Under the radar 2026 & 2027's that should be on your radar

It seems pretty easy to track the incoming freshman, and we all enjoy watching the seniors that have worked so hard in their final year before their next level. But we can sometimes forget those players in the middle. The sophomores and juniors that are grinding day in and day out to earn spots, keep spots, and solidify their positions for the future. Check out these players who may have gotten lost in the mix but definitely should move to the top of your watchlist!    Starns is a talent among talents at Legend High School, but this guard definitely has the skills to make her own path. As a junior leader for the team, she is constant high energy. Look for her to be the one getting the key steal or stop on defense. She is quick and her anticipation is excellent, she completely dominates dribblers and shooters alike. On a team with no shortage of scorers, Maile reliability on the offensive end is a breath of fresh air. When the defense is consumed by the seven seniors for Legend, Maile is calmly finding the open person and hitting the open shots with ease. Legend will be in great hands as they turn over the reigns to Starns.     This guard has been quietly making her name for the Denver East Angels and around the Denver Prep League. A junior that splits her time between JV and Varsity, Alyzah is a picture of consistency. She can take the lead when needed, getting to her scoring spots in both the mid-range and 3pt. Her quickness and handles also get her to the bucket for layups and slick passes regularly. Defensively, she has busy hands to deter both dribblers and shooters and as a guard she is not afraid to get in the paint with the post players. Jaszczyk swings to the Varsity team at East and this only increases her game IQ as a PG/SG and gives her the valuable minutes to be prepared to lead the team next season.     Pickett is a true center. She is easily over 6'2" and knows how to use her height. She makes herself a great target for her teammates, always getting to the post spots with numbers out and hands up. Her footwork improves each time she steps on the court, giving way to even more scoring opportunities as she continues to split minutes between JV and Varsity. As expected from her height and frame, she is a defensive force. Literally a wall of strength that both guards and posts run into any time they try to enter the paint. Marley is very mobile at her height and not afraid to play at 15ft on offense or defense. Marley will be a key to Legend remaining a force in the paint in the coming years.     Delaney is a sophomore by age, but plays with the experience and knowledge of an upperclassman. Her length allows her to play every position on the court efficiently at Northfield. As a transfer she is playing JV at Northfield, but dont let that fool you. She can handle the ball in the open court or against pressure confidently. She is just the right amount of lanky, so she cuts through defenses smoothly, getting to the bucket and her mid-range spots. Dennis is also reliable from behind the arch, which can bring a big defender away from the basket in the right situations. Using her length to her advantage on defense makes her a threat for guards and posts. She can take the top of a press or defense to shut down dribblers or closeout to shooters on the wing. Delaney also has the height to guard a post, giving her the advantage in speed and quickness. Add Dennis to your watchlist as Northfield heads to the post season for another deep playoff run.     Watching Hilliard makes you say, what can't this sophomore do? Her wingspan alone makes her a threat on offense and defense. She gets to the basket easily and finishes strong at the rim like a post, but will knock down her mid-range and 3 pointers with guard precision. Rachel's handles on offense give her the advantage over taller players while her court vision and efficient passing skills keep her guard-like and increase her usefulness. Defensively, Hilliard is just as versatile. Her quickness and footwork allows her to be involved in traps and steals in the open court and on the wings. And her size gets her stops and rebounds in the paint. With Hilliard transfer time expiring just before playoffs, Mountain Vista will make an impressive run into the post season.

It seems pretty easy to track the incoming freshman, and we all enjoy watching the seniors that have worked so hard in their final year before their next level. But we can sometimes forget those players in the middle. The sophomores and juniors that are grinding day in and day out to earn spots, keep spots, and solidify their positions for the future. Check out these players who may have gotten lost in the mix but definitely should move to the top of your watchlist!