Class of 2026: Next Five
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After releasing the 2027 rankings this past week, we’re starting the 2026 rankings content today. Today, we’ll talk in-depth about the top ten kids in the class. Tomorrow, we talk about the next ten kids in the top 20. Ady…
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Continue ReadingAfter releasing the 2027 rankings this past week, we’re starting the 2026 rankings content today. Today, we’ll talk in-depth about the top ten kids in the class. Tomorrow, we talk about the next ten kids in the top 20.
Ady Ketterhagen Ady Ketterhagen 5'9" | PG Oostburg | 2026 State WI
There isn’t a point guard in this class who’s as dynamic of a creator as Ketterhagen. I’ve seen Ady Ketterhagen Ady Ketterhagen 5'9" | PG Oostburg | 2026 State WI take games over as a creator, disruptor, scorer, and perimeter defender. Whenever I watch her play, she’ll make plays that few others can when it comes to passing. Ady does an excellent job of passing kids open, even if they don’t realize they’re in a position to score, and her teammates trust her to make the right play with the ball in her hands. Even though she’s a kid who can score 30 on any night, she doesn’t force anything and plays as selfless as anyone could hope their lead guard to play like.
Kovacic is instant offense when she’s at her best, and when she’s in a zone, no defense can get her out of it. Kovacic popped on the scene last season with impressive performances against teams like Waupun, Germantown at state, and Neenah. I’ve also loved her level of engagement on the defensive end. Playing with a kid like Shae Kelley Shae Kelley 5'9" | PG Brookfield East | 2024 State WI and a team like Brookfield East, who prioritizes their defense, has improved her defensive IQ. However, she can win her team games based on how well she can score.
Rachael Chilicki Rachael Chilicki 6'3" | C Mukwonago | 2026 State WI
Chilicki might be the best post-player in the state. The Mukwonago post player does everything you’d want a post to do and does it well. She’s a 6-3 kid who runs the floor well, can seal smaller defenders, finishes with both hands, scores over either shoulder and makes contetsted catches in traffic. As she continues to excel in the Classic Eight, people will start respecting her more and more.
Libby Gilmore Libby Gilmore 5'9" | SG Arrowhead | 2026 State WI
I love do-it-all kids like Gilmore, and she’s raised her value by showing she can defend some of the best players in the state and make life difficult for them. She’s a 5-10 physical wing who isn’t afraid to dive after loose balls, use her body to keep kids from going where they want, and she loves crashing the boards to close out possessions with a rebound. Gilmore has also improved her offensive game by improving her shooting and getting downhill whenever she can beat her initial defender off the dribble. Whenever she attacks the basket, Gilmore proves she can create open shots for others. In each Arrowhead game I’ve attended, Gilmore recorded around four assists.
Presly Samz Presly Samz 5'7" | PG Arrowhead | 2026 State WI
Samz may never be a kid who scores 30, physically intimidates anyone, or goes viral because she has fancy dribble moves, but she wins games. It doesn’t matter if she’s with her Wisconsin Lakers group or Arrowhead; her team wins most of their games, which isn’t an accident. Samz maximizes what her team can do on every possession. She has active hands on the defensive end and bothers guards at the point of attack. Offensively, she doesn’t turn the ball over and passes to her teammates where they can succeed. No matter who she plays for at the next level, she’ll improve that team by being herself.