2026 Hidden Gems

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='567991' first='Callie' last='Alston'] (2026) of Orleans High School.   During this time of year, I like to reflect on the Spring & Summer grassroots season, think about names I heard consistently among the college coaches I talked to, and find some time to write about some talented players/prospects I didn't necessarily hear as much about. The following ladies can all be found on our 2026 watch list at this time, and I feel like they have a lot of value for the next level and should be seeing a bit more in terms of recruiting attention.   .    Callie had some really nice moments during the 2023 grassroots season but wasn't "on tour" this Spring or Summer. She is a long, wiry, bouncy, and fluid athlete. She plays with a nice motor and shows some versatility. I haven't seen her in a year, but she was showing the potential to be a full-time wing. As she continues to make her handle more dynamic and knock down perimeter jumpers with more consistency, I expect for her to fill that position as a college prospect. She certainly has the talent for it.     Speaking of talent, Ahniyah is one of the best pound-for-pound athletes in the state, regardless of size or class. She is extremely quick, fast, and vertically explosive. She attacks the paint, rises to shoot, and I feel like she's 3-feet off the floor. She has also doubled as a track star, and when you watch her play hoops, that part is obvious. She is great defensively in all aspects, and as she continues to tighten her skillset offensively, she could be a tremendous multilevel scorer, because you just can't keep her in front of you.     I've mentioned a number of times how tremendous Homestead's 2026 class is, and Kendall is a testament to that. In most other programs, she could likely be a 15 point per game scorer. She has a strong, physical frame, she competes and plays with a nice motor, plus she is a very good perimeter shooter. She does a nice job of playing a role and filling in on the wing or in the mid-post...basically wherever needed. She plays bigger than she is, plus she has learned how to score it at all levels, while also becoming an effective rebounder.     Hunter is a quick, fast, and crafty point guard prospect. She has nice length, she's smooth with the ball, and she seems to see things one or two steps ahead. She was not around this Spring or Summer, but during 2023 she was impressive, especially when she was able to get out in open space during transition. She is a bit hidden down on the Ohio River, and I think if she has another nice season in 2024-2025, plus she shows out again in the Spring of 2025, she could be one of those PGs who the elite Midwestern small colleges like.     Jordan is a really nice athlete, with length, wiry strength, and a real smoothness to her game. She has a nice lefty stroke from the perimeter, but in the last year she has used her athleticism a lot more in attacking the basket and drawing contact. I think another year of strength and experience will make her an even tougher assignment for most defenders. I look for her to potentially increase her 18.0 points per game from a year ago and make a run at 1000 career point sometime in early January.     Allyson was a nice "find" by the [program_tooltip program_id='712574' first='Indy' last='Magic'] this Spring & Summer after averaging just 0.4 points and 1.2 rebounds in 14 games during the 2023-2024 season. She is extremely long and wiry, fluidly athletic, and somewhat bouncy. Her future is much brighter than her present, because she still might squeeze out another inch or two, and she'll definitely get stronger and be able to absorb contact better. But she does play hard, she tries to be physical, and she looks like she has some skill to work with. She has a really nice ceiling.

The featured image is of Callie Alston Callie Alston 5'10" | PF/SF Orleans | 2026 IN (2026) of Orleans High School.