The Gritty List Class of 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The one thing about basketball, especially in Utah, is the abundance of players who exhibit exceptional grit and determination on the court. With so many talented athletes to consider, we've curated this list into distinct segments, spotlighting some of the most tenacious players from the Class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These names are in no specific order. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='789054' first='Danielle' last='Garner'], Wasatch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the reasons you will see on a lot of college coaches' lists is that Garner does a great job of showcasing her motor and grit out there on the floor. She has done a really good job defending multiple positions out there on the floor. She can hold her own against some of the better bigs in the state, and she does a solid job defending guards when she has to switch. That gritty style of play makes her one of the best in the Class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1133662' first='Tatianna' last='Harness'], Lone Peak</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harness has been able to prove herself this past year, getting playing time as a newcomer to one of the best programs in the state. She does play with a high motor and has that gritty flare that helps her defend the ball the full length of the floor or simply get up and cause havoc. This coming season is a big one for her as she is trying to establish her recruiting, and that gritty defense and hard-working offensive game could definitely help her. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='796797' first='Isabelle' last='Wyaskett'], Clearfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wyaskett is a player who can dog the ball the entire length of the floor and hold her own against anyone. Her speed sliding up and down the floor is elite, and so is her recovery speed. She will be in a great position this season to show her improvement, all while playing this gritty style of ball along the way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='789053' first='Stacia' last='Peoples'], Bingham</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>People is a player that you can give an assignment to, and she will work hard to help her team win. That could mean defending 5's or helping on traps and just playing like a safety or linebacker on defense, taking on all five players in switching situations. That defense-first mentality has helped her pick up a few offers, and if she can continue to showcase her defense in that gritty way she has been doing more schools will be calling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1133593' first='Halle' last='Talbot'], Riverton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Talbot will be out this season, but she is one of the grittiest lead guards in the state. She plays at one speed and that is 100 mph at all times. With a little track background, you would see that she just has an unlimited tank that helps her play at a high pace all the time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1255454' first='Sami' last='DeLlamas'], Springville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A player that we have seen a few times, and every time you see her, you can see the effort she puts out and how well she runs up and down the floor. She could actually be a steal as a forward at a small school that has strength and speed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->