National Prep Championships: Junior (2026) shooters to watch

As is annual tradition, the top prep schools in the country will convene next week to crown an undisputed national champion as part of NERR's National Prep Championship. While post-grads tend to garner the bulk of the attention in the prep school landscape, a number of 2026 prospects figure to play a significant factor in determining the ultimate champion. Here we take a look at some of the top junior snipers to watch in West Hartford.    No one on this list plays a bigger role for their team than Te Ratana, who's frequently served as Darrow's leading scorer this year since coming stateside from his native New Zealand. With prototypical size for his position and a high release to boot, his fluid stroke should translate seamlessly to the next level with his ability to run off screens and fire on-balance from deep range. Te Ratana has an aggressive mindset, coming out firing but also showing real punch attacking closeouts with some athleticism as a finisher at the rim. He brings a tough-nosed mindset to the defensive end as well. Having performed and produced consistently while acclimating to the American game, Te Ratana figures to break out on the recruiting scene once coaches see him on the Adidas circuit this spring and summer.     While comparisons to NBA players can at times be counterproductive in evaluating high school prospects, it's hard not to see visions of DMV product Jordan Hawkins while watching Parlow fly around screens into picturesque jumpers from range. That's not to say this is a future lottery pick like Hawkins, but the skillset and athletic tools (not to mention an ironic physical resemblance) give Parlow an enticing foundation for a floor-spacer at the next level. His ability to shoot on the move while also being a threat to drive closeouts or finish athletically in transition makes for a translatable and efficient off-ball scoring package. We'll be eager to see if the Louisiana native has more ball skills lurking below the surface once we see him in a different context this grassroots season, but the D1 talent is obvious here.     A star of Newman's prep team last year, Geremia wasted no time getting going with the national team after coming off an ankle injury just before the new year. A pure sniper who shoots a gorgeous ball with deep range off the catch and comfort getting into his pullup, he's a consistent threat to change games in a moment's notice from beyond the arc. What sets Geremia apart though from more limited shooting specialists is the dynamic he brings as a secondary ballhandler and emergency PG, with a polished skill level and capable floor vision to make plays for others. His strength helps offset some athletic limitations as well, having Geremia looking like a prototypical fit for academic D1 leagues when the time comes.     Another newcomer to the region, O'Keefe has made an instant splash for Newman School (MA) since moving up from Tennessee. Much like his brother, now a freshman at Columbia, he makes his living from beyond the arc where he shoots a really pure ball with deep range off the catch. O'Keefe contributes nicely as a secondary ballhandler and playmaker as well, with an ability to play off ball screens and also use his strength to bully his way to the cup. With D1 bloodlines and a well-balanced skillset, O'Keefe looks bound to follow in the family footsteps as he continues building his resumé in the New England ranks.     While there's more to his bag that he shows in other settings, Harrington has carved out a key niche in the New Hampton rotation with his ability to space the floor. Always in the right spot to find open space and with the confidence to get shots up quickly in big moments, the Jersey native has been consistently efficient with his scoring while swinging games with his binges from beyond the arc. Not just a shooter, he's shown positive flashes as a scorer with a balanced skillset off the bounce, and as a playmaker with a high IQ for the moving parts of the floor. We'll have to see how he holds up defensively against D1 athletes in the backcourt, but his translatable skillset will attract coaches across the scholarship level over the coming year.

As is annual tradition, the top prep schools in the country will convene next week to crown an undisputed national champion as part of NERR's National Prep Championship. While post-grads tend to garner the bulk of the attention in the prep school landscape, a number of 2026 prospects figure to play a significant factor in determining the ultimate champion. Here we take a look at some of the top junior snipers to watch in West Hartford.