Under-the-Radar 26s to Watch in July

I'll take the last few days before I head down to the Bluegrass state, talking about some kids I haven't in a while. Today, we'll discuss some 2026s to keep tabs on these next few weeks.    There is a smoothness that Maves plays with, and it's enjoyable to watch. However, there is a ruggedness to what she does as well. Maves is a physical kid who can play through contact without any issues. You can tell how much power she has in her lower half when she shoots because it's an effortless release. The Evansville native was a bit streaky in her sophomore season, but I'll chalk that up to her usage and the attention the guard demanded from defenses. There is something that makes me think she could be a scholarship-level kid but a definite next-level prospect.     After a few years of injuries that held Koch to limited run, the thing that stood out the most when I watched her games at Omro was her motor. Koch grabbed over six rebounds per game in her 11 contests this season, and most of them felt like they came after she'd crash the glass from the perimeter. I also like the throwback style Koch has to what she does on the offensive end of the floor. Her shot looks solid from top to bottom. It's pure form spot-up shooting, and she can get there off a dribble. There's still plenty of skill that she has, and because I haven't seen her play in person before, Koch is a must-watch with her [program_tooltip program_id='732460' first='Playmakers/Thrive' last=''] group.     There's a little herky-jerk to how Boinski plays. Her shot has always looked funky, but it's been functional. Boinski and Conway paired as a productive backcourt that stretched the defense beyond the three-point line. The 5'8 guard also did a solid job of taking care of the ball when it got to her and helped create an environment where the Crusader offense thrived off-ball movement and opened up pockets of space for someone to attack. She's a high-IQ guard who can contribute to productive offensive units by moving the ball or scoring herself.     The athleticism that McRae boasts is something that coaches at the next level will like the second they see her run up the floor. The physical tools are there for McRae to play at the next level if she chooses to pursue basketball. For her, the battle will be finding consistency in her game. She plays high-level soccer, so she's not a specialist by any means, and I'm sure she excels at both sports. She's shown flashes of potentially being a scholarship-level kid. However, to get to that point, she'll have to figure out how to get the best out of herself and her teammates every time she steps on the floor. The potential is there.

I'll take the last few days before I head down to the Bluegrass state, talking about some kids I haven't in a while. Today, we'll discuss some 2026s to keep tabs on these next few weeks.