2026 Small Forward Update

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='1231133' first='Erin' last='McManus'] (2026) of Warsaw Community High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tuesday, we released the Summer update for the Class of 2026 rankings. Circling back around, below is a quick look at the small forwards who were included in either the Top 100 or the 125-player watch list. Below that are any newcomers to the position group when we updated the list this time around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"12124","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"1286","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-684d59b7ccac8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">NEWCOMERS</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1256475"],"_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-684d59b7ce12d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I first saw Torah during the IHSAA state tournament, and as recently as yesterday at the IBCA team shootout. She is a strong, athletically built forward who does a little of everything. She is physical around the perimeter and can drive it North/South to the rim, plus she's consistent enough outside to keep defenses honest. She can also play in the mid-post and score from there. At the other end, Torah is an effortful defender and aggressive rebounder.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1256482"],"_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-684d59b7ce181"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jayden is an intriguing forward who I think could have a much bigger Senior season. She has length, a wiry-strong from, and she's a solid athlete in most directions. She can battle inside, score it around the paint or in the mid-post, plus she's a good rebounder. Jayden can also step out and knock down the occasional 3-pointer, and she can attack the rim North/South. Defensively, she's probably best suited to take on bigger wings and forwards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1231133"],"_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-684d59b7ce1c4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In the times I've been able to see her throughout the Spring, Erin has been great and really improved her all-around game. She has really nice length, a fluid athleticism to her, and she is very good shooting it anywhere from about 15-feet to beyond the 3-point line. She plays stronger than her wiry frame might suggest, and she will pursue offensive &amp; defensive rebounds with effort, plus she's a willing and capable defender who can guard inside or out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1256495"],"_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-684d59b7ce207"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mariana is an intriguing athlete who I think can really help North Side approach 10 wins this coming season. She has an athletic frame, length, and she gets up &amp; down the floor quickly. She is primarily a driver, offensively, but she has knocked down the occasional 3-pointer as well. Defensively, I think she could really become a tough matchup, because she is athletic, she does have strength, and she's willing to be physical, aggressive, and rebound.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1256497"],"_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-684d59b7ce246"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Outside of Southwestern Indiana, Madison's first introduction to the rest of the state was probably at the Hall of Fame Tourney, when she was tasked with defending 2025 Indiana Miss Basketball <strong>Maya Makalusky</strong>. Maya was able to win the battle, but I felt like Madison gave a great effort, despite giving up 7 to 8 inches. Madison has a solid to strong frame, she plays with a great motor, and she does a lot of the "little things" to help her team win. She's also balanced skillfully.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1256523"],"_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-684d59b7ce283"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A'lanah is someone who caught my eye this Spring, because she has given consistent effort each time out and figured out how to be productive each game. She has an athletic frame, nice length, and she can get up &amp; down the floor with speed and some bounce. She is primarily a driver, offensively, but she does a really nice job of collecting offensive rebounds and coming up with "scraps" baskets for her team. She's also an effortful and aggressive defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->