2026 WATCH LIST- Forwards and Centers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is NOT a ranking, please absorb what I am saying. It is a WATCH LIST and I have chosen 25 of the TOP players I have seen multiple times this season. I don't care what anyone else says, writes, or thinks, I have been doing this long enough to know that people see things differently, which is apparent by these fictitious numbers associated with players nationally. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't like rankings yet it is a necessary evil and many have ulterior motives when doing them, I don't and one more time, the ONLY number any player needs to worry about is the NUMBER of college coaches offering them a chance to play at the next level, so here you go</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='510461' first='Jacy' last='Abii']-6'1 SF (Texas U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abii made one of the biggest jumps this season in her class and to be honest if I was attaching a number, she would be at the top right now. She's a national player, a #BCS lock that was always good yet has taken her game to another level. The hands and footwork, the spinning around the basket, the midrange jumper, and the OMG rebounding on both ends are just on a different level</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='510464' first='Amari' last='Byles']-6'2 SF (Team Lex) Desoto</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Byles is "long and athletic" remember that's the base and she too is a #BCS lock, well she has several on the table so throw away the key. Her timing has always been impressive as she effortlessly blocks, alters, and deflects yet when you throw in her UPS as she elevates over defenders to score around the basket. She's versatile enough to snag rebounds and handle the ball coast to coast to score or dish</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='510468' first='Taylor' last='Hicks']-6'0 SF (Competitive Edge)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hicks can take licks galore and watching her score with players literally hanging on her body has become something of a normal thing for me to see. Her relentlessness on the boards, she goes after everything on both ends, and she battles for loose balls on the floor. I really love the intensity she brings on the defensive end, in the paint, or on the ball, she is going to apply heat </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486452' first='Kinley' last='Lewis']-5'11 SF (Lady Jets) Denison</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Denison gave me a different look at the PGH Texas Freshman gig a few weeks ago, which is why it's important to place yourself in front of someone who knows and has NO AGENDA. Yeah, I knew she was good yet her ability to dominate, on both ends of the court, is scary, for whoever is going against her. She scores off the dribble, with the pull-up as well as the putbacks, yes she rebounds on both ends and her shot blocking is next level ready now</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486454' first='Pressley' last='Powell']-5'10 SF (Texas U) Frisco Memorial</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Powell makes jumps every season. I think I first caught her 4 years ago and saw the potential yet I love progression and I'm like that other SC up north, I see everything and know who has been working on their game. Her mental toughness is what initially grabbed me at the PGH Freshman event, yet she's becoming a polished scorer around the basket, a tough rebounder and one of her biggest intangibles is being vocal on the court</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486413' first='Chanel' last='Shuler']-6'2 PF (Texas U) Prestonwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shuler is another player I caught around 4 years ago and I know she's putting in a lot of work because from where she was to where she is now, speaks volumes. Her size and frame are already next-level ready yet her UPSIDE is going to create some issues. I'm loving her powerful moves on the inside, well that and her fierce rebounding but she's running the floor on both ends, finishing stronger, and playing solid defense </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='510470' first='Averie' last='Steele']-6'2 C (Cy Ranch) Just Play Elite </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Steele was tagged "Woman Of Steele" by yours truly a couple of seasons ago and watching her turn into a legitimate dominant inside player has been a treat. She has the size, she has the body, she has the moves and athleticism and she has the DESIRE to continuously get better, case and point, she's attacking the rim with either hand from outside the paint and showing the midrange. She rebounds strongly and defends the same way </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/texas/rankings/texas-2026-watch-list/">2026 WATCH LIST </a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->