Top Storylines to track heading into Monday's 2026 On3 rankings update

The 2026 class is in an interesting spot right now. Many of them are finishing their sophomore years of high school, and most to varying levels of success. One would assume, however, that if a player is being considered for this list, they have done pretty well for themselves up until this point.

However, it can be tricky. At On3, this will be our first update – second ranking – for the 2026 class. We will double the list, in size by expanding from 50 to 100 players with this update. The data points we have to draw on with this class are not as substantial as the other classes. We are approaching ten updates for the 2024 cycle and five for the 2025 class. We are still toward the beginning of each player’s journey in the 2026 cycle.

Predicting a prospect’s career arc, especially directed toward the NBA, can vary from player to player. However, there are data points available and player indicators to watch for. As we continue down this path, new players will become available (via reclassification, moving into the country, through general growth and development, etc.). We hope to help tell each player’s story along the way.

On3 updates a class ranking on the first Monday of each month. This coming month, March, will be the 2026 class update. Let’s discuss some hot-topic items and storylines On3’s national team is looking at as we have spent the last several weeks looking through this class.

Who replaces Dybantsa at No. 1?

For the initial 2026 ranking debut, the conversation for No. 1 was a quick one. AJ Dybantsa was the quick choice. Everyone simply nodded their head and we moved to the next name. Dybantsa reclassified to the 2025 class in October, where he overtook the No. 1 position, leaving the race for No. 1 in 2026 open for discussion.

The obvious choice would be to move each play up a spot. However, the current No. 3 player, Brandon McCoy, has made this a discussion. The two names in the conversation are Napa (CA) Prolific Prep forward Tyran Stokes and Bellflower (CA) St. John Bosco guard Brandon McCoy. Both players played up during the summer, Stokes with the Vegas Elite program on Nike’s EYBL Circuit and McCoy with the AZ Unity program on Nike’s EYBL E16 Circuit. 

Both players also played with the USA Basketball Junior National Team this summer. The pair were two of four players in the 2026 class who won a gold medal for the USA in the u16 FIBA Americas Championships. 

McCoy is a smooth guard, comfortable playing on the ball or off. He is at his best, using his hesitation dribble to get into the middle of the defense and rising up for an elbow pull-up jump shot. McCoy is a versatile defender and has excellent length with a projectable frame who needs to continue to tighten his shot from distance.

The physicality Stokes brings is unique to his age. Already listed at 6-foot-7 and pushing 225 pounds, Stokes is an explosive player. While still putting it all together, he shows flashes of passing chops and instincts in the passing lanes. He is at his best in transition. While his game can be inconsistent as things stand, it is undeniable the upside he brings. 

Both players already carry successful resumes along with clear upside. They both also project to valued positions at the highest levels of basketball. 

With AJ Dybantsa moving into the 2025 class, who takes over his spot at No. 1 in 2026 is a fun conversation.

Expanding from 50 to 100, will we add another five-star?

Ultimately, players have time to grow. As a ranking group, what we do not want to get in the habit of is volatility. It is a big deal to give a player a star bump. It is also a big deal to take a star away. 

With that in mind, we know that we will end each recruiting cycle with 14 five-star prospects. This follows the lead of the NBA Draft Lottery. That does not mean that we will start with that many. As we continue to add data markers and start to get a better feel for each of these players’ developmental arcs, the five-star process will happen organically and we will grow toward a full 14.

We started with our first 2026 update with 50 players and two five-star prospects. One of the five-star rated players, AJ Dybantsa, re-classed into 2025. The ranking list will grow from 50 to 100 for Monday’s update. There is conversation around a couple of players who could add a fifth star. 

The Carolinas continue to show well

North Carolina has become a hotbed for high school basketball prospects. Despite not having the state population of Florida, California, and Texas, the Tar Heel state consistently rivals those states with the number of players ranked among the On3 150. South Carolina has had a nice run of basketball talent lately. Having NBA players like Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, Aaron Nesmith, and GG Jackson along with McDonald’s All-Americans like Josiah-Jordan James and PJ Dozier among many other players over the last decade. 

The 2026 class is shaping up to be another deep year for the Carolinas, especially North Carolina. While the states do not carry top-end talent, pushing five-star status, they do have a depth of players who could potentially find themselves throughout the On3 150 range. 

Currently, North Carolina has two players, Hillsborough (NC) Orange High forward Cole Cloer and Lincolnton (NC) Combine Academy forward Elhadji Diallo, in On3’s top 50. And South Carolina does not have any. 

A quick look through the South Carolina landscape and players like Korie Corbett and Tre Raymon have made a name for themselves. Hopping across the border and seeing players like Makus Kerr, Tarris Bouie, Rivers Knight, Yohance Conner, Bradley Floyd, Josiah Sanders, Ian Bailey, Kendre Harrison, Justin Caldwell, Ashton Pierce, Tyson Thompson, Darius McGlashen, Kobe Edwards and others have stepped on the scene in a big way. 

While not all of these players will be in the expanded top 100 of On3’s 2026 class, they were in the conversation as the Carolinas have remained a hotbed for college recruiting and NBA scouts to pay close attention to. 

What to do with Kayden Allen?

Kayden Allen was one of the most prolific scorers on Nike’s EYBL E15 Circuit this summer. The 6-foot-5 guard led the division in scoring throughout Peach Jam knocking down 24.3 points per game. The positional size is there, and so is his ability to create an advantage off the bounce. 

The thing with Allen is that he transferred this season to play at Montverde (FL) Montverde Academy. Montverde just wrapped their regular season at 30-0 with a roster of ten-plus players carrying multiple high major offers. Six of Montverde’s seniors are ranked in the top 100 of the 2024 On3 150 and have all committed to high-major programs. Allen has played limited minutes off the bench this high school season, which means there is a bit of a gap in the viewings and the data markers for him. 

Allen ended the summer on a tear. He has shown flashes this high school season, and his potential player outcomes remain valuable at the highest levels. Currently sitting at No. 7 in On3’s 2026 class, what we do ultimately do with Kayden Allen will be an interesting conversation.