Rankings Update: Class of 2026 Top 5

What do the 5A Conference Players of the Year have in common? They're all juniors! Plus, four 6A Conference Players of the Year are also juniors. The Class of 2026 is hooping! And they have the chance to run it back next season. Highlighted here are Prep Girls Hoops Oregon's Class of 2026 top 5 recruits:    Crater junior [player_tooltip player_id='832611' first='Taylor' last='Young'] is an unassuming hooper with killer instincts and was named the Class 5A Player of the Year. Don't let her calm facade fool you, because she's locked in at all times. The 5-foot-7 guard is a smooth operator with a soft touch from all three levels. She nets the ball from deep, swishes the midrange floater, and hangs in the air for the illusion of a slow-motion finish at the rim. Young is a sneaky defender. When she isn't picking pockets, she lures point guards into the wing pass, jumps the lane for the steal, and finishes the breezy breakaway layup (then proceeds to steal the following inbound pass for another quick bucket). Young averaged 21 points, 5 steals, 4.5 assists (>1 assist to turnover ratio), and 3.5 rebounds per game to help the Comets win the Midwestern League title and earn herself League Player of the Year in her junior season. She put up those numbers while averaging under 22 minutes of playing time per game. The league champion was the top scorer at the 5A state tournament. She also led in steals and was top three in assists. Young averaged 28.7 points (shooting 57% from the field, 31% from three), 6.7 steals, and 4.7 assists per game to lead the Comets to a state championship title and earn herself a unanimous All-Tournament First Team placement. Young has multiple D1 offers.     South Medford junior [player_tooltip player_id='828956' first='Mayen' last='Akpan'] is an athletic and powerful presence inside and on the boards for the Lady Panthers and was named to the Class 6A All-State First Team this season. She holds the 6A record for most rebounds in a single state tournament. The 6-foot-2 center/forward is smart and strong with the ball in the paint. She drives from the elbow, posts up under the basket, and finishes down low. She draws an extra defender and has great kickout pass instincts. Akpan is a leader in second-chance points. She jumps for rebounds like she's on a trampoline: up the first time to get the tip, the second to win the loose ball, and the third to kiss it off the glass for a putback bucket. Akpan is also tough on the defensive end, battling for position with the opposing big and protecting the rim with her help defense. She holds it down on the back end of full-court press. Akpan averaged 16 points (shooting 57%), 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1 assist per game and was named Southwest Conference Player of the Year her junior season. Akpan's recruiting blew up over the summer after a big state tournament showing her sophomore year.     South Albany junior [player_tooltip player_id='832587' first='Taylor' last='Donaldson'] is an efficient scorer, strong rebounder, and hard worker who competes to win. You can see it in her eyes when she plays. She's locked in on offense and can completely take over a game. Donaldson was named to the Class 5A All-State First Team. Her pull-up shot from deep destroys defenses. Opposing teams face-guard her on the perimeter and double-team her inside. The 6-foot forward/guard finds the angle on the dribble and hits from midrange or muscles her way to the rim. She posts up and turns inside with strength and precision. Donaldson covers a lot of area on defense with her long arms and she can defend on the perimeter and inside. Donaldson averaged 22.1 points (shooting 57% from the field and 33% from three), 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game to help the RedHawks win the Mid-Willamette Conference championship title and be named conference Player of the Year (in the most competitive 5A conference in the state) in her junior season. The conference champion averaged 18 points (shooting 40% from three) and 5.3 defensive rebounds at the 2025 5A state tournament and was named to the All-Tournament First Team.     La Salle junior [player_tooltip player_id='832586' first='Ava' last='Bergeson'] was named to the Class 5A All-State Second Team, is a motivational leader in the locker room, and has a high ceiling. The 6-foot-1 forward/guard is an athletic finisher from all three levels and crashes the offensive boards. She creates her own shot and has a soft touch inside. She has a wicked ball fake and burst-by and is fast enough to beat the help defender to the rim. Bergeson takes care of the ball. She has strong handling, vision, and passing skills. She can launch a full-court assist and whip the cross-court pass. Her defense is tough. She's quick enough to defend the perimeter, her long wingspan gives her an edge when she contests in the paint, and she cleans up the boards. Bergeson averaged a double-double — over 15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists (>1 assist to turnover ratio), and 2 steals per game — and was named the Northwest Oregon Conference Co-Player of the Year in her junior season.     Wilsonville guard Gabi Moultrie is a fierce competitor on both ends and was named to the Class 5A All-State First Team. The 5-foot-8 junior is the active leading scorer in 5A with 1,667 career points and holds the record for most career assists in Wilsonville program history with 595. She stretches the defense with her lethal shooting from beyond the arc and blows by the defender to get to the rim with an athletic finish. Moultrie has excellent handles, vision, and passing. She whips dimes in transition and the halfcourt. Her defense is tenacious. She's quick and athletic, beats the defender to the spot, and forces turnovers. Moultrie averaged 21 points (shooting 48% from the field and 40% from three), 7.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 4 steals per game to help the Wildcats win the Northwest Oregon Conference championship title and earn herself an All-Conference Co-Player of the Year honor in her junior season. The conference champion averaged 22.3 points (shooting 46.2% from the field and 44.8% from three), 4.3 assists, and 2.7 steals per game at the 2025 5A state tournament and was named to the All-Tournament First Team. She has multiple D1 offers and is committed to Utah Valley University.

What do the 5A Conference Players of the Year have in common? They're all juniors! Plus, four 6A Conference Players of the Year are also juniors. The Class of 2026 is hooping! And they have the chance to run it back next season. Highlighted here are Prep Girls Hoops Oregon's Class of 2026 top 5 recruits: