2026 Stock Risers: Small Forwards

The 2026 rankings list now features 300 ranked prospects and 430 total. At this stage in the recruiting calendar, the offers on the table are an indicator of what level college coaches believe a prospect can play at. If there are no offers on the table, it's time for prospects to start reaching out to NAIA, D3, and JUCO programs. We believe, as a general rule, that now is the time when NAIA/D3/JUCO colleges are prioritizing the 2026 class, and they will continue to do so until roster spots are filled for next season. There are prospects whose current offers do not represent our evaluation of their abilities, and offers are not the ultimate measure we use to rank players. However, offers are a category in the evaluation criteria that we reflect upon during the rankings process.   Every high school season reveals more prospects across the state who don't play travel basketball but have qualities that make them a valuable college prospect. Most often, these prospects are NAIA/D3/JUCO rotational or JV/Reserve players. We do our best to find every prospect in the state who can play any level of college basketball. Colleges are always in need of new players to recruit who can help their teams compete--prospects who have a desire to play after high school. That's why it's so important for us to find as many players with college potential as possible and why it pains us when we miss any high school player who belongs in the rankings. Although it's impossible to see and evaluate everyone, that's our ultimate goal.   There will always be debate about which prospect is "better" than another, especially when comparing prospects who are being recruited to play at the same college level. As the rankings expand, there becomes less separation between prospects, with many fitting the mold of a JV/Reserve caliber player. Keeping all of that in mind, we feel very good about the accuracy and usefulness of our rankings as a respectable resource for college coaches to use.   Here are six small forwards who climbed our rankings in the latest update.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2025/09/michigan-rankings-in-depth/">Rankings Explained</a>     Kolie picked up an offer from Jackson College in August and she will be a key player for Columbia Central again this winter. Kolie has length and a versatile skill set that makes her effective inside or on the perimeter. Her active hands in the passing lanes create deflections and she drives hard downhill to score layups. Kolie has a confident mid-range jumper and finishes well off two feet with either hand.     Izzy is a leader in the Fowlerville program and will be one of their top senior prospects to watch this winter. She had a solid showing at Northwood Team Camp and contributed to the team in several categories. Izzy works hard to secure rebounds and finishes well around the basket with either hand, off one or two feet. She drives with a burst downhill off the dribble and disrupts passing lanes on the defensive end. Izzy can knock down perimeter jumpers and is an all-around difference maker.     Kendall made a great first impression at [program_tooltip program_id='715769' first='Pride' last='Basketball 21'] practice, had a productive travel season, and looked great for St. Charles at Northwood Team Camp. She finished effectively around the basket, drove hard to the basket, earned trips to the free-throw line, and made smart cuts off the ball. Kendall posts up defenders, handles the ball confidently, works hard on defense, and fills it up from beyond the arc. She picked up offers from Montcalm C.C. and Bethany College in August. Kendall will be a senior to follow this winter.     Harper had a great summer for Northville at the Plymouth Summer League and Northwood Team Camp. She's a strong rebounder and finisher in the paint. Harper pressures the ball relentlessly and cuts off drives with her quick feet. She moves well without the ball and competes to the max from start to finish. Harper will have an important role for the Mustangs this winter and would be a great addition to a college program.     Payton grabbed my attention at a tournament with [program_tooltip program_id='1239258' first='HB' last='Elite'] in the spring, and she turned in an impressive performance with her high school squad at the Big North Shootout. Her length and versatility as a scorer immediately stand out on the court. Payton penetrates the defense with her dribble to score layups and steps outside to bury three-pointers. She protects the rim as a shot blocker, finishes well with both hands, and has a variety of dribble moves in her toolbox. Payton will be a tough matchup this winter and is one of the reasons why Gaylord St. Mary's has a chance to make a deep playoff run.     Addy was a First Team All-Conference player as a junior and helped guide Calvin Christian to a Quarterfinals appearance with a clutch 20-point performance in the Regional Finals. Addy uses her length and strength to make a difference on the glass. She's a confident three-point shooter off the catch or the dribble. Addy handles the ball well with both hands and uses her body to create space on drives to finish contested shots. She's a great addition to Calvin's 2026 recruiting class and should be in store for a huge senior season.

The 2026 rankings list now features 300 ranked prospects and 430 total. At this stage in the recruiting calendar, the offers on the table are an indicator of what level college coaches believe a prospect can play at. If there are no offers on the table, it's time for prospects to start reaching out to NAIA, D3, and JUCO programs. We believe, as a general rule, that now is the time when NAIA/D3/JUCO colleges are prioritizing the 2026 class, and they will continue to do so until roster spots are filled for next season. There are prospects whose current offers do not represent our evaluation of their abilities, and offers are not the ultimate measure we use to rank players. However, offers are a category in the evaluation criteria that we reflect upon during the rankings process.