There is a new #1! The Dramatic Movement in the 2026 Top 10

The latest 2026 ranking update has been implemented! With this latest update, there was a lot of movement. As always, players move up, and players move down. However, there was more movement than usual in the top 10, which included a new #1 player in this class.   Here is the current Top 10 of the 2026 class:    Picking the top three of this class is difficult. Each player has incredible skill with a number of Division I schools after them. However, [player_tooltip player_id='881468' first='Whitley' last='Rogers'] separated herself from the rest of the class after being named the 2024-25 Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year.   After winning that award thanks to an incredible junior season, Rogers picked up offers from multiple Power 4 Conference teams, including Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, West Virginia, Colorado, Georgia Tech, and NC State. She has also picked up other offers from Columbia, Marquette, Middle Tennessee, and Memphis.   Besides the incredible offer sheet, it is not hard to see why Rogers is ranked #1. She averaged 24.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.5 steals per game during the 2024-25 season, leading Little Rock Christian to a 22-5 overall record. Rogers can score at a high level, having already eclipsed 40 points in a game last season.   [player_tooltip player_id='881468' first='Whitley' last='Rogers'] is now one of the country's best small forwards, leaving little doubt for her spot at #1.     [player_tooltip player_id='876300' first='Jada' last='Maples'] has been in the top 3 of this class for the last several ranking updates. That does not change as she stands at #2 in the class.   Maples is a versatile guard who is essentially unstoppable with the ball in her hands. She can knock down the big shots from the perimeter, pull up and hit jumpers over defenders from mid-range, or attack the basket and finish at the rack.   Maples has an impressive offer list, with recent schools seeking her out such as Kentucky, Texas A&M, and Clemson. UT-Arlington, UAPB, Virginia Tech, Cleveland State, Charlotte, and Southern Mississippi have also sent her offers.   [player_tooltip player_id='876300' first='Jada' last='Maples'] is consistently one of the top players in the 1A classification and I doubt that changes in 2025-26.     [player_tooltip player_id='876349' first='Kaylee' last='Ward'] cannot be kept out of the conversation for the top-3 in the 2026 class. After a dominant junior season with Mansfield, she is ready to do it again in her final year of high school basketball.   Ward recently picked up offers from Stephen F. Austin, Oral Roberts, and North Texas. She also has offers from Power 4 schools such as Colorado, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, and Arkansas.   On the offensive end, Ward is great with her back to the basket, using her excellent footwork to get around the defense and score inside. On the other end, she is an incredible rim protector, locking down the paint. If a shot gets past her, she will pull down the miss, as she was a threat to log a double-double seemingly every night.   [player_tooltip player_id='876349' first='Kaylee' last='Ward'] has been balling with the [program_tooltip program_id='715977' first='AAO' last='Flight'], and she will probably earn more offers soon.     [player_tooltip player_id='874448' first='Charleen' last='Hudson'] jumped up one spot in the rankings and she will probably keep rising in the near future.   Hudson is coming off a very successful junior season with the Lady Bulldogs, leading Springdale to a deep run in the state tournament. The guard has already picked up college offers, including some Division I offers from UCA, Abilene Christian, Bradley, and Delaware.   In route to earning some postseason honors with Springdale, Hudson had some phenomenal outings on both sides of the ball. Back in January against Rogers Heritage, Hudson was all over the court, recording 9 steals in the blowout win. On the other side, she can hit mid-range and 3-point jumpers at a high level. She can also force her way inside and finish through contact.   [player_tooltip player_id='874448' first='Charleen' last='Hudson'] has been balling, and if she continues to do so, the offers will continue to pour in.     [player_tooltip player_id='876275' first='Payton' last='Futch'] has already accomplished a lot in her high school career, and now she holds down her spot in the top 5.   Futch already holds multiple college offers, has eclipsed 2,000 career points, and earned all-conference, state, and tournament selections after this past season.   Futch is one of the best shot creators in the state, mixing up defenders with her handles and pulling up for jumpers. She can also get by the first line of defense with her quick first step, finding her way to the basket.   [player_tooltip player_id='876275' first='Payton' last='Futch'] is clearly one of the best scorers in the state, and believe or not, I believe she can be better in her senior season.     E'Marriha Johnson has been grabbing a lot of Division I attention lately. In just one year at Greene County Tech, Johnson has propelled her career, and earning her a spot inside the top 10.   Johnson averaged 15.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.1 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game during the 2024-25 season with GCT. She proved that she was dangerous when attacking the basket, welcoming contact, and finishing with ease.   The forward is an excellent defender, using her length to disrupt passing lanes and stripping ball-handlers. In the post, Johnson proved that she is able to slide over and block shots on help defense.   E'Marriha Johnson continues to fly up the rankings, and I would imagine that she will be able to compete for a spot in the top 5 before long.     Like Johnson, [player_tooltip player_id='1060807' first='Da'Mya' last='Wilson'] is flying up the rankings. The Barton star is coming off an incredible regular and postseason, and she is looking to terrorize 2A defenses again in 2025-26.   When Wilson has it going, there is not a defender in Arkansas who can stop her. She hits open and contested jumpers like it's nothing, and she can attack the basket with purpose. If the defense is too tight, she still finds a way to score, or she hands it off to a teammate.   Wilson has already picked up a few college offers, including Coahoma College and Delta State. Frankly, Division I schools should all be after her, but for now, she will have to dominate again during her senior season to earn more offers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1060807' first='Da'Mya' last='Wilson'] being outside of the top 10 of the 2026 class for the last few cycles was ridiculous. Even though she sits at #7, I highly suspect that she will find her way into the top 5 before her high school career is over.     Zaniyah "Chip" Johnson was very impressive during her junior season. She has already picked up some Division I offers, but I have a feeling more will be coming down the road.   Physically, Johnson is one of the best players in the state. She is extremely quick, cutting to the basket on a dime and somehow being able to find every crease in the defense. She can get past the defense easily with her handles, or she hit them with a step-back and knock down a jumper in their face.   On the other end of the floor, Johnson plays with a "chip" on her shoulder. She puts a lot of pressure on opposing ball-handlers, causing turnovers and taking them the other way to score.   [player_tooltip player_id='578159' first='Zaniyah' last='Johnson']'s potential is through the roof. Keep an eye on this 2026 guard, because she has a chance to move up from #8.     [player_tooltip player_id='716556' first='Sadie' last='Meyer'] is the lone player in this class who is already committed to hoop at the next level, and there is plenty of reason as to why.   Despite the hardships that Meyer has faced over the years, she still found a way to commit to the University of Tennessee-Martin. Highland's star guard is a well-known shooter, who can get going in a hurry. If she has space to shoot from three, she will not hesitate to pull it.   Defensively, Meyer will pester opposing ball-handlers into coughing up the ball on a nightly basis. She plays hounding on-ball defense and plays with active hands, always having a chance to come away with the ball.   I suspect that [player_tooltip player_id='716556' first='Sadie' last='Meyer'] will have a much improved senior season. I know Highland and UT-Martin fans cannot wait, but the rest of the 4A classification, they could probably stand to wait a bit longer.     [player_tooltip player_id='1060871' first='Camryn' last='Schmidt'] is one of the highest ranking risers, and she is far from finished. As she enters her second year with Northside, the expectations are higher than ever.   Schmidt averaged around 11 points per game for the Lady Grizzlies last season, and she was an important part of their championship team. The forward is best when attacking the basket as she can use her length and athleticism to score over and through the defense.   For the opposition, they dread seeing Schmidt on the other side of the floor. She can swat shots into the third row, or she can pick off passes and trigger the fastbreak. She can also overwhelm the other team with her ability to crash the glass hard.   [player_tooltip player_id='1060871' first='Camryn' last='Schmidt'] has picked up some Division I offers as of late, specifically Cleveland State, Incarnate Word, and Central Arkansas. In addition to her stellar play with the [program_tooltip program_id='715977' first='AAO' last='Flight'], Schmidt is expected to be Northside's go-to scorer next year. All of this played a major role in her ranking increase from #32 to #10.    The top 10 of this class is loaded, and there is no doubt about it. From #1 to #10, players are receiving attention from Division I universities, and that can be said for several of the players who missed the top-10 cut. Keep an eye on the development of these players, and do not be surprised if there is more movement in the top 10 in the future.

The latest 2026 ranking update has been implemented! With this latest update, there was a lot of movement. As always, players move up, and players move down. However, there was more movement than usual in the top 10, which included a new #1 player in this class.