Winter Update: 2026 Small Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='553262' first='Chloe' last='Finney'] (2026) of McCutcheon High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The holiday season means it's time for the annual Winter rankings update. As it pertains to the Class of 2026, we have expanded the overall rankings and watch list from 185 total prospects to 200 total prospects, so there will likely be a handful of new names on each position list. Below is a look at the Small Forwards in 2026, with some analysis on a few who have stood out for one reason or another since our last update.</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-67867ed5813f6"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486473' first='Bailey' last='Hape'], 2026, 5-10 SF/SG, Evansville F.J. Reitz H.S.</strong><br>- Bailey is having the best season of her career, and subsequently the Reitz Panthers are 13-3. Bailey is a long, wiry-strong, versatile wing who does a little of everything for her team(s). She can handle the ball and run offense like a point forward, she has nice touch around the perimeter, and she can score it inside the arc. Additionally, she can defend multiple positions, plus she is a willing rebounder.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414465' first='Gabby' last='Helsom'], 2026, 5-11 SF, Homestead H.S.</strong><br>- Gabby has been a standout for the 16-2 Spartans. She is an elite shooter with a quick release and range well beyond the 3-point line. She has a strong frame, she's a solid all-around athlete, and she can get downhill and attack the basket as well. Defensively, she can take on bigger wings or undersized power players, plus Gabby is willing to get inside and rebound/mix it up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='732354' first='Vanessa' last='Rosswurm'], 2026, 5-9 SF/SG, Norwell H.S.</strong><br>- Every year the Knights seem to graduate key pieces and simply plug in someone new who takes off. Vanessa has gone from a really nice complementary player to a star quickly. She is a strong athlete, she can really score the ball from all three levels, plus she is a versatile defender. I'd expect her to be someone who will draw a lot of elite small college attention throughout the Spring &amp; Summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832668' first='Maizy' last='Smith'], 2026, 5-9 SF, Jeffersonville H.S.</strong><br>- Maizy transferred into Jeffersonville from rival New Albany this year, and she has made an instant impact. She is a long, wiry-strong athlete who can get to the basket. She is a capable 3-point shooter when she is set and finds rhythm, but she is better using her athleticism to get out and go. More importantly, she has proven herself to be a highly effective defender, on and off the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486126' first='Lilly' last='Sylvester'], 2026, 5-10 SF, Yorktown H.S.</strong><br>- I feel like Lilly has had a strong Junior season, and she has done a nice job over the past couple of years of transitioning into more of a true wing. When she was younger, she liked to operate in the mid-post and around the paint, but she has really worked on developing a more dynamic handle and making herself much more effective as a jump-shooter. She is also a more versatile and involved defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->