Class of 2026: Players I Like Watching

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To round out the 2026 rankings update content, I'd like to highlight some intriguing kids I haven't highlighted this week. The 2026 class is deep in Wisconsin and the Midwest, so there are plenty of kids to highlight, but I don't have enough time in the week, so let's focus on a handful today.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["842241"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66607d6cdac2a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The duo of Salvesen and [player_tooltip player_id='842221' first='Melaina' last='Granquist'] was a highly productive pairing for Wittenberg-Birnamwood, and Salvesen was the guard who made things happen off the dribble. She was among the team leaders in assists and scoring and did a solid job as a high-usage player responsible for carrying the scoring and creation burden placed on her. She'll get more comfortable over the years in that role and will have the Chargers on the brink of making a trip to the state tournament and possibly reaching the Resch Center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["842247"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66607d6cdacc0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Thomson's moving to Lena last summer changed the fortunes of the Thomson sisters and Lena's program. I don't think the Wildcats get to the Resch Center without them or be as close as possible to winning a state title. Madi added some size to their roster that made them one of the most physically intimidating D5 programs in the state, and they dominated the area around the basket all season, which they'll look to do again this season and hopefully make another trip to the Resch Center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["533088"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66607d6cdad38"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Players who don't need to score to affect a game fly under the radar all the time, and the best example of that in 2026 is [player_tooltip player_id='533088' first='Madelyn' last='Stocks']. Germantown players tend to be pesky and press relentlessly, and Stocks fits that bill. She's vocal on the floor, and you can tell she has an obsessive passion for what she does when she's on the floor. Sure, she can make shots if she's left open, but her ability to defend and pick up an assignment in transition while keeping everything organized by talking all the time saves her team points every game. It may not always feel like it at the time, but she makes her minutes matter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["842251"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66607d6cdada3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I didn't know about Becker until I saw her play on the road at Waunakee this season. In that game, you could tell a few things about her. Her coaches trusted her with the ball and wanted her to make things happen. You don't often see that dynamic with kids that come off the bench with their coaches. At the end of regulation and overtime, she was on the floor, and her three that sealed it in overtime got her coaches as excited as you'll ever see a coaching staff get. There's an undeniable poise to her game, and she has a quiet confidence that she'll show when the time comes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->