""I definitely feel like we have the best players right now," Inglewood native Christian Collins, the No. 4 player in the class of 2026, says. "I do feel like [the] East Coast plays with more grit. But don't get it twisted, because they think we not tough. We tough, fa sho." "West Coast players aren't soft," Riverside's four-star forward Cydnee Bryant chimes in. "We tough. We dawgs," Christian adds."
""Pull up ESPN's 2026 NEXT Rankings and you'll see why the three players on the latest SLAM HS digital cover are talking their ish. The state of California is producing hardwood dominance like a factory. Five out of the top eight boys in the nation reside in the Golden State. For the ladies, 12 out of the top 100 players in the class of 2026 call California home. Home cooking, for real.""
California high school basketball supplies a disproportionate share of top national prospects, with five of the top eight boys and 12 of the top 100 girls in the 2026 class residing in the state. Top prospects Christian Collins, Cydnee Bryant and Brandon McCoy Jr. pair size, speed and physicality to counter stereotypes of laid-back or soft West Coast play. The regional style blends flashy scoring and highlight play with defensive toughness, rebounding aggressiveness and elite wingspans that challenge opponents. Recruiting rankings and scouting indicate California’s current dominance in producing high-level talent.
Read at Slamonline
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