Rankings Update: Stock Risers in the Class of 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The class of 2026 is teemed with skilled players who contribute to winning basketball. For some, it may take a bit longer to impact the game, compared to others. Nonetheless, these are some of the notable players who continue to make great strides in their development and have risen in the latest rankings update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Player</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>School</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='893556' first='Desta' last='Rose']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Logan</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648232' first='Jazzlyn' last='Gomez']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Aztec</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648207' first='Ashelynn' last='Borunda']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Lovington</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648198' first='Taylianna' last='Castillo']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Silver</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648231' first='Abigail' last='Shouse']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Lovington</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Players listed in order by overall class ranking</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["893556"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e4a2d6b8ccd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rose is an explosive two-way play-maker with a high usage rate. This past season, Rose recorded 500 points, 100 assists and 100 steals for Logan in 27 games played. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Such numbers resulted in Rose averaging a commanding 19.1 points per game -- on 45 percent shooting -- with 4.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4.1 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In all, the savvy combo-guard reached double-figures in 24/28 games played for the Steers while also logging fourteen 20-point outings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648232"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e4a2d6b8d6a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It was a breakout junior campaign for Gomez, who led the 2026 class in total steals (186) and steals per game (6.9).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Possessing active hands, and the ability to jump passing lanes, the combo-guard had seven games with 10+ steals for the Tigers in 2024-25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What's more, Gomez recorded 10 double-doubles for Aztec, averaging a respectable 12.1 points per game and 7.2 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648207"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e4a2d6b8dcb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Borunda is a high-energy, player who has emerged as a reliable option in the half-court for Lovington. Borunda reached double-figures in 21/25 games played for the Wildcats and had seven 20-point games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'9" shooting-guard logged six double-doubles, posting 15.9 points per game, 7.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 4.0 steals in 25 games played. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648198"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e4a2d6b8e27"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This past season, Castillo, a '3&amp;D' type player, put up 11.0 points per game -- a new career-high -- to go along with 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.5 steals for the fighting Colts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thanks to her floor-spacing capabilities, the 5'6" combo-guard finished with 52 three-pointers made for Silver en route to reaching double-figures in 15/28 games played. Additionally, Castillo had eight games with 10+ points and 3+ steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648231"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e4a2d6b8edf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Shouse is a budding center listed at 6'5", who nearly averaged a double-double this past season as a junior. In 27 games played, Shouse averaged 9.1 points -- on 49 percent shooting -- and 9.2 rebounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Furthermore, Shouse improved as a shot-blocker, especially from the weak-side. Overall, Shouse tallied eight games with 4+ blocks, ultimately averaging 2.2 blocks per game for the Wildcats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Statistics via MaxPreps*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->