon Clark Jaxon Clark 6'7" | C Keokuk | 2026 State IA . Clark is one of the more intriguing players in this class, a 6-7 big man with a big, physical frame and soft hands who came on late in his freshman season to provide the Chiefs with some dominant post play.
Be patient!
There are currently 100 players ranked, but if you don’t see your name on this initial rankings list, don’t fret! Over the course of your high school career, these rankings will expand to at least 250 players, and there is plenty of time to be seen and make your name known to us and everyone around the state. These rankings, especially this early on, are extremely fluid and there will be major movement with each update. There is no reason you can’t go from an unranked player to the top-ranked player in the class. Keep working hard, developing your game and body, and trust the process!