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Top new forwards from 2026 rankings update part 2

Top new forwards from 2026 rankings update part 2
Michael Roth
Michael Roth November 28, 2025 @ 10:35 AM
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In this article:

John Veith
John Veith 6'5" | C | 2026
OH
Payne DeGray
Payne DeGray 6'5" | C | 2026
OH
Jalen Gum
Jalen Gum 6'6" | C | 2026
OH
Ethan Wright
Ethan Wright 6'5" | PF | 2026
OH
Brayden Holt
Brayden Holt 6'0" | PG | 2026
OH
<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our 2026 rankings update saw 30+ players make their debut in our rankings, in this article we'll break down four more forwards who made their debut this week in our rankings. This is our last article about the 2026 rankings update, we'll have a 2027 update very soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2878324"],"_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-692792e1017a5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cincinnati St Xavier is always a senior led team and this year will be no different for the Bombers as Veith is a perfect example of a prospect who waited his turn to contribute. Veith has a strong frame, is patient when he catches the ball in the paint and rebounds at a high level. He fits the deliberate style St Xavier wants to play and has a football state semifinal to try and win tonight Vs Middletown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2204928"],"_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-692792e101844"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wright won team defensive MVP for Dublin Jerome last season and he provides value as a guy who takes charges, helps as a rim protector and rebounds the basketball. Those skills also earned him honorable mention all OCC last season and Dublin Jerome returns enough production to have their best season since 2022-23 when they were led by a special senior class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2703767"],"_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-692792e1018d4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Warrensville Heights is a team I expect to contend for a Division IV state title because of their depth and athleticism, Gum checks both of those boxes. A physical forward who rebounds, runs the court and provides good size on the interior. Warrensville Heights plays a high pressure defense and when they get beat, it's important they have a guy like Gum to protect the rim. I expect Warrensville Heights to make a lot of noise this season and they have a highly anticipated contest against Spire early in December.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2800788"],"_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-692792e10194b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Colonel Crawford is one of our highest ranked small town teams in the state of Ohio and after winning a region last season, they return both DeGray and star senior [player_tooltip player_id='1943739' first='Brayden' last='Holt']. DeGray is the second player in this article with a football state semifinal to win tonight as Colonel Crawford takes on state powerhouse Kirtland. DeGray holds a handful of football offers as a defensive linemen but he could also play small college basketball due to his high motor, interior finishing ability and strength.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->

Our 2026 rankings update saw 30+ players make their debut in our rankings, in this article we'll break down four more forwards who made their debut this week in our rankings. This is our last article about the 2026 rankings update, we'll have a 2027 update very soon.

John Veith

John Veith

OH
C
HEIGHT 6'5"
POS C
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
John
Veith C
Class
2026
Height
6'5"
HS
St. Xavier
|
OH
Top new forwards from 2026 rankings update part 2
Cincinnati St Xavier is always a senior led team and this year will be no different for the...
Written by Michael Roth
Read more at PrepHoops.com
Prep Hoops

John Veith

State: Ohio
School: St. Xavier
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Ethan Wright

Ethan Wright

OH
PF
HEIGHT 6'5"
POS PF
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Ethan
Wright PF
Class
2026
Height
6'5"
HS
Dublin Jerome
|
OH
Top new forwards from 2026 rankings update part 2
Wright won team defensive MVP for Dublin Jerome last season and he provides value as a guy who...
Written by Michael Roth
Read more at PrepHoops.com
Prep Hoops

Ethan Wright

Instagram Twitter
State: Ohio
School: Dublin Jerome
Club: Midwest Basketball Club Grassroots
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Jalen Gum

Jalen Gum

OH
C
HEIGHT 6'6"
POS C
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Jalen
Gum C
Class
2026
Height
6'6"
HS
Warrensville Heights
|
OH
Top new forwards from 2026 rankings update part 2
Warrensville Heights is a team I expect to contend for a Division IV state title because of their...
Written by Michael Roth
Read more at PrepHoops.com
Prep Hoops

Jalen Gum

State: Ohio
School: Warrensville Heights
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Payne DeGray

Payne DeGray

OH
C
HEIGHT 6'5"
POS C
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Payne
DeGray C
Class
2026
Height
6'5"
HS
Colonel Crawford
|
OH
Top new forwards from 2026 rankings update part 2
Colonel Crawford is one of our highest ranked small town teams in the state of Ohio and after...
Written by Michael Roth
Read more at PrepHoops.com
Prep Hoops

Payne DeGray

State: Ohio
School: Colonel Crawford
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

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Rankings

336 Players Ranked

  • 1
    Anthony Thompson

    Anthony Thompson

    Western Reserve Academy

    Ohio State
  • 2
    Alex Constanza

    Alex Constanza

    Spire Institute

    Georgetown (DC)
  • 3
    Tarris Bouie

    Tarris Bouie

    Spire Institute

    Alabama
  • 4
    Marcus Johnson

    Marcus Johnson

    Garfield Heights

    South Carolina
  • 5
    Aiden Derkack

    Aiden Derkack

    Spire Institute

    Providence (RI)
View Full Rankings

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