2026 Player Rankings Update: In Simplest Terms
In this article:
There are a handful of different ways that an evaluator can describe the play-style of certain types of players. In this article, we will be covering five prospects, phrasing their play-style in the simplest terms possible to begin each paragraph.…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThere are a handful of different ways that an evaluator can describe the play-style of certain types of players. In this article, we will be covering five prospects, phrasing their play-style in the simplest terms possible to begin each paragraph. Keeping it straight to the point, plain and simple.
Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!
A playmaker with the basketball in her hands. Alyvia McCorkle Alyvia McCorkle 5’8″ | PG Bettendorf | 2026 State IA is the definition of a play maker on the hardwood and that has been obvious to anyone paying attention for a few years now. I’ve had the chance to watch McCorkle compete a handful of times on both the high school floor and on the AAU floor. In each contest, she was a vital piece, if not the difference maker for her team. Her ability to swiftly attack her defender off of the dribble, while being able to score from all three levels or distribute at a high rate is impressive for her age. When it comes to defense. She is physical. You can tell that she is used to playing through contact with her demeanor but that is also something she needs to watch out for. Refs in different states or in different areas around a state, call things differently. Some let you play through things, others don’t. If McCorkle can figure out what they are calling early on in a contest and she can adapt to it, it only makes her game stronger. As for players with a bright future, who will be competing with a Power 5 basketball program one day, McCorkle is one to know out of this Class.
Highlights
The next “X” factor out of Johnston. The Johnston Dragons are a top ranking team in the country at this point and I don’t see them losing any time soon this season, if at all. Their roster is made up of personal that will basically all have a chance to play at the next level, if they aren’t committed already. One of their players that isn’t committed yet but starts for them at the guard position is Jaliyah Kinnetz-Jenkins Jaliyah Kinnetz-Jenkins 5’9″ | PG Johnston | 2026 State IA and I think she is going to be the reason this team wins down the road. After this Senior group graduates, they are going to need a natural PG and Kinnetz could be that. It is going to be an interesting debate as to where she will be on the floor with the Phillips sisters but I’m sure they will make it work. Kinnetz skill is undeniable and it has to be if she is starting for a group like this. As long as she can continue to make her presence felt moving into the future, she will be running the show for the Dragons down the line some form.
The best passer in the state that you haven’t seen yet. I’m confident in saying that I have not seen a better passer at the high school level throughout Iowa than Malaina Hackley Malaina Hackley 4’9″ | PG Roosevelt | 2026 State IA and she isn’t even on a varsity roster yet. Hackley is the definition of a pass-first PG. She has a powerful handle with the ball on a string helping her create off of the dribble and she is selfless enough with great vision to always find an open teammate. When you watch Hackley play, it stands out to you that she isn’t the tallest player on the floor but I actually think it helps her. She has the ability to make bounce passes across the court that I’ve only seen at the collegiate level because of her knowledge and the coordination needed to make it work. I’m not sure if we will see Hackley with a varsity jersey on to start their Playoff run in a few weeks but we should. She is certainly good enough.
Highlights
Will always produce when it matters the most. Tessa Driscoll Tessa Driscoll 5’8″ | SG City High | 2026 State IA and the Iowa City Little Hawks have had their up’s and downs this season but they are looking at the positives and trying to fix their mistakes moving forward. Driscoll isn’t her teams first option but she is a viable one. When the Little Hawks offense breaks down, Discoll is a consistent producer of making something out of nothing. Offensively, she is a SG that can let it go from deep with some space or she can attack the open area’s in the offense. Defensively, she has long arms and good movement from side-to-side. She doesn’t get beat too often but when she does, she is very good at making up space and recovering back to her opponent. Even though it is a long ways away, Driscoll should be the #1 offensive option for this team come next season. If she continues to work hard in the off-season and expand her game, she is going to be the face of the Little Hawks for the next few years to come.
Possesses all the intangibles, knowledge, and skill to be a memorable collegiate player in the future. On a Liberty team that has some hoopers, Kennedy Goodheart could turn out to be the best. Somethings in life you can’t teach to a certain extent. For example, someone’s natural ability to be able to understand live situations during a game and knowing what they should do in those situations. This example perfectly explains Goodheart’s game. She may not be the one to kill you with a flashy move but she is definitely going to kill you with fundamentals when she figures out your weakness. She understands herself, her role, and everything else in-between. While being a Sophomore in high school, there are only certain Division’s at the collegiate level that can contact her right now as it pertains to recruitment. I’m sure that once this season comes to a close and AAU ball starts back up, she is going to be receiving a lot of interest from every division. Prior to this high school season, I heard that a few prestigious Universities reached out in attempts to get her on campus in the near future. I’m not sure how that will all play out but if she is continues to work on the right things, she is going to continue to shine.