2026 WATCH LIST-New Additions
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I added 10 to the Watch List, ALL IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, and some of the TOP players I have seen so far, I will rank them after the CLUB and INDIVIDUAL SHOWCASES over the next few weeks New subscribers use simmiecolson30 to…
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Continue ReadingI added 10 to the Watch List, ALL IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, and some of the TOP players I have seen so far, I will rank them after the CLUB and INDIVIDUAL SHOWCASES over the next few weeks New subscribers use simmiecolson30 to see even MORE
I often get asked “why certain players aren’t listed” and it’s self-explanatory if you pay attention, I HAVE TO SEE YOU PERSONALLY, and although I may catch a player early who will be ranked high early, WATCH how the LIST changes as I catch more faces
Last but not least, and this is not just for the novices but the know-it-alls that don’t know anything, the ONLY number you need to worry about is the number of COLLEGES offering you a chance to play for them
Madison Carlton Madison Carlton 6'2" | PF Seven Lakes | 2026 State TX 6’3 PF (Seven Lakes)
Carlton is “long and athletic” with some impressive timing. Her lateral movement on defense immediately caught my eye at the Peggy Whitley Classic yet she showed me even more at the Texas Invitational as she teamed up with her sister Justice Carlton Justice Carlton 6'1" | PF Seven Lakes | 2024 State TX , the top player in Texas 2024 class. What’s even better is that she’s nowhere near where she’s going to be
Ambrosia Cole Ambrosia Cole 5'5" | CG Lubbock Monterrey | 2026 State TX 5’5 CG (Lubbock Monterey)
Cole is COLD is what I said after seeing her at the Southwest MS Showcase a while back but watching her via LIVESTREAM with her high school squad, which also has the top 2025 player in Texas, Aaliyah Chavez Aaliyah Chavez 5'9" | PG Monterey | 2025 State TX , I was even more impressed with Cole’s ability to score in the flow, as well as her “poise under pressure” and speaking of pressure, she brings the heat on the defensive end
Jevan Collier Jevan Collier 5'11" | PF Frisco Memorial | 2026 State TX 5’10 PF (Lebanon Trail)
Collier was impressive at the Spring Creek Mansfield Invitational for a number of reasons. I enjoyed her maneuvering around the basket, nice hands, and footwork, coupled with her frame yet she also showed she could score off the dribble. She understands positioning, does a good job rebounding, on both ends, and runs the floor
Aubrey Hampton Aubrey Hampton 6'2" | C Cy Creek | 2026 State TX 6’2 C (Cy Creek)
Hampton showed out in a variety of ways at the Katy Classic, again size coupled with “hands and footwork” is going to be an issue for defenders, it’s a science, just not rocket science. I also enjoyed her power inside the paint, she finished strongly, at times with players literally hanging on her back, and with either hand
Ari Johnson Ari Johnson 6'3" | PF Lubbock Monterrey | 2026 State TX 6’3 PF (Lubbock Monterey)
Johnson, as well as Ambrosia Cole Ambrosia Cole 5'5" | CG Lubbock Monterrey | 2026 State TX , was caught by me accidentally as I was trying to catch Aaliyah Chavez Aaliyah Chavez 5'9" | PG Monterey | 2025 State TX via LIVESTREAM. To say I’m glad I checked in would be an understatement and I mentioned “scary upside” and trust me, that is not an UNDERSTATEMENT. She’s long and athletic, almost ultra-athletic, and watching her soar over defenders to score and come out of nowhere to block shots will create nightmares
Kobe Johnson Kobe Johnson 5'11" | SF North Shore | 2026 State TX 5’11 SF (North Shore)
Johnson showed me enough during the club season and just missed the first group, she wasn’t upset yet her 10-year-old brother was and he made a good case, especially since she has elevated her game as she elevates on her jumper, shot-blocking, and rebounding. I have written about her several times over the high school season, here’s something from the Peggy Whitley Classic
Gianna Jordan Gianna Jordan 5'8" | CG Southlake Carroll | 2026 State TX 5’7 CG (Southlake Carroll)
Jordan and her sister Natalia, below, both showed me enough at the Southwest Showcase, an Individual showcase for high school players, so again, place yourself in a position to be seen by me, I don’t copy anyone, whether their star is red, white, or BLUE. She sets the defender up so smoothly and gets them off balance to attack with either hand and finish with either hand is nice, well so is her mid to long-range
Natalia Jordan Natalia Jordan 5'7" | CG Southlake Carroll | 2026 State TX 5’7 CG (Southlake Carroll)
Jordan has been showing me bits and pieces over the years but her Southwest Showcase performance gave me a glimpse of what’s coming. I enjoyed her creating her shot under pressure and her deceptive first step combined with her body control gave me some acrobatic finishes. She also “thinks the game” and positioning as she outrebounded taller players, as well as defended strongly
Aubrey McClain Aubrey McClain 5'7" | CG Amarillo Palo Duro | 2026 State TX 5’7 CG (Amarillo Palo Doro)
McClain was one of the new faces I caught at the Sandra Meadows Classic and I mentioned her being long and athletic, yes that is the base and it works with whatever your height may be. She can explode off the dribble, she has good court vision and she handles the ball well under pressure. Her on-the-ball defense was pretty strong as well
Fre Vowels Fre Vowels 5'7" | CG Bishop Lynch | 2026 State TX 5’5 CG (Bishop Lynch)
Vowels left me somewhat speechless in the few minutes I caught her squad, it doesn’t take me long and A-E-I-O-YOU were impressive is what I tweeted, well sort of but sometimes WHY I miss certain players falls into so many reasons, but the main thing is she helped her team get the W at the Sandra Meadows Classic