Empire State Under the Radar Prospects 2026

By Joshua Ebrahim   4-12-2026   The state of New York has long been recognized as a premier hotbed for basketball talent across the United States, proudly living up to its reputation as “The Mecca of Basketball.” Year after year, the Empire State continues to produce high-level players who make an impact at the next level in a variety of ways.   Today, we take a closer look at a group of prospects who bring the intangibles, those often overlooked qualities that don't always show up in the box score, but consistently influence winning and can ultimately change the outcome of a game      Brown is set to take her talents to Niagara next season and remains in the early stages of her development as a basketball player. She possesses an ideal size at 6'4" along with strong athleticism, and she continues to expand her skill set as she works toward becoming a more complete player at the next level. She plays with a high motor, runs the floor well, and displays soft touch around the basket, finishing effectively in the paint with nimble footwork in the post. Defensively, Brown has the potential to make an immediate impact as a rim protector. She shows good timing as a shot blocker and does a solid job contesting drivers attacking the rim. Brown is not afraid of physical play in the paint and uses solid footwork to create scoring opportunities in the post. She projects to thrive in a college environment that emphasizes player development and provides consistent repetitions to help refine her game.     Thomas flew under the radar for much of the season but proved to be one of the top scorers in the PSAL. An ultra-athletic guard, she carried a significant offensive load for her team and consistently produced. Thomas is a natural scorer with strong offensive instincts, with her ability to get to the basket and finish. She shows good mechanics and fluidity in her jump shot in the mid-range. While scoring is her primary strength, she also demonstrates solid basketball IQ and court vision, with the ability to facilitate for teammates when defenses collapse. She will need to continue to develop her handle and ability to protect the ball. At the next level, Thomas will benefit from gaining more experience in a structured system and getting more shots from the perimeter to become a three-level scorer, which should help her further maximize her mechanics, overall potential, and efficiency.     Gaddy is a force in the paint, playing with a physical, relentless presence on both ends of the floor. She runs the floor well and consistently generates easy scoring opportunities around the rim in transition. An excellent rebounder, Gaddy impacts the game on both the offensive and defensive glass. She's comfortable operating from the high post, where she can attack going either right or left, putting pressure on defenders off the dribble. Defensively, she provides strong rim protection, alters shots effectively, and plays solid one-on-one defense by contesting shots and boxing out. Around the basket, Gaddy shows fluid touch and finishes efficiently. Her continued improvement in footwork has helped her become more effective in creating scoring opportunities in the post.     Burden has a strong ability to turn defense into offense, reading passing lanes well, and creating transition opportunities. She pushes the break effectively and looks ahead to find rim runners for easy scoring chances. She plays a physical brand of basketball and combines that with a tight handle and shiftiness, allowing her to get downhill and finish with either hand at the rim. Around the basket, she shows good touch and body control. Burden projects to thrive in a system that emphasizes defensive pressure, dribble-drive action, and kick-out opportunities for perimeter shooters. She has solid shooting mechanics and is capable from beyond the arc, but will benefit from speeding up her release to become a more consistent threat at the next level.     Carlo is a true floor general who possesses court vision, playmaking, aCarlo is a true floor general who brings a strong blend of court vision, playmaking, and scoring ability. She led the state in three-point shooting while averaging an impressive 18 points per game during her senior season, highlighting her effectiveness as a perimeter threat. Carlo possesses a high-level basketball IQ, consistently making winning plays and demonstrating the ability to control tempo and push the pace when needed. Her shooting mechanics are fluid and compact, paired with a quick release that allows her to knock down shots from beyond the arc with consistency and confidence. She plays with a high motor and competes on every possession, doing whatever is necessary to contribute to team success. Off the bounce, Carlo can get to the basket going either direction and finishes with good touch around the rim. At the next level, continued development in creating her own shot against stronger defenders and handling full-court pressure will be key areas for growth, but her foundation as a playmaker and shooter gives her a strong ceiling.

By Joshua Ebrahim