WAC 2026s Debuting in the Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players from all corners of the state were included in the release of the initial class of 2026 rankings. Below is a look at players from the Western Activities Conference who debuted on the list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='544017' first='Shamari' last='Lewis'], 6'1", PF, Liberal - Lewis might be the rawest yet talented player on the list. She has terrific size, length, and athleticism. Lewis is also fast, a good scorer around the hoop, and a good but potentially great rebounder. She needs skill development in many facets but with work she could be among the best power forwards in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":625572,"width":106,"height":116,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/03/Kierrah-KJ-Pinchon-2026-Garden-City.jpg?w=425" alt="" class="wp-image-625572" width="106" height="116" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Garden City 2026 Kierrah "KJ" Pinchon. Photo: Robert Kelly</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='544023' first='Kierrah' last='Pinchon'], 5'11", PF, Garden City - Another power forward with the potential to be one of the best in the state is Pinchon. Long with a solid build and good hops Pinchon has the handles to help bring the ball up the floor against full court pressure. She also has one of the best turnaround jumpers in the state. Her rebounding and low post game need sharpened. Improvement in the rebounding game starts with when she starts boxing out. I would like to see, on both ends, boxing in anticipation of a shot to make it harder for teams to take her out of the game on the glass. Pinchon is a very capable scorer around the hoop out of her block game. But to get more opportunities she needs to get better at laying some wood on the defender and using her hands to call for the ball where she wants to catch it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='544029' first='Alexiz' last='Villegas'], 5'4", SG, Garden City - Villegas has the potential to be a very strong perimeter shooter. She runs well, has good shot selection and handles, and is a feisty defender. With the graduation of Rogers State College bound point guard, and four-year starter, [player_tooltip player_id='127283' first='Amaya' last='Gallegos'] she will be among those counted upon next season to create shots for herself and her teammates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='606255' first='Zoe' last='Winter'], 5'11", PF, Hays - My introduction to Winter amounted to the last couple of minutes of a blow-out loss to McPherson. But in that short span I saw why, offensively, she had been getting a fair amount of varsity court time in prior games backing up bigs [player_tooltip player_id='459216' first='Katie' last='Linenberger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='265123' first='Jillyan' last='Sheldon']. Winter showed athleticism, transition speed, and some hops. Aggressive and quick around the basket, she may be the purest scorer of the trio. There is plenty more that I look forward to seeing but what I saw showed she could be a real problem for opponents going forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->