On the brink of another high school season On3 releases initial 2026 ranking

On3 has released its initial class of 2026 rankings. This is the first update for the 2026 recruiting cycle, and the list rolled out for 50 names.

Initial 2026 On3 Top 50

This is the third class that we are currently working through, with both the 2024 and 2025 cycles already expanded to a full 150 names. Our national basketball team has spent the past several weeks diving into film and taking in live viewings from major events like USA Basketball, Nike EYBL, Adidas 3SSB, Under Armour Next, June Scholastic Live Periods, Pangos All-American Camp, NBPA Top 100 Camp, and more to evaluate the top 2026 prospects across the full recruiting landscape. 

Player evaluations never stop, and that is especially true as players are just entering their sophomore years of high school. Everyone develops at a different pace, and that is taken into account. On3’s national team will get updated viewings of each player throughout the course of their recruiting cycle and be able to document each viewing to truly encapsulate a player’s developmental arc. 

On3 heavily prioritized how players finished their high school seasons, looking at their career’s developmental arcs and how their games project forward. We also looked strongly at each player’s performance during the spring travel ball seasons and how they competed against their peers at elite spring camps. Every viewing of a player plays a role in their evaluation, and it is advantageous to get eyes on a player in multiple settings.

On3 basketball rankings

The basketball player rankings scale is as follows: five-star prospects have grades 98-100, four-star recruits have grades 90-97, and three-star recruits have grades 80-89.

The first two players in this initial ranking are five-stars, players with a rating of 98 or higher. Players ranked No. 3 to 5 are classified as four-stars with grades from 90 to 97. The remainder of the position rankings are considered three-stars.

Our goal is to assess a prospect’s long-term potential, ultimately manifested by the NBA Draft. The goal of the ranking is not to assess who had the best high school career or who will be the best college player. This is why we will shoot to have 14 five-star prospects following the lead of the NBA Draft Lottery. The vision is draft night.

Here are some of the storylines surrounding the initial 2026 On3 top 50.

Dybantsa and Stokes in a League of their own

AJ Dybantsa and Tyran Stokes debuted in the initial 2026 On3 50 as No. 1 and No. 2. The teammates at Napa (CA) Prolific Prep are also the only five-star players in this ranking.

Dybantsa is a 6-foot-8 wing that is originally from Massachusetts. Scoring comes easy for him; it is natural. To use a phrase that gets thrown around far too loosely, Dybantsa has true three-level scoring ability. His 17.1 points per game finished the regular season in the top 20 on the Nike EYBL Circuit. 

He turned things up a notch during Peach Jam. Playing up two age groups, Dybantsa led all players in scoring at 25.8 points, more than 4.5 points more than the second person. In total, he averaged 20.6 points and shot 50.4% from the field.

He is polished beyond his years. Compact in his movements and able to get to his spots on the floor. He carries next-level length and positional size, and while he is an explosive athlete, he plays with a great pace on the floor, never rushed. 

While Dybantsa probes his way around the court, Stokes uses his physicality to his advantage. Stokes is a 6-foot-7, 215-pound 15-year-old wing who is originally from Louisville, Kentucky. 

Stokes was teammates with Dybantsa on this summer’s USA Basketball U16 team. The pair won a gold medal in the FIBA Americas Championships. Stokes played 16.1 minutes per game and averaged 10.3 points on 63.6% shooting from the field. 

While Stokes is one of the more explosive players in his class and also one of the strongest, he also has the makings of an intriguing feel for the game. He will still need to tighten up the passing, but the reads can be high level. He averaged 3.8 assists for the U16 team. 

Like Dybantsa, Stokes played up two age groups on Nike’s EYBL Circuit this summer. There, his Vegas Elite team made a run all the way to the Peach Jam Finals. Stokes started every game. His passing was on full display there as well, finishing the season averaging 3.7 assists. He also showed chops on the defensive end, especially with his anticipation in the passing lanes. Stokes finished fourth during Peach Jam with 2.5 steals per game; he averaged 1.7 steals throughout the full EYBL season. 

Positional Distribution

Seventeen of the players ranked in On3’s initial 2026 ranking are small forwards. This includes both of the top two players, AJ Dybantsa and Tyran Stokes. Here is the positional breakdown of the top 50.

Small Forward – 17
Shooting Guard – 12
Point Guard – 8
Center – 7
Combo Guard – 3
Power Forward – 3

Where the Talent Comes From

Florida led the way here with nine players in On3’s initial 2026 rankings. The highest-ranked Florida-based player is small forward Alex Constanza, from Palmetto Bay (FL) Westminster Christian, at No. 6. Along with Florida, ten states had multiple players in the initial ranking.

California – 7
Texas – 4
Georgia – 3
Utah – 3
Virginia – 3
New Jersey – 3
Arkansas – 2
Arizona – 2
North Carolina – 2