2026 Player Rankings Update: Hoopers Controlling With Height

"You can't teach height." You hear this phrase a lot in high school and collegiate sports. It means that a trainer, coach, parent, or other, can't teach you to be a taller individual. That's something that only happens naturally and it is out of our control.   In this piece we highlight seven players out of the 2026 Class in Iowa, who all possess noteworthy size for their age. All while being pretty talented individuals in the skills department of this game as well.   Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!    [player_tooltip player_id='901710' first='Avah' last='Underwood'] put together a State Tournament to remember last week as she was named the Captain of the 1A All State Tournament Team. Underwood, a 6'0 SF, primary works out of the post and mid-post whenever she has the option to. She likes to catch with her back to the basket, finishing with or without contact on either side of the bucket. She can catch at the free-throw line and attack off the dribble. All while working on her midrange and three point pull up game at a steady rate. Other than scoring, Underwood stands out as a player with a high motor when it comes to rebounding and defending. She is someone that others have to worry about when they attack off the dribble toward the basket. I have this as a D2 prospect at this time. If she gets in front of the right eyes this Summer, she is going to be someone that picks up a lot of interest in a short amount of time.     The way that [player_tooltip player_id='609462' first='Isabelle' last='Kremer'] moves for her size is impressive to say the least. At 6'3, Kremer comes to the floor with athletic ability, natural height, and she doesn't shy away from the spot-light. Sometimes when a taller player takes the floor, they don't want the ball but that's not the case here. Kremer consistently demonstrates that from 15FT and in, she can be productive on or off of the ball. I've seen her work the midrange and hit jumpers off the pull up. Which is pretty impressive given her height and that no one defending can usually reach her high release point. I've seen her move between multiple positions on the floor to create space for others around her and I've seen her make multiple stops in a row defensively other oppositions. All of these things along with her consistent motor makes this for an interesting prospect. From what I've heard she is also a promising young talent on the Volleyball court as well so it'l be intriguing to see where she lands at the next level, when that decision finally arrives.     This AAU season [player_tooltip player_id='795874' first='LJ' last='Maehl'] of Fort Dodge will be looking to build on the high school season she just put in place. LJ is a post with a D2 offer and a lot of other interest from college coaches around the Midwest. She would primarily be someone that I would label as a top-end rebounder on either side of the ball, as she never gives up on a play or possession until she hears a whistle. She demonstrates coordinated footwork, a balanced and calculated mindset while attacking, and a hunger to be the most dominant on the floor at all times near the basket. I do believe that is someone that will compete at the next level at the end of the day. Now it's just about finding the right fit.     I haven't heard much on the recruitment of [player_tooltip player_id='656292' first='Zoe' last='Allen'] but I know her game well enough to tell you that she could definitely play at the next level, if given the right opportunity and she is willing. Allen is a post with an old-school type of game. She is very good with her back to the basket, using her size to her advantage a majority of the time. She can also step out and screen on the three point line, leading into a roll for herself in the paint. On this roll, Allen is very good at sealing the defense on the screen and using her natural length to eat up the space around her as she goes towards the hoop. We have seen Allen on the high school game and on the AAU floor. Both places she competes the same way, produces the same way, and that's very respectable from an evaluation perspective.     Mark my words. [player_tooltip player_id='582809' first='Emma' last='Boswell'] over the next 12 months is going to put together the best basketball of her career. Boswell has proven over her Varsity years that she is a handful to deal with down-low. Whenever she is playing and whoever she is competing against, she always seems to put up really good numbers out of the post in the scoring, rebounding, and defending categories. It's the mixture of her smart finishing ability, quick reactions, body control, and willingness to mix it up with bigger or smaller opponents. With OM closing down, kids will be looking to transfer schools and Boswell is in that conversation. From what I'm hearing, she is going to be joining up with another VERY promising talent in the 2026 Class at Nodaway Valley. It'll be exciting to see what their group will be able to put together. I guess we will just have to wait and see.     You might not know the name [player_tooltip player_id='1091996' first='Jenna' last='Dontje'] but you should. Dontje competes with Forest City and she almost averaged a double-double this season in points-rebounds with 10.5 PPG and 9.8 RPG. Forest City lost their main producer early on in the season due to injury but that didn't really impact Dontje and her production in my book. They play different positions and Dontje just did what was asked of her by controlling the painted area. She was stationed down-low as one of their taller players on roster and she always does a great job of staying active from block-to-block in those area's. This AAU season she will be lacing up with [program_tooltip program_id='866654' first='Iowa' last='United'] once again. This is an upcoming program out of their area, that is going to have a few talented pieces come this Spring/Summer.     This past high school season we only got a glimpse of what [player_tooltip player_id='981151' first='Abby' last='Neumiller'] can do out on the Varsity floor. Neumiller is one of the Forward prospects for IC - West but this season she primarily contributed by averaging 10 PPG on the offensive end. Within those 10 PPG, she ended up shooting the ball at a higher rate than most, displaying her efficiency, mainly in the catch-and-shoot aspects of the game. During AAU, I'd like to see Neumiller mix it up a little bit more in the rebounding department on the inside. With her height at 6'0, she has that advantage to get in there and get her hands dirty. If she can add that to her game, she will return for her Senior Winter as a completely different prospect. Someone who is a little more, "lethal", if you will.

"You can't teach height." You hear this phrase a lot in high school and collegiate sports. It means that a trainer, coach, parent, or other, can't teach you to be a taller individual. That's something that only happens naturally and it is out of our control.