2026 Centers Ready To Make A Leap

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The class of 2026 has a group of extremely versatile, skillful bigs. Here are a few that could see a rise in their rank soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["816630"],"_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-68b4cf991fba9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='816630' first='Cecilie' last='Brandimore'] is already ranked high at the #23 spot, but she showed in her junior season of hoops at Franklin High School that she can easily still move up the ranks. Brandimore's game looks college-ready. Although she stands at 6'3", she has great agility and can handle the ball, which is not a common trait for centers. In the low post she features an array of moves that allow her to score at ease.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two other prominent skills she has are her elite rebounding ability and her three-point shot. With all this, she has no problem filling up a stat sheet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["515028"],"_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-68b4cf991fc03"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='515028' first='Mariah' last='Okorie'] from Blackman High School has a great defensive skill set. She moves laterally extremely well down low. Because of this, she can stick with her defenders, and paired with her great timing, she generates shot blocks or contested shots often. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Okorie is also aggressive down low on offense and is good at maneuvering around defenders to put pressure on grabbing potential offensive rebounds. This same aggression also leads to put-back opportunities. For the Lady Blaze last season, she also showcased that she is a great screen setter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["636392"],"_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-68b4cf991fc4a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ever since [player_tooltip player_id='636392' first='Sania' last='Reaves'] started playing high school basketball, she has been a double-double threat. Her offensive game primarily features a strong post game. She is constantly moving on the block to try to find an angle and a gap to score. She also does the same when trying to secure rebounds on both sides of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This leads to stat lines like she had against Peabody High School last season. In that game, she recorded 19 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and three steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["746202"],"_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-68b4cf991fc8b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='746202' first='Emma' last='Cooper'] has an impressive skillset. She can rebound well, and at 6'1" has a good jumper behind the arc. Cooper showed these talents during the school season and has only improved them and shown them again this summer. She has performed well for her club team, [program_tooltip program_id='712974' first='TN' last='Flight'], posting double-doubles on the regular. Against DistinXion Black, she had 11 points, 12 rebounds, and two steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like a lot of the bigs on this list, Cooper, despite her size, moves well. This helps her be an above-average defender down low.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["513245"],"_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-68b4cf991fcc8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='513245' first='Natavia' last='Alber'] does a little bit of everything at the big position. First and foremost she is alway one of the better defenders every time she steps on the floor. She has good movement, paired with long arms that allows her to block defenders even if she gives up a little space. She is a great rebounder and has above-average down hill speed. These skills paired together makes her a solid finisher in transition. In half court sets last year she scored efficiently in post ups, but also displayed good touch on short to midrange jumpers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alber is already ranked as one of the better bigs in the class for TN, but at the overall #24 spot, she still has room to move up and the skillset and potential to do so.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->