2026 Edition: SoCal Players to Keep an Eye on

The 2026 class is loaded with hungry players ready for a huge season. Let's take a look at some of the juniors who are positioned to excel this winter.    Farnsworth is coming off an impressive sophomore season in which she averaged 24.0 points, 2.2 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game. Farnsworth helped lead the Sea Kings to the CIF-SS Division 4A championship and was named the CIF Southern Section Division 4A girls basketball player of the year. Farnsworth was a very efficient shooter last season, shooting 38% from deep on 2.25 makes per game. Farnsworth also shot a respectable 73% from the line on an impressive 5.5 attempts per game. At 5'9, the junior guard is also a very active defender, averaging an impressive 4.7 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. Farnsworth is able to use her height and length to disrupt smaller guards' shot attempts as well as to get out in passing lanes and get steals.     Reyes has been very solid so far through two seasons of varsity basketball, averaging 13.8 points, 2.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.9 steals per game in her young career. Reyes's sophomore campaign was not quite as impressive as her freshman season. The guard averaged similar numbers but the Pioneers finished 12-17 whereas they finished 20-7 the year prior. In her sophomore season, Reyes put together very efficient shooting splits — shooting 48% from the field, 44% from three, and 75% from the free throw line. Reyes is a very smart floor general and thrives with the ball in her hands in transition, knowing when to get all the way downhill to the rim or when to kick it out to a teammate for an open three on the wing. The point guard was very smart with the ball last season, only averaging 1.3 turnovers per game.     Rangel took quite the leap between her freshman and sophomore seasons, improving her scoring from 9.1 points to 19.1 points per game. Rangel's offseason improvements played a huge role in the Saxons finishing 20-9 (10-0 in league play) this past season, after finishing 6-20 the year prior. Despite being 5'6, Rangel rebounds great for a guard, averaging 10.3 rebounds last season. Rangel moves great without the ball, knowing when to backdoor cut when her defender is overplaying or caught off guard. Rangel is aggressive when attacking the rim, getting to the line an impressive seven times a game. She also has a solid floater and mid-range game that she knows to utilize when the paint is congested.     McKoy put together a solid sophomore season, averaging 18.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.7 steals per game. McKoy rebounds great for a guard and is very aggressive crashing the boards on defense and offense. She effectively utilizes her speed to secure defensive rebounds and quickly transition into offense by advancing the ball upcourt or leading the break herself. McKoy averaged a very impressive 3.7 offensive rebounds per game, helping generate second-chance opportunities for the Spartans. McKoy does a great job of drawing fouls and getting to the line after grabbing these offensive boards.     Roczey was a do-it-all kind of player last season for a 19-11 Villa Park team that finished 1st in the North Hills League. The 5'10 guard filled the stat sheet last season, averaging 10.4 points, 3.6 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 4.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game. While Roczey is a very capable scorer, putting up 32 points in the win against Tesoro High School last season, her ability to impact the game goes beyond glamourous offensive numbers. At 5'10, Roczey does a good job of using her length to block and disrupt smaller guard shots. She is also a very smart off-ball defender, knowing when to jump passing lanes and force turnovers.       In her sophomore season, Lewis led the Bull Dogs to a dominant 22-6 record, while averaging 20.7 points per game. She put together solid shooting splits — shooting 41% from the field, 36% from three, and 77% from the free throw line. Lewis has a very quick release and spots up well on the wing and corner for threes in transition. She is also a good shot-creator off the dribble. Her quick release has made her an effective pull-up shooter, whether she's coming off an on-ball screen or bringing the ball up the court when her defender gives her space. Lewis is a solid rebounder for a guard, averaging 5.6 per game. She does a good job of grabbing defensive rebounds and quickly looking up the court to hit a teammate or push it herself.     Following a challenging freshman season where the Bishop Knights finished 2-22, Johnson played a pivotal role in turning the program around during her sophomore year. She led the team to an impressive 22-8 record while averaging 17.1 points per game. While she only shot 22% from three, Johnson has demonstrated the ability to knock down open catch and shoot threes. She shot a solid 72% from the free throw line on a little over three attempts a game. If Johnson can make a leap similar to the one between her freshman and sophomore seasons, she's poised for a standout junior year this winter.

The 2026 class is loaded with hungry players ready for a huge season. Let's take a look at some of the juniors who are positioned to excel this winter.