Who’s Powering the Class of 2026? Meet the Assist Leaders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assist leaders are typically players who excel at setting their teammates up for success. These players often have excellent court vision, great awareness, and embody unselfishness. The ability to read defenses, anticipate, and deliver accurate passes brings immense value to a team, but it can also elevate said team's offensive play altogether. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Get to know the players from the Class of 2026 who are repeatedly dropping dimes!!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Player</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>School</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>GP</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>AST</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648193' first='Rochelle' last='Lopez']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Penasco</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">110</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">255</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648195' first='Kjani' last='Anitielu']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Farmington</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">88</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">249</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648208' first='Skye' last='Henry']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Pine Hill</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">86</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">226</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648204' first='Daira' last='Solis Gutierrez']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Manzano</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">70</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">213</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648215' first='Mariella' last='Ruiz']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">St. Michael's'</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">77</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">212</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648219' first='Francesca' last='Otero']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Valencia</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">88</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">198</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648191' first='Jordyn' last='Dyer']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">La Cueva</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">91</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">191</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648203' first='Rebecca' last='Neal']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Highland</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">82</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">182</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648198' first='Taylianna' last='Castillo']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Silver</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">75</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">161</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='828810' first='Caris' last='Dale']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Farmington</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">66</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">145</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648193"],"_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-68ae72773e71b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout her career, Lopez has consistently done a good job of creating offense and transition opportunities for the Panthers. She has now averaged at least 2.2 assists for three consecutive seasons and has recorded four straight seasons with 56 or more assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648195"],"_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-68ae72773e77c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Antielu is a talented shooting-guard, whose ability to draw multiple defenders also allows her to create for others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This past season, Anitielu set a new career-high with 3.4 assists per game. She has now recorded her third consecutive season of averaging at least 2.1 assists for the Scorpions. Moreover, she has achieved back-to-back seasons with 90 or more assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648208"],"_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-68ae72773e7c5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Henry is a hardworking guard with a good feel and pace to her game. She is very comfortable getting her teammates involved and has achieved back-to-back seasons of averaging at least 3.0 assists per game for the Warriors. Additionally, she has recorded three consecutive seasons of averaging at least 2.3 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648204"],"_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-68ae72773e807"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This past season, Solis Gutierrez averaged 4.0 assists for the Monarchs over 25 games, a new career-high for the savvy 5'5" shooting-guard. Furthermore, it was the top mark among all players in the 2026 class. She has now recorded three straight seasons of averaging at least 2.2 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648215"],"_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-68ae72773e847"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ruiz is one of the premier facilitators in the class of 2026 thanks to her ability to get off the ball early. For the second consecutive season, Ruiz has dished out a minimum of 89 assists for St. Michael's and has averaged at least 3.7 assists per game. What's more, she has recorded 20 games with 5 or more dimes!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648219"],"_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-68ae72773e886"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Otero is arguably one of the more underrated play-makers within the class of 2026. She dished out a career-high 104 assists this last season, averaging 3.2 assists per game across 33 games for the Jaguars. The 5'7" small-forward has recorded back-to-back seasons averaging at least 2.3 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648191"],"_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-68ae72773e8c6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Due to being such an efficient scorer, Dyer sees a great deal of double-teams in the half-court. This has resulted in her having to share the ball, which she has no problem doing. This past season, she appeared in 30 games for the Bears and averaged a career-high 3.0 assists!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648203"],"_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-68ae72773e908"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Neal is an energetic play-maker and one of the few players comfortable operating from the high-post area. She averaged a career-high 2.8 assists per game for the Hornets this past season and has now achieved back-to-back seasons of averaging at least 2.0 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648198"],"_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-68ae72773e950"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Castillo is a promising combo-guard who has drawn interest from numerous collegiate programs. She has consistently delivered for the Colts, averaging 1.7 assists per game for three consecutive seasons. In a thrilling junior season showdown against Socorro, Castillo dished out a career-high 9 assists!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["828810"],"_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-68ae72773e98f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dale, a poised small-forward, has grown into an effective presence for the Scorpions since her debut in the 2022-23 season. As a junior, she frequently helped initiate the offense. She has averaged at least 2.3 assists per game for consecutive seasons, showcasing her reliability. She has also notched eight games with 5 or more assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Statistics via MaxPreps*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->