As the 2025-26 high school basketball season enters its final month, some of the nation's top players continue to shine and strengthen their resume for postseason accolades.
Among those is MaxPreps National Player of the Year, which will be announced in April. Past winners include Harrison Barnes, R.J. Barrett, Cameron Boozer, Cade Cunningham, Chet Holmgren, Kevin Love and Michael Porter Jr. (see the complete list dating back to 2006 below). Today, we narrow the list of candidates to join that list and capture the nation's highest honor to five.
6-3 | Senior | Guard | Wake Forest
Quickly-rising prospect is averaging 22.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 63.5 percent from the field, 49.3 percent from 3-point range and 89.4 percent from the free throw line. Coleman has led Principia (26-2) to the No. 4 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25.
6-5 | Senior | Guard | Uncommitted
Top 10 unsigned prospect is averaging 21.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game while shooting 50 percent from the field, 42 percent from 3-point range and 84 percent from the free throw line. Holt has guided Prolific Prep (32-3) to the regular season Grind Session championship and looks to help the Crew make a strong run at Chipotle Nationals.
Colben Landrew,
Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)6-6 | Senior | Guard | Connecticut
Top 25 Class of 2026 prospect is averaging 24.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists per game while shooting 54.5 percent from the field, 32.0 percent from 3-point range and 83.0 percent from the free throw line. Landrew has been the catalyst for No. 13 Wheeler (24-6).
Jordan Smith,
Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)6-3 | Senior | Guard | Arkansas
No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2026 is averaging 26.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.2 steals per game while shooting 56.0 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from 3-point range and 72.4 percent from the free throw line. His efforts helped Paul VI (33-2) capture its fourth state title in the past five seasons and earn the No. 1 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Tyran Stokes,
Rainier Beach (Seattle, Wash.)6-7 | Senior | Wing | Uncommitted
Top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2026 is averaging 33 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocked shots per contest while shooting 56 percent from the field. Stokes has powered Rainier Beach (26-1) to the No. 15 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 and will try to help the Vikings win their second straight Class 3A state championship this week.
Past MaxPreps National Players of the Year
2006 — Greg Oden, Lawrence North (Indianapolis)
2007 — Kevin Love, Lake Oswego (Ore.)
2008 — Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
2009 — Derrick Favors, South Atlanta (Atlanta)
2010 — Harrison Barnes, Ames (Iowa)
2011 — Austin Rivers, Winter Park (Fla.)
2012 — Kyle Anderson, St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)
2013 — Jabari Parker, Simeon (Chicago)
2014 — Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2015 — Ben Simmons, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
2016 — Lonzo Ball, Chino Hills (Calif.)
2017 — Michael Porter Jr., Nathan Hale (Seattle)
2018 — R.J. Barrett, Montverde Academy
2019 — Sharife Cooper, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)
2020 — Cade Cunningham, Montverde Academy
2021 — Chet Holmgren, Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis)
2022 — Dariq Whitehead, Montverde Academy
2023 — Cameron Boozer, Columbus (Miami, Fla.)
2024 — Dylan Harper, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
2025 — Cameron Boozer, Columbus
