Mid-Season Reflection: Pick and Pop – Six 2026’s Popping Now

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're halfway through the season and there are numerous 2026s that have popped up on my radar or have solidified themselves as frequent flyers. Check out this group of 2026s below!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='518717' first='Anna' last='Moser'], 5'8 G - Rutland H.S. Class of 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's well documented that Moser is atop the class of 2026 here in VT. That being said, Anna has been making a case for herself as atop the best in the state at large. She's led this RHS team in scoring, around 18ppg., with her multi-level touch. Plus, she has thoroughly orchestrated the show in general, organizing everyone, distributing, and setting teammates up for success with her precise passing. Her handle is one of the best around, her defensive prowess never wavers, and she has a serious will to win. She's got game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='481355' first='Charlotte' last='Jasmin'], 5'9 G - Hartford H.S. Class of 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jasmin's swiss-army knife capabilities are often what shine through. Charlotte will play the 1 or the 2 on offense, create scoring opportunities for teammates, and will score it herself from all over the floor. On the other end, she covers 1-4 essentially. At times she's assigned to defend 3s and 4s, utilizing her strength to defend the interior and rebound the rock, or she'll blanket smaller guards with her size on the perimeter. There's a sense of control Jasmin exudes over the game; she's fills up each stat column and impacts every play. Charlotte's two-way ability converts to regular double-doubles and high usage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='584222' first='Zoey' last='McNabb'], 5'8 G - Champlain Valley Union H.S. Class of 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One thing I really enjoy about Zoey is that she's a plug-and-play. She fits in various offensive or defensive systems, can adapt to play the 1 or the 2 in a breeze, and will provide a range of stats even out of the guard slot. McNabb's an aware creator and distributor, finding passing lanes and defensive holes to attack. Moreover, she's been finishing plays herself whether that's in the open court, using a ball screen in the halfcourt, or curling off a screen to slice into the paint. Agile defensively + lengthy, McNabb reels in rebounds and steals at a high clip too. She's racked up 5+ steals in a few games, flirted with double-digit rebounds, and provides around 9-10 ppg. on the top team in D1. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='594763' first='Marlie' last='Bushey'], 5'10 G/W - Milton H.S. Class of 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It can be difficult to evaluate players who face weaker competition or who play with a supporting cast which lacks comparable talent. Regardless, I've seen Marlie enough to know the type of player she is. Bushey's someone who can be the 1st option or the 4th, but each game she's bringing serious defensive versatility, a good deal of rim protection + rebounding, plus a connective offensive presence. She's a strong 2-level scorer, moves well off the ball, and can create offense in the open court. Marlie consistently accounts for a large chunk of MHS' offense and is posting around 16-17 ppg. but has gone for 20+ a couple times this year. Solid work. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='592897' first='Anna' last='Ebert'], 5'8 W - St. Johnsbury Academy Class of 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Steady is the word that comes to mind when thinking of Anna. Ebert won't always wow you with big-time box scores, but what she provides with grit and smarts makes for winning basketball. She's a connective offensive presence with her screening and cutting, plus she's a quick decision maker with the rock in her hands. Moreover, Anna does a plethora of stuff defensively. She's reeling in loose balls, rotating sharply, defending hard on-ball, and attacking rebounds. Ebert's consistent 8-9 ppg. gives St. J a little boost to her constant work elsewhere. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='630337' first='Solstice' last='Binder'], 5'9 G/W - Middlebury Union H.S. Class of 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solstice's game continues to grow. When I first saw her last year, she was that utility player who defended 2-4 and greased the offense off of her running in transition and savvy passing. Now she's leading the charge for Midd, playing lead guard and impacting the game that way. I wouldn't say it's her natural position, but she's been flourishing regardless. Binder has posted numerous 20+ games, leading MUHS in scoring. But her other work hasn't halted. She's still a feisty rebounder, defender, and an aware distributor. Binder seems like the type of player who's willing to do whatever is asked of them. So valuable to have. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->