Top 2026 Players in the 6th Region

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class of 2025 is one of the most talented classes this state has seen, but the class following them is also full of talent. These 2026 players just began their freshman year of high school, but they will look to make an instant impact in the 6th Region by the time basketball season rolls around. Let's take a look at some of the top 2026 players to watch for this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62f68471efe7d","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Abby Reitzel","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mercy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Kentucky Premier 15U EYBL Head","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Reitzel is joining a very talented roster of players at Mercy, so it truly speaks to her talent when I say that she can be an instant impact player for the Jags this season. She is a high IQ player who is constantly putting in the work. Reitzel can get to the rim, shoot the 3, or she can score anywhere in between. However, she doesn't have to score to impact the game. She makes plays, consistently throws good passes, handles the ball with pressure, and defends. Most importantly, she works hard whenever she is on the floor. You don't have to question her effort and she is a perfect addition to Mercy's squad.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["376761"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Tinelli is an excellent floor general. For starters, she is a high IQ player who is very involved on both sides of the ball. Tinelli can get a bucket herself, but she makes great passes to create scoring opportunities for her teammates as well. She can score through her deep range, quick release outside shot or she can get into the paint and score through floaters, layups, and jump shots. She has great handles and she handles pressure really well. She's extremely quick and does a great job crashing the boards. Tinelli contributed on BE's state runner-up team last year and she should play an even bigger role for the team this year.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["376764"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"I'm sure I've written this before, but I was very surprised to learn Downey was a 2026 player after watching her play because her talent level was so high for her age. She is such a smart player and she can flat out score the ball. Downey has excellent court awareness and she does a great job moving without the ball. If you don't guard her once she passes half court, she can knock down 3's from long distance. Downey can even knock them down with a defender running at her and she also makes strong drives to the rim. She is a solid passer and she can handle the ball as well. Downey is poised to have a fantastic freshman season this year.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["376790"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Renee' is another freshman joining the talented Mercy group, and like Reitzel, she can instantly contribute to the team and their success. She is a 2-way player that always shows up ready to compete. Defensively, she is such an impressive on-ball defender. She can really apply a lot of pressure while staying in front of whoever she is guarding. Offensively, she can use her strength and skills to score at all 3 levels. Down low, she finishes well around the rim. Inside the perimeter, she can score through floaters or jumpers. And she can also shoot the 3. She should contribute valuable minutes on this Jags team.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-66101aa9d5ad7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The following players are only on the honorable mention list rather than listed above because I have not been able to personally watch them play. However, there are some additional 6th region players that I have heard good things about and who have potential to play a valuable role on their respective team's this season. Here are those players and some of the things I have heard about them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62f6a28befe83","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Riley Ring","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Whitefield Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Ring's HS coach, Coach Wathen, said Ring u0022can score from all 3 levels and is an active defenderu0022. The freshman post player has a high ceiling.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Leah Stinson","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Valley","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Averaged 16.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.3 SPG, and 3.1 APG last season as an 8th grader and was a 2nd Team All-Region player.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Alison Jarvi","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Mercy","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Has good length, can shoot the ball, makes good passes, and can handle it. Very versatile player.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["396410"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Strong post player who really works hard when she's on the floor. Nearly averaged a double-double for Seneca last season (10.9 PPG/7.9 RPG).","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-66101aa9d5b61"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->