Fall Update: 2026 Power Forwards

The featured image is a throwback from 2022 of [player_tooltip player_id='462366' first='Alivia' last='Bolinger'] (2026) from Concordia Lutheran High School.   Quarterly, Prep Girls Hoops Indiana releases its updated rankings for each class. Last Thursday, we released our Fall Update for the Class of 2026. There was some slight movement throughout the Top 125, in addition to several new additions to the watch list, as we added 27 prospects to what already existed. Below is a look at the prospects currently listed with the power forward position as their primary position.    .   BREAKOUT CANDIDATES: [player_tooltip player_id='928873' first='Sammy' last='Clark'], 2026, 6-0 PF, Brownsburg H.S. - Sammy's name has been abuzz among some of the better small college coaches in the Midwest, but she is still looking for that breakout moment during the Winter months. Last season, she averaged just 3.7 points and 1.4 rebounds per game, but she also played on a high school team with a great deal of size. Throughout the Spring & Summer grassroots months, she flashes a pretty jump-shot, athleticism, and a nice motor. This year, I think the Bulldogs will be able to put her to better use, following the graduation of a couple of 2025 front-liners.   [player_tooltip player_id='883672' first='Jade' last='Mount'], 2026, 5-11 PF/C, Lebanon H.S. - After watching Jade at a holiday tournament last December, I saw her extensively in April and July. She is very intriguing. She is a powerful post prospect, she has good hands, solid footwork, and she impressed me with her balance and ability to make odd-angled shots. In this era where everyone wants a 6-2+ post, I feel like Jade understands how to play against height, she has developed a face-up game as well, and she shows some versatility. She is the best of the returnees at Lebanon this season, and she could be a 14-point, 10-rebound per game kid.   [player_tooltip player_id='486503' first='Melaney' last='Williams'], 2026, 6-0 PF, Merrillville H.S. - Melaney has had a very strange career for the Pirates, but she doesn't lack for talent. After averaging 9.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a Freshman, she has totaled about the same number of points & rebounds the last two years combined as she totaled in her rookie season alone. She is long, wiry-strong, bouncy, and active forward. I feel like she could take over games with her ability, and she has the potential to average a double-double. If Merrillville is to have much success this season, she will be a big reason why, because she does possess talent and skill.   ON THE RISE: [player_tooltip player_id='462366' first='Alivia' last='Bolinger'], 2026, 6-1 PF/SF, Concordia Lutheran H.S. - Alivia blew up in May, then again played extremely well throughout July. What she did that was most important to coaches was make shots. She showcased a pretty jumper with a quick release, and she was consistent. She has nice length, she's somewhat bouncy, and she's a fairly fluid athlete. She played so well that she earned an offer from, and has committed to, NCAA Division I Purdue University-Fort Wayne, so she won't be going far from home. Concordia hasn't won a Sectional since 2018, but Alivia is the type of player who could help them compete for a title.   [player_tooltip player_id='1131990' first='Jillian' last='Salts'], 2026, 5-11 PF, Carroll H.S. (Flora) - I caught Jillian in action for the first times throughout July, and she is another intriguing player who is starting to rise a bit on college lists, because everyone likes skilled forwards. She is a solid all-around athlete, she possesses a really nice mid-post game, and she plays with a strong motor as well. She does a lot of the "little things" to help her team(s), but I think there is still room for her to improve in college. Look for her to have a big Senior year for the Cougars, but then, I anticipate her being strong college player by her Junior year at that level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1038868' first='Ruby' last='Singer'], 2026, 5-11 PF, Franklin County H.S. - This Summer was also my first time seeing Ruby play at length, and I was very surprised/impressed with her play. She has a solid to strong frame, she can move people a little inside and rebound/defend, but she is much better as a skilled face-up '4' around the perimeter. She is deceptively athletic and has good balance, she has nice touch from the 3-point line, and she chases down rebounds. She's also a versatile defender who can take on undersized posts, true power forwards, and even some taller wings. I think she offers a lot of small college value.   NEW TO THE SCENE: [player_tooltip player_id='1357826' first='Morgan' last='Anderson'], 2026, 5-11 PF/C, Pike H.S. - In a loaded frontcourt at Pike, Morgan sometimes gets a bit overlooked. However, she has some "bully" in her when playing inside, and I think she could add some real value for the Red Devils this season as a contributing rotation player. She is very strong, hard-working, and tough. Over the past couple of years, she has also added some touch in the mid-post and the short corners, and her ability to stretch her game will help her recruiting. I think she has definite upside for the next level, and she could be a handful this Winter for the Red Devils.   [player_tooltip player_id='496022' first='Haley' last='Blackburn'], 2026, 5-11 PF, Lafayette Jefferson H.S. - Haley began her career at West Lafayette Harrison before transferring to Jefferson, and she immediately brought some size, length, and athleticism that they didn't really possess in their frontcourt. She can play physically inside, or she can operate in the mid-post and short corners, especially against zone. She does have some touch, a solid understanding of the game, and a nice motor. The next step is for her to be just a bit more dynamic and assertive offensively, especially with all of Jefferson's good guards drawing so much attention.   [player_tooltip player_id='1357828' first='Sophia' last='Dyer'], 2026, 6-0 PF, Whiteland Community H.S. - Sophia really just popped up on my radar, and she is a talented volleyball player as well. As for basketball, she is a nice all-around athlete, she boxes out and pursues rebounds, plus she can score it a little. She will be one of Whiteland's best players this season, after averaging 13.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game as a Junior. She has continually improved her jump-shot, and I think that's a part of her game that could be a game-changer this season for her and the Lady Warriors. If she doesn't pick volleyball, she could be a nice small college hooper.   [player_tooltip player_id='1357830' first='Layla' last='Hart'], 2026, 5-9 PF/SF, Hammond Central H.S. - Layla is a ball of energy. She has a strong, athletic frame, broad shoulders, and some length, but it's her athleticism and ability to get up & down the floor, rebound, defend, and find easy baskets around the paint that stand out. She does have the athletic potential to eventually become a wing, especially defensively, but she'll need to continue building her perimeter skillset and understanding of the game. At the same time, I think she works extremely hard, she is tough-nosed, and she can contribute immediately because she is just a competitor.   [player_tooltip player_id='1219775' first='Addison' last='Hendrixson'], 2026, 5-9 PF, Tri-Township H.S. - Addison is an absolute worker. She might be considered a bit "undersized", but she always outworks her matchups, she's a solid all-around athlete, and she produces. She will pursue rebounds outside of her area, she can sit down and defend the perimeter or battle undersized posts inside, and she comes up with a lot of plays that affect winning. I do think she has a nice mid-post face-up game, and as she continues to stretch her game consistently to the perimeter, she could become a solid wing sometime during her college career.   [player_tooltip player_id='1357834' first='Kyra' last='Kiser'], 2026, 5-8 PF, Warsaw Community H.S. - Kyra isn't one of the bigger names on Warsaw's outstanding team, but she has starting experience because she is a worker who does a lot of the "little things" that helps them win games. She is a solid athlete, she possesses a little length, plus she has some skill and a good understanding of the game. She is a tough kid who will go inside to rebound, but on occasion, she can knock down open jumpers when in rhythm. I also think she's a tough-nosed, versatile defender who can take on bigger guards, wings, and forwards alike. She has definite small college value.   [player_tooltip player_id='1357845' first='Brodie' last='Radtke'], 2026, 5-8 PF, Rensselaer Central H.S. - Rensselaer Central had an outstanding 2024-2025 season, and Brodie did a lot of the work inside the arc. She is as tough-nosed as they come, she works hard to battle for boards and keep possessions alive, plus she has a solid mid-post jumper and can find opportunistic scores. Additionally, she is a capable defender, whether that's against wings, forwards, or undersized posts. She does a lot of those "little things" that help the Lady Bombers succeed. She might need to score a little more for them this year, but she is a solid small college prospect who can help someone.   [player_tooltip player_id='1219771' first='Sarah' last='Thompson'], 2026, 5-9 PF/SF, Oregon-Davis H.S. - Sarah has some similarities to a lot of these girls on this list, but she has also played since her Freshman year and has been an important scoring threat for the Lady Bobcats. Sarah is a nice all-around athlete, she's an active rebounder & defender, plus she has shown the ability to make shots at all three levels. I felt like she really stepped up during July and helped her grassroots team play well towards the end of the month. She was more aggressive at that level, and she showed the toughness and physicality to play effective small college basketball.

The featured image is a throwback from 2022 of Alivia Bolinger Alivia Bolinger 6'1" | PF/SF Concordia Lutheran | 2026 State IN (2026) from Concordia Lutheran High School.