2026 Rankings Update: Biggest Movers Part One

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Senior class has been hit harder by transfers than any class that I can remember. here is still a lot of talent left in the class. Here's a look at some of the biggest movers in this update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1737528"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ab864868610"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Not many players in Kentucky have had a better summer than [player_tooltip player_id='1737528' first='Hayden' last='Shouse']. Hayden climbs from 30th to 11th in this update on the heels of earning D1 offers from UNC-Wilmington and EKU. Shouse has really good positional size and has some clear skill. He tends to have a really good motor too. He's worked hard to bulk up in the last 12-18 months also. He's built himself into a really good player over the course of his career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1543600"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ab864868674"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clark moved up from 31st to 22nd and looks like he could be the biggest beneficiary of players transferring from Male this fall. A do-it-all guard/wing from Louisville, Jaymes has been a really good role player over his career but is likely to have a bigger role for the Bulldogs this winter. With his ability to switch across multiple positions on defense, Clark has the skills to be a college role player from day one at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1955757"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ab8648686c2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of my favorite sleeper prospects in the state, Nate moves up from 55th to 32nd in this round of updates. He's likely to get significant playing time for a Douglass team that has plans to get to Rupp Arena in March. Coen is long and athletic with the ability to play above the rim consistently. Nate has also shown the ability to be a good rim protector on the defensive end and will be an even better prospect when he bulks up and gets better at absorbing contact around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2175419"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ab86486870c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A breakout prospect who had a big game at Rupp Arena in the state tournament, Kolton worked to impress plenty of college coaches this summer and should be in the mix to earn several offers this winter with a strong Senior year. Wuchterl has to continue to add bulk to his skinny frame but he can certainly be a really good D2/NAIA prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2497743"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ab864868784"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A player who really impressed me this summer, Smith rises from 205th to 49th in this round of rankings. One of Kentucky's top rebounders last season, Caiden has a nose for the ball and has shown a good offensive game, all the way around. I've seen the big man hit multiple open threes in games in addition to his skills around the rim. If I were a small school looking for an impactful big man, I'd make the trip to Nicholas County to see [player_tooltip player_id='2497743' first='Caiden' last='Smith'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->