Introducing the Class of 2026 Watch List, part 2
Last week we brought you the first installment of our Class of 2026 Watch List, 20 incoming freshmen we think are worth paying attention to. With a brief pause for Summer Jam, we resume our list today with part 2.…
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Continue ReadingLast week we brought you the first installment of our Class of 2026 Watch List, 20 incoming freshmen we think are worth paying attention to. With a brief pause for Summer Jam, we resume our list today with part 2. The final two installments will follow this week with the entire Freshmen 50 being determined following the Prep Girls Hoops Freshmen Showcase on Sept. 18. That new event was announced yesterday (click here for more details) and offers a great opportunity for incoming 9th graders to make an impression prior to the first ranking of the class. Think of it as a Top 250 Expo just for freshmen.
One reminder as we bring you the second set of 2026 Watch List names: These are not necessarily the best 20 players in the class. Rather they are a variety of prospects, some of whom will no doubt end up in the Top 20, and others who are likely to find their place in the first 50 in the Class of 2026. Without further ado, here is the Class of 2026 Watch List, part 2.
Aria Garrett – forward, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (Inspired Athletics)
It can be challenging for Minnesota prospects who play on teams in neighboring states to get noticed. If the club doesn’t publish detailed rosters in advance of a tournament (most do not, unfortunately) we are left scrambling for geographic information. Fortunately, coach Trevor Olson of Fargo-based Inspired Athletics gave us a heads up on Aria, an 8th grade post from Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton who has a big body, soft hands, good feet and a very bright future. Garrett is already over 6 feet tall with broad shoulders, long arms and a huge frame. She runs the floor with pace, has nice lateral mobility, and is quickly figuring out how to take advantage of her ample assets in the paint. We love Aria’s willingness to learn and her burgeoning basketball IQ. She has really good spatial awareness and sees the floor well. Garrett is still pretty green but her progress over the past few weeks is obvious and her ceiling is high.
Betsy Gillette – guard, Hayfield (Air Minnesota)
The Prep Girls Hoops Circuit offers players an outstanding opportunity to showcase their abilities over multiple weekends against good competition and in front of an influential audience of scouts and college coaches. It’s an opportunity Betsy has taken full advantage of which is how she ended up on this 2026 Watch List. Standing 5’10 with a solid frame and an athletic presence, Betsy has demonstrated that she is the latest in a long line of quality performers coming out of tiny Hayfield, population 1,340, in South Central Minnesota. Betsy offers a quality skill set, advanced physical development, and an on-court demeanor that is calm, cool and collected. She’s just got that quiet confidence we love. She can also play fast, brings the ball up the floor at pace with her eyes up, and usually makes the simple, intelligent play. As she has proven week after week on the PGH Circuit, Gillette can also score.
Sinae Hill – guard, Minnehaha Academy (Minnesota Stars Hill)
Basketball is the family business for the Hills of Minneapolis. From the legendary Tayler Hill, who starred at Ohio State and in the WNBA, to her sisters Morgan (graduated from Tennessee-Chatanooga) and Jade (currently at St. Thomas) and Angel (Class of 2024), there have been a lot of talented family members on the hardwoods. Brother P.J. Hill was a successful pro baller, too, and the Stars AAU team he coaches has dominated the 2026 age group. Sinae (top photo) is P.J.’s daughter and she’s looking very much like she’s ready to carry the torch for the next generation. Sinae is a big guard, about 5’9 with a nice frame. She is a quality athlete with an advanced skillset. One-on -one, off the bounce, Sinae is deadly. She can get up and down the court at a high rate of speed, and when she’s going downhill, there are few players who can stop her. She can also knock down threes from distance giving the youngest Hill the kind of variety and versatility that keeps defenders guessing. Sinae played last winter at Minneapolis Southwest but has now enrolled at Minnehaha Academy for high school.
Kate Holmquist Kate Holmquist 5'7" | PG Maple Grove | 2026 State MN – guard, Maple Grove (North Tartan Nike)
The 5’7 guard is one of the smoothest, most consistent, most efficient three-point shooters in the state – her delivery is just so pure – but that is only a small part of the big package that Holmquist brings to the table. Her on-court intelligence is exceptional. She always plays under control, almost never gets sped up, and understands how to establish and maintain just the right tempo for her team to be successful. Kate is a great ball handler, too. Although she isn’t the most athletic guard in the class, Holmquist uses her smarts and savvy to elude defenders one-on-one and can finish at the rim against players of all shapes, sizes and ability levels. Bloodlines are important when trying to predict a player’s future in the game of basketball and Kate comes from some of the best as her mom Jaime (Pudenz) Holmquist is one of the best to ever take to the court at the University of North Dakota.
Cail Jahnke Cail Jahnke 6'2" | CG St. Michael-Albertville | 2026 State MN – guard, St. Michael-Albertville (North Tartan Nike)
Length is oh so important at the next level. Ditto for leaping ability and athleticism. Now over 6 feet tall and still growing, Jahnke checks all three boxes. You can add quickness, speed, agility and touch to that list of desirable attributes. Check. Check. Check. Check. Although she has a long way to go in the experience department, and is certainly in need of a lot more muscle on that lanky frame, Cail has all of the tools to make it to the highest levels of the game. When Jahnke is firing on all cylinders her offensive game is a thing of beauty. Jahnke’s defensive contributions are on point and the commitment level is unquestioned. Her ability to elevate over opponents with ease is truly exceptional. When you combine those factors with great instincts, a big motor, and a strong desire to get better regardless of the cost, you have a big-time prospect on your hands. That’s what Cail is.