Behind The Scenes Look At Iowa’s Class of 2026 Initial Rankings

The first rankings are live for Iowa's Class of 2026.  I know rankings can bring a little anxiety to athletes and families, but I want to help those who might be feeling that pump the brakes a bit.  Here is a look behind the scenes of rankings, how they are made, and how these rankings are simply a tool. 

How Are The Rankings Made? 

The rankings are made with a heavy emphasis on the live eye.  We don't do a simple sort through Varsity Bound and just put the top stat leaders from the Class of 2026.  We take into account the level of play as well as the success these athletes see at the highest level.  

We developed a watch list during the 2023 club season to have some of these athletes on the radar.  What helps in this are the athletes who were playing in the state tournament as freshmen, but mostly we see who is playing on a national level club team.  These are the athletes who would be competing among the top athletes in the state. 

A list is sent out to coaches around the state to get a general idea of where some of these athletes would fall into place.  We also send this out to double check that information is correct.  We know there are club changes over the summer and also some changes to their high school or even position (Athletes can take ownership of their profile in the Player Prospect Database).  We take into account the feedback and start making out list from there. This is always an evolving list. 

How Are The Rankings Used? 

This is the easiest way to organize athletes for high school, club, and college coaches.  There are news outlets who are now using Prep Dig rankings to report out on prep athletes.  

A college coach will never give or take away a scholarship offer based on a Prep Dig ranking. If they do, it might be a red flag.

We have been able to study different classes in different states and see trends on where athletes are going to college, what level of college they are going to, and even what states they are committing to.  

Do We Miss Athletes? 

Absolutely, especially when we rank the first time around.  The toughest rankings are between the 15s and 16s (Freshman to Sophomore year).  Athletes are starting to figure things out in regard to their position and are beginning to come into their own.  

A player that comes to mind is Sydney Maue Sydney Maue RS Mount Vernon | 2025 State IA who preps at Center Point-Urbana and plays for Adrenaline out of Cedar Rapids.  I saw her play at the Shirley Ryan Invite for CPU and made note of her name, but then from the Iowa Top 250 in December of 2022 and throughout the club season she continued to improve every time she stepped on the court.  This past summer she committed to Arkansas and is currently ranked 7th in Iowa's Class of 2025 rankings.  

How Does An Athlete Improve Their Rankings? 

I know that is a commonly asked question and I always respond with do not let a ranking impact an athlete's value.  These rankings are subjective.  This does not define the athlete nor does a ranking at the start of their sophomore year of high school paint the picture of what their future is going to be.  The rankings are simply a tool and not a defining document.  

However, my PSA to athletes is to continue to improve on their all around game.  Athletes who don't come off the court are usually ranked higher.  In this 2026 class the top three players don't come off the court for their teams.  Bailey Boeve Bailey Boeve 6'0" | OH Hinton | 2026 State #102 Nation IA plays middle and outside, and even when she plays middle she will step back and serve receive.  Kaelyn Wieland Kaelyn Wieland 5'8" | S/RS West Des Moines Valley | 2026 State IA of West Des Moines Valley and Iowa Power Plex is able to set and swing, she is helping her team in multiple ways.  As players who are just starting their high school careers, being able to play multiple positions as well as the front and back row is going to increase your chances of playing time for any team.  

I get a lot of questions about how athletes can market themselves.  Does social media help? It can when it's used appropriately.  I can tell when parents run their daughter's Twitter account because I know a 16 or 17 year old girl would never post certain things.  There's no problem in parents running an account, but I think it needs to be upfront that they are the ones running the account.  Showcases can help, playing club will definitely gain exposure, and even playing in a high division for club will help.  Above all, the best way to get recruited is to really commit to the process of self improvement.