Class players of the year Marcus Spears Jr. (Juniors), A.J. Williams (Sophomores) and J.J. Crawford (Freshmen) headline the 2025-26 Underclass All-American Elite team.
Related: 2025-26 All-American Elite Team | 2025-26 Mr. Basketball USA: Jordan Smith Jr. | 2025-26 Underclass Players of the Year | All-American Elite Team Retrospective
Three juniors and two sophomores named to the 32nd Annual All-American Elite Team headline a group of 85 elite players selected to the 2025-26 Underclass All-American team powered by ballislife.com.
Power forward Marcus Spears Jr. of Dynamic Prep (Dallas, Texas) and combo guard Cayden Daughtry of FAB 50 No. 7 Calvary Christian Academy (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), lead the way among underclassmen who stood out among the nation’s best players. Both of these juniors were named to the 20-man first team, with Spears making third five and Daughtry fourth five.
Spears and Daughtry were among the 28 players that received votes in the final Mr. Basketball USA Tracker for all eligible players (including seniors). Spears appeared on two ballots (eight total points) while Daughtry earned a ninth-place vote (two points).
The other class of 2027 player to earn votes was second team All-American forward C.J. Rosser of FAB 50 No. 27 Southeastern Prep Academy (Orlando, Fla.). The talented forward appeared on two ballots, scoring six points on each.
Forward A.J. Williams of Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.) was the only sophomore to earn a vote, netting four points by netting a seventh-place vote. The only other sophomore considered amongst the nation’s best players, regardless of class, was Adan Diggs of Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.). Next season, however, Diggs will be considered a senior after it was announced on Tuesday he will re-class to join the 2027 group. Diggs joined Williams and Rosser as second team All-Americans.
Five underclassmen made the All-American Elite Team honor roll, while only two (Mr. Basketball USA Jordan Smith and runner-up Tyran Stokes) made it in 2024-25. Nine were selected in 2023-24.
Our junior class includes 40 standouts, while only two were honored as first team All-Americans. No sophomore made this year’s first team All-American. There were 30 standout tenth-graders selected as Underclass All-Americans, led by Williams, our national sophomore of the year who was the national freshman of the year in 2024-25.
One underclass All-American, sophomore Kyi Kyi Miles of Mesa (Ariz.), has already announced he will spent his junior senior at AZ Compass Prep Academy (Chandler, Ariz.), which is part of the competitive EYBL Scholastic League. Expect more player movement as the travel ball circuit season and summer rolls on.
Each season, players classifying up in order to speed up the recruiting process or transfer in hopes the move will be more advantageous to their development and this off-season will be no different as Diggs’ situation shows. There will also be some who seek a transfer to put themselves in better position to secure Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) endorsement deals. In most states it is not illegal or against state association rules to sign an endorsement deal, provided that endorsement is not facilitated with the athlete wearing or promoting garments or items trademarked by the state association or the NCAA.
National Grassroots Editor Ronnie Flores selects this performance-based squad with input from Mr. Basketball USA panelists. It is chosen after the conclusion of the season, which makes the Underclass All-American Team more reflective of players who made state championship runs.
Our national coach of the year is Steve Turner of Montverde Academy (Fla.).
2025-26 Underclass All-Americans
Juniors to Watch (2027)
G — Scottie Adkinson, Webster Groves (Mo.) 6-4
G — Reece Alston, Second Baptist (Houston, Texas) 6-2
G — Nas Anderson, Prolific Prep (Southwest Ranches, Fla.) 6-3
F — Boboucarr Ann, Maple Grove (Osseo, Minn.) 6-5
G — Beckham Black, Southeastern Prep (Orlando, Fla.) 6-3
G — NaVorro Bowman Jr., Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) 6-1
G — Chase Branham, Logan-Rogersville (Rogersville, Mo.) 6-4
G — Devin Cleveland, La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) 6-2
G — Jalen Davis, Bremerton (Wash.) 6-3
G — Jaxson Davis, Warren Township (Gurnee, Ill.) 6-1
G — Cayden Daughtry, Calvary Christian (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 6-0
G — O’Neal Delancey, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-3
F — Quincy Douby Jr., Riviera Prep (Miami, Fla.) 6-4
G — Jason Gardner, Fishers (Ind.) 6-1
G — King Gibson, Spire Academy (Geneva, Ohio) 6-4
G — Micah Gordon, Plainfield (N.J.) 6-0
F — Munir Greig, Coronado (Henderson, Nev.) 6-6
F — Ryan Hampton, DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.) 6-6
F — DeMarcus Henry, AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) 6-7
F — Ahmad Hudson, Ruston (La.) 6-7
F — Dooney Johnson, Juneau (Milwaukee, Wis.) 6-6
F — Malachi Jordan, Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.) 6-6
F — Moussa Kamissoko, Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) 6-8
F — Kager Knueppel, Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee, Wis.) 6-10
F — Josh Leonard, Wilson (Florence, S.C.) 6-6
G — Chase Lumpkin, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) 6-4
G — J’Lon Lyons, Clinton Grace (Clinton, Md.) 6-3
C — Paul Osaruyi, CIA Bella Vista (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 6-9
G — Patrick Otey, St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.) 6-4
G — Jordan Page, Broughton Magnet (Raleigh, N.C.) 6-5
G — Antonio Pemberton, Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) 6-0
G — Lyris Robinson, CIA Bella Vista (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 6-4
F — Gene Roebuck, La Mirada (Calif.) 6-5
F — C.J. Rosser, Southeastern Prep (Orlando, Fla.) 6-9
G — L.J. Smith IV, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-4
F — Marcus Spears Jr., Dynamic Prep (Dallas, Texas) 6-9
G — Davion Thompson, Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) 6-2
C — Darius Wabbington, Sunnyslope (Phoenix, Ariz.) 6-10
G — K.J. Wilson, Tartan (Oakdale, Minn.) 6-1
G — Justin Wise, North Oconee (Bogart, Ga.) 6-4
2026 National Junior of the Year: Marcus Spears Jr.
Sophomores to Watch (2028)
G — Tai Bell, Mater Lakes Academy (Miami, Fla.) 6-3
F — Will Brunson, Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.) 6-6
G — Kaharri Coleman, West Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.) 6-3
F — Mason Collins, Tatnall (Wilmington, Del.) 6-6
G — Adan Diggs, Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.) 6-4
C — Erick Dampier Jr., Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison, Miss.) 6-10
F — Ryan Doane, JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) 6-9
F — Marcelles Duncan, Rangeview (Aurora, Col.) 6-5
G — Darren Ford, Ruston (La.) 6-2
G — Colton Hiller, Coatesville (Pa.) 6-5
F — Terrell Jackson, Carter (Dallas, Texas) 6-9
F — Peter Julius, Mt. Bethel Christian (Marietta, Ga.) 6-9
F — Cole Kelly, Neuqua Valley (Naperville, Ill.) 6-7
F — Aaron McMorran II, Desert Pines (Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-5
F — Kam Mercer, Princeton (Cincinnati, Ohio) 6-5
F — Boss Mhoon, King’s Academy (Sunnyvale, Calif.) 6-5
G — Jakyi Miles, Mesa (Ariz.) 6-2
G — Jordan Mitchell, Male (Louisville, Ky.) 6-2
F — Jordan Mize, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) 6-6
F — D.J. Okoth, Bartlett (Tenn.) 6-6
G — Brady Pettigrew, Bolingbrook (Ill.) 6-3
G — Lee Robinson, Eagle Academy (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-1
G — Damien Robinson, Landstown (Virginia Beach, Va.) 6-1
G — Josiah Rose, Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas, Texas) 6-3
G — Davion Shareef-Dulaney, Lincoln (Tacoma, Wash.) 6-2
F — Shalen Sheppard, Crossroads (Santa Monica, Calif.) 6-8
F — Xavier Skipworth, Bullis (Potomac, Md.) 6-5
G — Jaleel Smith, Hunter Huss (Gastonia, N.C.) 6-1
G — Machai White, Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) 6-1
F — A.J. Williams, Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.) 6-7
2026 National Sophomore of the Year: A.J. Williams
Freshmen to Watch (2029)
G — Josiah Brooks, Sports Leadership & Management (Miami, Fla.) 6-3
F — D’Ari Bruce (Oakland, Calif.) 6-4
G — J.J. Crawford, Rainier Beach (Seattle, Wash.) 6-4
G — Will Conroy Jr., Village Christian (Sun Valley, Calif.) 6-1
C — Grant Duggins, Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.) 6-10
G — R.J. Evans, Sports Leadership & Management (Tampa, Fla.) 6-4
F — Cayden Gaskins, Columbus (Miami, Fla.) 6-9
G — Quali Giran, Millikan (Long Beach, Calif.) 6-2
C — Mason Grivna, Ballard (Louisville, Ky.) 6-11
G — Da’Kylen Heard, Mt. Carmel (Chicago, Ill.) 6-5
F — Caiden Hudson, Mt. Bethel Christian (Marietta, Ga.) 6-7
G — D.J. Hunter, Somerset Academy Losee (North Las Vegas, Nev.) 5-10
F — London Jackson, Harlan (San Antonio, Texas) 6-6
G — Austin Leonard, Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) 6-4
F — Jacobi Thompson Jr., Arcadia (Ariz.) 6-5
2026 National Freshman of the Year: J.J. Crawford
2025-26 Mr. Basketball USA: Jordan Smith Jr., Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) 6-2 Sr.
National Coach of the Year: Steve Turner, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Related: 2025-26 All-American Elite Team | 2025-26 Mr. Basketball USA: Jordan Smith Jr. | 2025-26 Underclass Players of the Year | All-American Elite Team Retrospective
Note: ESPN selections 2010-2012; EA SPORTS selections 2003-2009; Student Sports selections prior to 2003; Selections are based on high school accomplishment, not future college/pro potential, and are reflective of those that lead their teams to state championships. The editors of Ballislife.com do not knowingly select fifth-year players, and those ineligible due to age or academics, Mr. Basketball USA or to its various All-American teams.
Ronnie Flores is the Publisher and Editor of GrassrootsHoops.net. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
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