Surprise! We’re capping off a week of revised high school basketball rankings with introducing a new No. 1 player in the class of 2026!
As we go up the 2026 class rankings from the top-60 to the top-80, Brandon McCoy, the explosive point guard, has been named the greatest player in the class.
Before we get into the narratives that follow McCoy’s ascensions, we’d want to emphasize that the marathon for this class has only just begun. Prospects who are disappointed with their early ranking (or lack thereof) could look back at how previous classes were rated during the winter of their sophomore years.
Brandon McCoy obtaining the top rank in the class of 2026 isn’t exactly surprising. After all, when our inaugural 2026 class rankings in September, the 6-foot-4 point guard from Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco debuted as the No. 2 player in the class, trailing Napa (Calif.) Prolific Prep forward Tyran Stokes.
However, we do not make changes at the top without careful study. After closely observing both McCoy and Stokes over the last few months, we believe McCoy deserves to be ranked first.
McCoy is the best point guard talent we’ve seen in many years, with offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, California, Georgia Tech, Kansas, and others. He possesses height and talent, is a superb athlete, and plays with poise way above his years. McCoy is an instinctive player with a great feel for the game. What makes McCoy such a promising prospect is that the already talented player is only scraping the surface of his long-term potential.
Although McCoy was chosen for the top slot this time, Stokes remains unaffected. Stokes is a 6-foot-7 talent with agility and an advanced inside-outside game. He plays above the rim, shoots from distance, and is an above-average passer. Like McCoy, he has a large list of early offers from teams such as Alabama, Auburn, Kansas, Kentucky, and others.
At this time, McCoy and Stokes had established themselves as the class’s top two players. However, they will encounter competition as this class grows.
California high schools can claim the top two players in the 2026 revised rankings. However, the Golden State is brimming with exceptional potential. Four of the top five players in the class live in California, as do five of the top ten.
Caleb Holt, a lively and prolific Alabama wing, represents the Southeast at No. 3, although he’s followed by two Californians.
Alijah Arenas of Chatsworth (Calif.) High ranks fourth. The 6-foot-5 prodigy is the son of legendary NBA scorer Gilbert Arenas and possesses a combination of size, length, talent, and scoring ability. Jason Crowe, like Arenas, is already averaging 40 and 50 points a game at California’s Lynwood. The very gifted point guard comes in at No. 5.
Another professional legacy completes the top ten list of outstanding Californians. No. 18 Tajh Ariza is the son of Trevor Ariza, an 18-year NBA veteran. The 6-foot-7 swingman possesses size, talent, quick-twitch quickness, and an excellent jump shot. He’s still a little erratic, but his lineage, tools, and stature have allowed him to be one of the most significant risers at the top of the rankings.
