Top Class of 2026 Basketball Recruits by State

High school basketball is a long-standing American tradition that began in the 19th century, following James Naismith's invention of the sport as a physical education activity. State championships started with Illinois in 1908, and currently, more than 900,000 student athletes across over 18,000 schools play high school basketball during the 2023-24 season. Rankings of the top Class of 2026 basketball recruits, based on 247Sports Composite data, now highlight talent from Utah, Georgia, Florida, and Texas. The sport’s popularity is seen in packed gyms across all 50 states each winter. At the collegiate level, players like Jalen Hood-Schifino at Indiana exemplify how both long-term contributors and standout one-year players leave their mark on basketball programs. Basketball continues to hold a prominent place in American high school and college sports culture.