Recruits On The Rise: In this content series I’ll be diving into a collection of 2026 prospects who have been garnering buzz on the recruiting trail. Make sure to check out our full list of rankings for the 2023-2026 classes here.
Jalan Wingfield
2026 | 6’7” Wing | Thomas County Central (GA) & AE5 (3SSB)
Wingfield holds early offers from Georgia, Kennesaw State, Seattle and Cincinnati. The Georgia prospect has appealing intrigue and he should see his recruitment continue to expand. One to look out for down South and he’ll be strongly considered to enter the national rankings in their next update.
Wingfield possesses an intriguing blend of physical tools given his mix of positional size, long arms and a springy vertical. Mismatch nightmare who is a skilled face-up scorer with range that extends out to the three-point line. Capable pull-up scorer that has also flashed his fair share of shotmaking ability on tape. Wingfield is a reliable finisher with his dominant hand and he’s also shown glimpses of his explosive verticality. Productive positional rebounder who leverages his size, motor and quick first jump to reel in rebounds.
Sheek Pearson
2026 | 6’9” Big | John Burroughs (MO) & Bradley Beal Elite (EYBL)
Pearson popped onto our radar this spring & summer with Bradley Beal Elite’s E15 group. He earned his first offer from St. Louis in July and he’s another prospect who is bound to see his recruitment expand. May not be in the Top-150 at this point, however he could very well be ranked in the near future. One to keep an eye on at John Burroughs (MO) next season.
Pearson is a mobile and rangy athlete who is a highly productive defensive anchor & rim protector. Capable back to the basket scorer with a high release point on jump hooks or finishes in the paint. Prominent rim runner who can earn high-percentage looks beating opponents down the floor. Has flashed growing hand strength & coordination when it comes to securing lobs or drop-down passes. Leverages ample ground coverage, strong instincts & his length to be productive as a shotblocker. There’s room to add strength and offensive versatility, however there’s an undeniably high ceiling for him to reach.
Qayden Samuels
2026 | 6’4” Guard | Bishop McNamara (MD) & Team Takeover (EYBL)
Samuels popped onto my radar throughout the regular season of the EYBL. He put together some big outings at Peach Jam where he averaged 13.7 PPG and 4.5 RPG on 59% from the field & 50% from 3PT range. The Team Takeover product has added offers from Maryland, Providence, Illinois, VCU, and Virginia Tech this summer.
Samuels is a lengthy athlete with a skilled offensive arsenal & multilevel scoring ability. He’s a smooth pull-up scorer with extensive range & touch, plus he’s a comfortable movement shooter as well. His shotmaking prowess forces opponents to run him off the three-point line where he has the burst & long strides to attack closeouts. Samuels has flashed some craft with a soft float game & flexible finishes in traffic. Potential defensive playmaker who also showed glimpses of his ability to leverage his length when jumping passing lanes. The Maryland native is another DMV prospect to look out for in the 2026 class.
Isaiah Ward (#23 in 2026)
2026 | 6’5” Wing | Brennan (TX) & SA Future
Top-25 wing Isaiah Ward saw another bump in the latest update of our 2026 national rankings. The Texas native has added offers from New Mexico State and Mississippi State this summer. He’s a fast-riser down South who projects as a high-major prospect in his class.
Ward has risen quickly this AAU season while playing alongside Top-20 2025 guard Kingston Flemings. He’s a physical & tough athlete at 6’5” who is a highly productive slasher. Possesses promising shooting mechanics & legitimate upside as a versatile scorer. Plays with a relentless motor on both ends of the floor & he is also a strong positional rebounder. Tough defender on the point of attack who has shown glimpses of his ability to wall-off ball handlers & defend in space. Impacts the game in numerous facets at an early stage and he continues to get better at a steady rate. One we’re keeping close tabs on down in Texas.
Austin Brown (#76 in 2026)
2026 | 6’7” Wing | Lufkin (TX) & JL3 (EYBL)
Top-80 2026 wing Austin Brown earned his latest offer from Texas Tech back in June. He’s another prospect on the rise down South and we’ll be keeping close tabs on him in the coming years. The JL3 (EYBL) product averaged 12.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG and 2.4 APG on 45% from the field & 42% from 3PT range during the Nike EYBL regular season.
Brown is a shotmaking wing with an intriguing mix of positional size and shooting at 6’7”. He consistently demonstrated his extensive range and touch this spring. Also came away impressed with his playmaking & quick processingflashes throughout the EYBL Circuit. Played within his skillset while being assertive & making strong reads. Showed glimpses of his connector traits with his mix of processing, feel and improved decision-making. Possesses a lean frame to add muscle onto in the coming years as well.
Justin Caldwell
2026 | 6’8” Big | Trinity Christian School (NC) & Boo Williams (EYBL)
Caldwell is another prospect who is poised to see his recruitment expand over the next few years. He popped onto my radar at Session Four of the Nike EYBL in Memphis where he averaged 17.5 PPG and 10.5 PPG for Boo Williams E15 group. He holds an offer from Hampton, however expect more programs to get involved soon.
Caldwell is a mobile, tough and well-built athlete who can has the potential to be a double-double machine. Powerful back to the basket scorer who has the size and strength to exploit smaller mismatches in the post. Possesses the strength to take bumps & play through contact around the rim as well. Showed glimpses of his soft hands and solid footwork this spring/summer as well. Also flashed the ability to knock down face-up jumpers in the 12-15 foot area, however he tends to do majority of his damage offensively in the paint. Highly productive rebounder who plays with an aggressive motor and toughness on the glass.
Tay Kinney (#105 in 2026)
2026 | 6’0” Guard | Newport (KY) & All Ohio (EYBL)
Top-105 2026 guard Tay Kinney is a prospect whose steadily risen up the rankings. The Kentucky native averaged 17.5 PPG, 4.0 APG, and 3.5 RPG at Peach Jam for All Ohio’s E15 group. He’s added offers from Louisville, Illinois, Cincinnati, and Xavier this spring/summer. Could very well end up becoming a priority recruit for programs across the Midwest.
Kinney is a shifty ball handler at the point of attack with plenty of burst & counter moves. Prominent downhill playmaker who has a strong feel as a dribble-drive creator off the bounce. Demonstrates a strong feel in the open floor and when operating the pick & roll. Capable shotmaker who has extensive range and touch, plus he can create space & advantages with his handle. Possesses touch around the rim that is highlighted with his soft float game. Was impressed with his physicality & productivity on the glass in Augusta as well. Scrappy & laterally quick on-ball defender who also recorded 1.5 SPG at Peach Jam.
Keiner Asprilla
2026 | 7’0” Big | Don Bosco Prep (NJ) & NY Rens (EYBL)
Asprilla earned his first Division-One offers from Northern Illinois and Kansas State this summer. He’s a prospect who will likely enter our 2026 rankings in their next update and there’s a ton of long-term promise within his game. The NY Rens (EYBL) product averaged 11.0 PPG and 11.0 RPG on 56% from the field during the regular season of the Nike EYBL.
Got to see him a few weeks back during the final live period at Marquee Hoops Summer Jumpoff and this was what I had to say following the event: Asprilla continues to make strides in his game and he’s a frontcourt prospect on the rise in the 2026 class. His blend of imposing positional size (7’0”), disruptive length and a sturdy frame allow him to be a heavy two-way producer on the interior. Physical low-post scorer who has a ridiculous standing reach that tends to make his shots nearly impossible to block. Prominent putback threat on the offensive glass who leverages his strength & size to generate advantages when positioning himself on the interior. An assertive rim protector who continues to flash growing instincts & timing as a shotblocker, plus he’s made noticeable strides as a rim-runner.
