Standout 2026 Forwards Aplenty at the Girls Nixa Invitational

Earl Austin January 25, 2026 @ 06:18 PM

There was plenty on talent on hand at this weekend's Arvest Bank Girls Nixa Invitational Tournament. Today, we look at a group of Class of 2026 forwards who played well during the tournament.     [player_tooltip player_id='853127' first='Taylor' last='Wood'] (Nixa): The 5'10" 2026 forward was one of the best all-around players in the tournament. She averaged 23 points in the two games to lead the Eagles to a pair of victories. She plays every position on the floor and she does it very well. She's very smooth and under control as a playmaker and primary scorer. She shoots it well and she is very good on the drive. She handles the ball against pressure and she cannot be sped up. The best thing that I like is that things are very calm when she is on the court because of her steadiness and leadership.     [player_tooltip player_id='493496' first='Kumani' last='Clark'] (Battle): A 6'2" 2026 forward who was easily the strongest player that I watched during the weekend. She was really good at establishing her position in the low post and she was not being moved. She was also finishing with a nice drop step off the glass. She also scored on a nice jump hook over the left shoulder. I liked how she ran the court to get early post position. When she grabbed a rebound, she protected the ball well anybody trying to take the ball away from her was just wasting their time.     [player_tooltip player_id='895168' first='Gwen' last='Kubik'] (Nixa): A 6'0" 2026 forward who used her length and athleticism to really impact play on the defensive end. She was blocking shots with her length and timing without risking any fouls. She was always the second player off the floor when she went for swats. She was also mobile and rebounding the ball out of her area. She was also a switchable defender who can guard on the perimeter she had to. She also catches the ball well inside and scores with a nice touch around the basket.     [player_tooltip player_id='433312' first='Awbree' last='Berning'] (Republic): A 5'10" small forward who plays with good fundamentals and versatility in her game. She can operate in the point-forward role very well with her ability to be a playmaker who can handle the ball and make good decisions. She can beat a defender on the straight line drive and she can also get a bucket through contact. She will also hit the open 3-pointer. She is a good weak side defender who makes good rotations to get steals and deflections.     Addi Brown (Republic): A 6'0" forward who has a very nice skill set to go along with her height and athletic ability. She can stretch the floor with her 3-point shooting. She hit multiple triples in the victory over Helias on Thursday night. She also hit the mid-range jumper off the dribble as she could attack the close out with a shot fake.     [player_tooltip player_id='1235023' first='Claire' last='Morris'] (Helias): A 5'9" 2026 forward who may be undersized for a post player, but she plays much bigger than her height. She is strong she plays aggressive inside and she can score with a variety of moves. She gets good positioning the weakside to get offensive rebounds and putbacks. She will also run the court to either get early post position or a offensive rebound. I am impressed with her combination of mobility and toughness.

There was plenty on talent on hand at this weekend's Arvest Bank Girls Nixa Invitational Tournament. Today, we look at a group of Class of 2026 forwards who played well during the tournament.