2026’s to Watch This Summer

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A list of some of the best 2026 players who performed well during their freshman year and have already showed out this summer. These players have high ceilings and are definite players to watch throughout the next three years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["243908"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Hayes is one of the top guards in the 2026 class and has been for the past couple years. She can score in multiple ways whether its knocking down open threes, attacking downhill, or pulling up when she cannot get all the way to the rim. She plays with confidence and is productive on both ends of the floor. She is likely to draw attention from college coaches this summer.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["470462"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":554944,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"O'Brien is a gritty, young guard. She has nice handles, attacking downhill using either hand. She looks to get her teammates involved whether that's setting off ball screens, dropping off dimes, or communicating with others defensively. In her first year competing at the high school level, O'Brien placed 7th at state for cross country and that endurance truly translates on the court. Her energy is always high, she is typically the first player back on defense, sprints hard in transition, and makes forceful cuts.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["470464"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":667832,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Hall is a guard who truly brings the energy. Whether she's on the floor or on the bench she makes her presence known. She finishes well at the rim and can handle contact. She has developed a nice mid range jumper and has had steady development in her game, giving her a high ceiling. Defensively, her natural athleticism provides her with the ability to anticipate and adjust which are much needed in this fast paced game.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["470393"],"_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":"Standing at 6'2, Garilus is the top ranked post player in the class of 2026 and a force to be reckoned with in the paint. She is hard to move once she gains position and finishes strong through contact. Defensively, she is a shot changer and makes her presence known. She has had an impressive start to her AAU season and will continue to gain recognition as she grows her game.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["216440"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Merrell is someone we've been following for a while but has gained a lot of attention playing with FGB. The 6'0 guard uses her size to finish strong at the rim as well as shooting over smaller guards. She has a high skill set and IQ, that combined with her size makes her tough to guard. On the defensive end, her length and height make her a shot changer. She is one that college coaches should definitely be watching this summer.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='751628' first='Chamiah' last='Francis'] ","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Booker T Washington High School","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"Miami Suns","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Francis has had a very productive spring and has proved to be one of the biggest stock risers in the 2026 class. Standing at 6'3 the forward's back to the basket game is hard to guard but she can also knock down the three. She rebounds on both ends of the floor and defensively disrupts the other team. I look forward to seeing her compete in July.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6477f6fb6196d"} /-->