Sophomores to Watch: 2026 Breakout Candidates

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The start of high school practice is less than a month away and it's never too early to start looking ahead to the 2023-2024 season. To start, I'd like to take a look at some Sophomore names that could break out in their final year at the high school level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["494367"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Already the best player on the Madison Southern roster, French is going to have to take the next step in her development if they're going to make the next step towards being a regional title contender. Hadley is a skilled scorer and is going to need to post even bigger numbers as well as being a distributor for a team that needs her to do it all to be competitive on any given night.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6511ec14238e8"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["376798"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Morgan County returns their core from a good 2022-23 season but Emma is absolutely a difference maker for them if she can develop. At 6'1, Clinger offers something that most in the region cannot and that's legitimate rim protection and rebounding. If Emma can go from 10 points and 8 rebounds per game to 15 and 12 while kicking in 3-5 blocks per game, Morgan County can be a real threat to win the region.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6511ec1423942"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["568110"],"_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_0_evaluation":"There seems to have been a Macke in the Highlands athletic program for over a decade now and Saylor is the latest to roam the halls and court for the Bluebirds. Saylor has been a bit of a three point specialist up to now and will need to become more comfortable driving to the rim and finishing through contact. If Saylor can keep improving like she has year over year, this can be a huge season for her.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6511ec1423990"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["376792"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Lily returns to public school after a one year detour at Mercy.  An an 8th grader in the 21-22 season, Brown averaged 11 points and 8 rebounds per game. After not seeing the varsity floor at Mercy last season, she's now at Eastern and will likely get right back to her double-double ways. Looking ahead, I expect her to rise back up our rankings by the end of her Sophomore season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6511ec1423a09"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_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_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6511ec1423a4d"} /-->