Spring Rankings Update: 2026 Small Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is a throwback of [player_tooltip player_id='624879' first='Julia' last='Lashley'] (2026) from Bloomington High School South.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spring has arrived, and it's time for us to update the prospect rankings in all four graduating classes currently enrolled in high school. For the Class of 2026, it means this is the last time they will be ranked throughout their careers, and the overall list (<em>rankings &amp; watch list included</em>) has expanded from 275 total prospects to 300 total prospects. With that said, below is one additional look at all of the talented small forwards the 2026 class has come to produce over the last four seasons. Below the rankings chart are some quick updates on a handful of uncommitted prospects (<em>as far as we are aware</em>).</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-69cb3d14a56af"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["624879"],"_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-69cb4beaac18e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Julia has been one of the most skilled wings in the 2026 class throughout her career, and she would be an absolute asset to most Division II, Division III, and NAIA schools in the Midwest. She handles the ball a great deal for South and initiates the offense like a point forward. She is a nice athlete with a motor, and she can get downhill and find open teammates or score it herself. As she has gotten stronger, she has finished more consistently inside. I also like her versatility defensively, and her ability to defend guards or wings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["665452"],"_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-69cb4beaac23c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Grace is a really nice basketball player, and she's one of my favorites to watch. She plays extremely hard, she's very physical whether she's inside or outside, and she has good all-around skill. She can play a wing spot offensively, knock down 3-pointers, attack the basket, or play effectively in the mid-post. Defensively, she is probably best as a '4', but she can defend some wings, I just worry a little about switching onto guards. She is another really nice scholarship candidate who can help someone immediately.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["928921"],"_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-69cb4beaac2a4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">D'Mari is a strong, tough-nosed, hard-working athlete. She is a driver first and foremost, and she loves to get downhill North/South and attack. She is aggressive, athletic, strong, and physical. She plays the wing position almost like a power forward, and she enjoys seeking contact on her attack to the basket. At the same time, she has a solid handle, she can change directions off the dribble, and she can get defenders off-balance. She's also a good rebounder with a nose for the ball, and a solid defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1221123"],"_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-69cb4beaac329"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Olivia is still somewhat under the radar because she attends a small school and doesn't pour in buckets. She was good at times throughout the Spring &amp; Summer, however, and she is very intriguing. She is extremely long, wiry, fluid, and somewhat smooth. She plays on the ball quite a bit, loves to get downhill, and creates offense for herself and teammates. She also does a really nice job of utilizing her length defensively to create deflections/steals. I really think her experience on the ball and her height/length can help a school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->