2026 Great Basin Ballers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have been amazed at the talent of Nevada's underclassmen. In this article I highlight five prospects primed to have huge sophomore seasons. These prospects are not unknown, as some already have already received scholarship offers and been invited to campus for visits. However, I think all five of these prospects have a chance to be fast rising sophomores after showing flashes of college potential as freshmen last fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lance Wegman","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"North Valleys","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Lance Wegman has quietly been rising up the recruiting ranks of coaches scouting the Reno area. Lance just got done camping with the Ducks in Oregon and I would not be surprised if he went to another big-time camp before the summer is over. Lance has made some progress in the weight room this offseason, so be sure to keep an eye out for his first Friday night performances to happen this fall. Lance's size screams offensive tackle, but he finds the ball well on defense and with good length and shed technique look for him to sack quarterbacks every weekend this fall. Good athleticism shows changing direction to pursue ball carriers in the run box. Lance's flashes of power and leg drive as a blocker combined with a good latch highlights his potential to be an offensive lineman in college.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"James Fangupo","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Reed","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"James has been to a couple showcases this summer and gained some attention as a result of his success as a freshman. I am confident James will be a new impact player for the Raiders on Friday nights this fall. James' next level size and strength is easy to see when you watch him dominate other freshmen at the end of run blocks. James shows good effort and leg drive blocking at the point of attack, but I think he is better suited to play defense at the next level. Flashes of collegiate athletic ability shows as a standup defensive end rushing the passer. Power shows bull rushing centers while James' lateral quickness gets displayed using an arm-over move to beat pass blockers.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["402174"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"I have gone through the tape of several scholarship linemen for Bishop Gorman. Watch out for [player_tooltip player_id='402174' first='Ivan' last='Pena'] to be next on the list of highly coveted Gaels in the trenches. Ivan may not be starting this season but expect his development to continue when going against top defensive line recruits every day in practice. With good size, speed, and a fluid change of direction in space, look for Ivan to clean up his fundamentals this fall and really impress recruiters with his offensive tackle potential. Good length and power shows in Ivan's punch that dominates underclassmen with one strike. Length, good flexibility, and quickness highlight Ivan's ideal pass protection skillset for offensive tackle at the next level.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["854252"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='854252' first='Bronwyn' last='Rios'] is one of the most versatile prospects in Nevada's 2026 class. As a freshman, Bronwyn played both running back and linebacker on Friday nights for Reed High School. Expect the experienced sophomore to settle in as a staple of Reed's back seven on defense this fall. Bronwyn's $LB versatility gets strengthened by his effort on special teams and toughness as a ball carrier. Bronwyn shows next level power flattening bigger ball carriers with poor tackling form. Bronwyn's instincts get displayed quickly reacting to throws in the flat when dropping into coverage from an outside linebacker alignment; Bronwyn's combination of speed, strength, and good football IQ could lead to him being the ideal hybrid linebacker prospect before his high school career is done.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Kenneth Goodwin III","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Desert Pines","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Kenneth Goodwin III may be the most talented defensive prospect in his class. Kenneth received an offer from Georgia recently so you may be wondering what he is doing on this list. Expect the hard-hitting linebacker to start receiving offers from FBS schools closer to home before his sophomore year is over. Kenneth shows rare power for a freshman knocking ball carriers out on kickoff and in the run box. Great combination of strength and acceleration shows blitzing through bigger varsity linemen with ease. Good awareness shows picking balls off over the middle in zone coverage, highlighting Kenneth's potential to be a true three-down inside linebacker in college.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e58966e184"} /-->