Stock Risers: 2026 Bigs/Forwards

Talented centers and wings that can do it all are more valuable and rarer than ever these days. Below, you'll find a handful of players that will deliver just that for any squad they're on.    Gilbert is a strong, powerful forward who can fly. You give him open space and he'll wow the crowd, throwing down windmill dunks and punishing the rim. When he's not jamming it home, you can find him on the block using his elite footwork to work his way out of double-teams and past his defenders toward the basket. He's got impressive length that he uses on defense to disrupt his opponent - altering shots to make them more difficult and blocking attempts with authority. He's big enough and solid enough to throw himself into the lane and live with the outcome, but he's patient and he thinks it through with the way he moves his feet and handles the ball - creating the best path for himself to the bucket. Aluga thinks quickly when passing as well - rapidly identifying and willingly capitalizing on any situation where a teammate has a great look. Gilbert's going to keep growing, getting stronger, and getting even better. He's set to turn a lot of heads this upcoming season.     Jariyis is an excellent two-way forward and an absolute menace on defense. He has a keen ability to get to the ball without fouling and create steal after steal when he's on the floor. He's long and fast, so he will get hands in his man's face every possession and send their attempts flying across the court or back into the stands. His anticipation is off the charts - he seems to know not just his man's next step, but their next two or three and he stays in front of them the whole time. He's skilled at fighting through picks and not giving up his assignments. Williams makes a huge impact on the offensive side of the ball as well. He's fantastic at using his hesitation and stutter step to quickly survey the floor and create space for himself for an high-percentage jump shot or an open lane to burst through on his way to a bucket in the paint. He's a solid shooter from mid-range and behind the arc and his game is incredibly well-rounded. Williams is going to garner plenty of attention this season and I'm thrilled to see it.     Austin is a skilled, lengthy forward that can hurt his opponents in so many different ways. He handles the ball like a guard and creates space for himself in an instant. He has a beautiful jump shot with nice form and rotation paired with impressive range that extends well beyond the arc. His footwork is impressive and he's smart with the way he moves and cuts without the ball, setting himself up with only the best looks at the rim. He's often bigger than his defenders and he can shoot up and over them with ease. He has the driving ability to make sure they don't play him too close and that opens up his options offensively. Most opponents will get out of the way if they catch him in open space on the break because he will take every opportunity to dunk all over you. Brown is excellent under pressure. He's not afraid of the moment or the limelight and he seems to crave the ball in those situations. Austin is already fielding multiple offers, but I expect those only to increase as he continues to impress with his stellar play.     Jordan is a long, athletic power forward with a huge wing span that makes positive impact plays all over the floor. He eats boards routinely on both ends of the court and often gets his team second and third-chance opportunities with his length and determination. He always stays ready in the paint and he's got a great bounce for creating high quality put-back attempts. His opponents better have a game-plan if they see him lurking in the key because he will send their shots to MARS. He's one of the fiercest shot blockers I've seen in recent memory - annihilating his opponents' attempts so substantially that it gets folks out of their seats. He runs the floor efficiently with his guards and not many players get by Jordan with success - he's so long that even if they beat him off the dribble, he extends and blocks their shot anyway. Bolos is going to make significant noise this season and I can't wait to see it.     Tyreus is a smart, skilled forward that constantly makes good decisions in the paint. His passing ability is off the charts and he has the vision to consistently find his teammates and set them up for success. He's extremely active on the glass and he's got a Euro step that's nearly unstoppable on the drive. He's excellent at weaving in and out of traffic and quickly identifying the best opportunities for himself and his teammates. I'm not in the huddle myself, but Wright comes off as the type of player who elevates others on his squad before worrying about his own stats or achievements. That's not a common quality and it's huge for a coach trying to create a cohesive team and playing environment. I love Wright's patience on his drives - he waits for the defender to bite on his pump fakes or for them to take the slightest misstep, then he attacks and capitalizes with straight buckets. Tyreus will only continue to get better with the work he puts in and he's a must-see if you get the opportunity.

Talented centers and wings that can do it all are more valuable and rarer than ever these days. Below, you'll find a handful of players that will deliver just that for any squad they're on.