Taking a Look at the Class of 2026’s Wings and Forwards
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The other day, we took a look at what the class of 2027 was up to in the first month of their high school careers. Today, we’re doing the same for the class of 2026. We’ll talk about wings and…
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Continue ReadingThe other day, we took a look at what the class of 2027 was up to in the first month of their high school careers. Today, we’re doing the same for the class of 2026. We’ll talk about wings and forwards first, then close with guards.
Adaline Sheplee Adaline Sheplee 6'2" | CG Rice Lake | 2026 State WI
Although a slight injury kept her out of the game, I went to see Rice Lake play, and she looked sub-100% in the game against Eau Claire Memorial. This season has been good for her. She’s looked more aggressive than she had a season ago and plays faster than most of the teams the Warriors had played, and she excelled. Sheplee has attacked the rim at will, and her ability to finish at the basket is how she changed games.
Leah Nordin Leah Nordin 6'1" | PF Shawano | 2026 State WI
The Shawano native has been the focal point for the Hawks since she stepped on campus two years ago, and she’s been the force for some excellent wins. Last year, they were the only team to beat West De Pere in the Bay Conference, and they did it on the road. In that game, Nordin was everywhere. Her length and ability to defend all five positions on the floor make her stand out as one of the top kids in her class. She’s dangerous enough offensively to score 25 plus on any night.
Rachael Chilicki Rachael Chilicki 6'3" | C Mukwonago | 2026 State WI
Post players are different from guards and wings in that everything they do relies on their teammates getting them the ball. Chilicki makes that part of her teammates’ lives easy. She does excellent work without the ball to get good position and give her teammates a large window to put the ball. She’s one of the best in the state, sealing kids in the post. She’s also skilled enough to finish with either hand around the basket, which most kids her age can’t do. She’ll be one of the most frustrating matchups for other teams in the Classic Eight.
Taylor Gifford Taylor Gifford 6'0" | PF Waukesha West | 2026 State WI
The 2023-24 season brought plenty of opportunity, and Gifford’s done well with a more prominent role. From the one game on stream and another I’ve seen in person, she’s shot the ball better from the three-point line and has zero hesitation in getting her shots off, and they’ve been falling at a much better rate than they did a season ago. The Wolverines have had a little bumpy stretch over the past week with Jordan Fenske Jordan Fenske 5'11" | SG Waukesha West | 2025 State WI out with an injury, but whenever she gets back, she’ll have another kid who can shoot it by her side, and the Wolverines will be able to hurt teams from the three-point line.
Libby Gilmore Libby Gilmore 5'9" | SG Arrowhead | 2026 State WI
It’s easy to look past Libby Gilmore Libby Gilmore 5'9" | SG Arrowhead | 2026 State WI if you’re box score watching or believe that Natalie Kussow Natalie Kussow 5'10" | SG Arrowhead | 2026 State WI is the only kid from Arrowhead that can hurt you. I feel that Gilmore is the piece that makes everything around her work. She’s the kid who sits down and defends the other team’s best player without fouling, dives after loose balls, crashes the boards, flies up and down the floor in transition, and is an outstanding secondary creator. She’s a tough kid who’s been improving on the offensive end constantly over the past year and could be a swing piece in Arrowhead’s season ending with a gold ball or not.