Winter Update: 2026 Centers

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='486553' first='Natalie' last='Thomas'] (2026) of Fishers High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The holiday season means it's time for the annual Winter rankings update. As it pertains to the Class of 2026, we have expanded the overall rankings and watch list from 185 total prospects to 200 total prospects, so there will likely be a handful of new names on each position list. Below is a look at the Centers in 2026, with some analysis on a few who have stood out for one reason or another since our last update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"12120","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"1286","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67867f180df1e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624875' first='Laila' last='Brown'], 2026, 6-3 C, Warren Central H.S.</strong><br>- Laila came to Warren Central from Ben Davis this year, and she has made an immediate impact. She is extremely long, wiry-strong, she runs the floor well North/South, and she has a little bounce to her. She has some touch around the elbows, plus she can put it on the floor two to three dribbles and get to the rim. Defensively, she is a monster presence in the paint, altering/blocking many shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486553' first='Natalie' last='Thomas'], 2026, 6-2 C/PF, Fishers H.S.</strong><br>- Natalie has offered the Tigers a nice presence in the paint this year, contributing 3.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game against a competitive schedule. She has good hands, solid footwork, and the ability to play as a back-to-the-basket post offensively. At the same time, she has worked on her touch and her comfort away from the basket, and she has improved her mobility and perimeter defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624885' first='Miley' last='Wareing'], 2026, 6-1 C, Fort Wayne Northrop H.S.</strong><br>- Miley suffered a severe knee injury over the Summer, but she has already returned to play and has managed to participate in 10 games, averaging 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game for the Bruins. She transferred in from Bishop Luers, where she helped the Knights to a Class 2A State Title, and she was huge down the stretch for them, dominating the paint at times during their tourney run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->