Hot Topic Questions from On3's Initial 2026 Ranking

On Tuesday, On3 released its initial class of 2026 ranking. Coming off summer basketball and the national elite camps, this is the first version of this recruiting cycle.

This ranking saw AJ Dybantsa at the top of the list. In total, the initial class of 2026 ranking had two five-star prospects, Dybantsa’s high school teammate Tyran Stokes was the other.

On3’s rankings use a baseline of first projecting for the NBA Draft, with a career in the league being a secondary projection tool. Our goal is to assess a prospect’s long-term potential, ultimately manifest by the NBA Draft. We look at a player’s career developmental arc and how each of their games projects moving forward. 

Storylines from On3’s initial 2026 rankings

Here are some of the hot topic questions, applied to the 2026 class, that we get after each update.

How close was the race for No. 1?

In short, this one was not very close; from the beginning of the conversations for this ranking, AJ Dybantsa was the guy. In fact, the conversation is very real for Dybantsa to be the No. 1 prospect in all of high school basketball. 

Physically, Dybantsa looks the part. At 6-foot-8, he has the positional size the highest levels of basketball look at for wings. He has long arms with wide-set shoulders, showing off a projectable frame for which to grow into. Dybantsa is a good athlete, both explosive vertically and fluid laterally.

The game also comes very easy for Dybantsa. He is wired to score the basketball, and he has a variety of go-to moves and counters to do so. His poise from the elbows and in the mid-post get him clean looks at the basket. While he needs to continue working on his balance, he is a threat to knock down a three in the flow of the offense. Dybantsa is excellent in transition, and he processes the game naturally, reading the floor and delivering on-target and on-time passes.

This was a one-person conversation that lasted about as long as it took to write AJ Dybantsa’s name at the top of the list.

Which player(s) are you higher on than others?

In looking across the recruiting landscape, not many others have ranked the 2026 class yet. I will be curious to see where others have Long Island (NY) Long Island Lutheran point guard Dylan Mingo, Montverde (FL) Academy shooting guard Kayden Allen, and Marietta (GA) The Walker School power forward Moustapha Diop. 

At a lengthy 6-foot-4, Mingo is a bigger guard who sees the floor very well and delivers creative passes. Kayden Allen is simply a bucket-getter with confidence at each level and the ability to create for himself. Moustapha Diop is a fluid, well put together forward who shows the promise of touch with pop and ball skills while moving fluidly like a wing.

This class has a long way to go. On3 will have no less than six more updates before we finalize this cycle. It is always interesting to see where things settle.

Who was the toughest player in the class to rank?

This early in the process, it is always tricky to rank players. Especially when the objective is looking toward the NBA Draft. Most of the players in this ranking are between 14 and 16 years old. Not only is that a wide range between the players, but it also shows how far in the developmental process this class has to go. Over the next two or three years, we will see each of these players numerous times and in multiple team and individual settings. We will be on top of how they develop and how they mature to have a keen understanding of the trajectory they are on, exiting high school and heading toward the next level. 

For the purposes of this question, the bigs are always a good place to start. An old but mostly true statement in the scouting world is that it typically takes bigs longer to get comfortable in their own skin. Take a look at players like Windermere (FL) Windermere Prep 7-foot-0 center Sinan Huan and Saint Louis (MO) St. John Vianney 7-foot-3 center Symon Ghai. Both need strength; both are raw, but both have natural athleticism, fluidity, and touch that is very intriguing. While watching them now, the production might not match the tools; however, as they continue to mature and get comfortable with their size and frames, their development is worth monitoring. 

Which player could you see outplaying their ranking?

To be honest, at this stage in the recruiting cycle, just about every player on this list is capable of taking strides. One player I will be interested in seeing where his game goes moving forward is Salt Lake City (UT) Utah Prep forward Gavin Placide. 

Standing around 6-foot-7, maybe 6-foot-8, Placide is lengthy, fluid, and athletic. Watching him play, the way he glides up and down the floor is intriguing. With the ball in his hands, you see comfort in putting it on the floor and making plays. He can push the break in transition, and he is capable of knocking down a jump shot from beyond the arc. He will need to continue tightening his tools and getting stronger across the board, but the intrigue is high. 

Another player that I am curious to see where his game takes him is Steven Reynolds. The South Bend (IN) Washington High guard has a natural feel for the game. While he did not play travel ball this summer, he averaged 13.3 points and shot 35 percent from three this high school season. Reynolds has good positional size for either guard position, at 6-foot-4, but what stood out with his game was his processing and ability to make a play. It will be interesting to see which guard spot he migrates toward as he continues to develop.