2026 NY Rankings: Wide Receivers

<p>This WR group is another strong group that likely will feature a couple of FBS-level players. It is led by [player_tooltip player_id='505856' first='Messiah' last='Hampton'], who you could argue is the best player in the entire state, regardless of class. Hampton is as dominant as they come. After Hampton, there are plenty of new additions to our rankings alongside multiple players who rise up the rankings in our 2026 rankings update, which you can see <a href="https://prepredzone.com/new-york/rankings/2026-rankings/">HERE.</a></p>   <p>A lot of these prospects have already had strong varsity seasons, with a couple only showing flashes in limited playing times or on lower-level teams; as Juniors, many of them can take a step forward, adding more weight/strength to their game and becoming more physical players at the catch point or after the catch. Outside of Hampton, the most complete prospect of the group, each prospect has at least one major part of their game that needs to continue to develop and most of these prospects have multiple. Overall, for underclassman this is a strong group and a couple of these prospects I expect to take big steps forward. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Top Prospect</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Hampton is not only the top WR prospect in the class but also the best prospect overall. I may add that he takes the #1 spot by a large margin. Hampton, who starts for James Monroe out of Rochester, had an exceptional sophomore season and has long dominated the offseason with CTC 7v7. </p>   <p>Hampton is the ideal outside WR prospect; at 6'1, he has long arms and a huge catch radius. The best pure catcher of football in New York, Hampton excels at the jump point with explosive jumping ability and consistently catches away from his body. As an athlete, Hampton is a smooth route runner who has burst out of his breaks. After the catch, Hampton has elite contact balance and can break multiple tackles and shows the speed to turn short and intermediate routes into longer touchdown plays.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Next Five Prospects</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Butler, one of the state's top sprinters, was a top performer for Long Island Lutheran this past season; Butler can operate from the slot or outside with his speed, stretches the field, and is one of the top vertical threats in New York. Butler shows solid hands and is a good route runner with excellent acceleration off the LOS and a really strong route tree 10+ yards past the LOS. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Hicks again will be stuck in a big group of FBS-level talents in the WR room at CBA-Syracuse. Although he did not fill up the stat sheet last season, Hicks has great tape and has been excellent at camps this spring/summer. Hicks is a long, lean WR prospect with a wide catch radius who showcases a good burst out of his breaks. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Brooken, who played for Wilson Magnet last season and is the WR prospect, will help fill the void left by two major graduations from the UPreps WR group. Brooken played with a team with much less talent than their competition last season, and I was impressed with his tape. Brooken is a big athlete at 6'3 and may have the size to grow into a hybrid TE/WR player in the slot. He has strong hands and showcases the ability to make tough catches in traffic. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Pasqualone, who <span style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px">recently moved to Monsignor Farrell, is another speedy WR prospect in this class. He was one of the top 55-meter runners in the PSAL during previous track seasons and was one of the biggest risers in our rankings, which are detailed in a <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/new-york-2026-rankings-biggest-risers-pt-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previous article</a>. Pasqualone is twitchy and fast,</span> making him one of the more dangerous WR prospects in the CHSFL this fall. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Roy, out of Holy Trinity, is an explosive athlete who is one of the better jump ball WR prospects in this class. Roy can be a weapon in the red zone but does great work all along the sidelines as a vertical threat who can make tough contested catches. Roy is a long strider that separates well on speed routes where he can accelerate without contact. Roy has a really solid catch radius and showcases really solid body control when he leaves the ground to make plays. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Three Names to Know</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Carroll, out of Health Sciences, is a two-way player, but I think his best tape is at WR. Carroll has solid size at 6'1 but is twitched up and shows good overall quickness in his route running and after the catch. Carroll's best ability is making tough catches on vertical routes with defenders in his face, he is able to catch away from his body with his hands and is able to work through contact at the catch point. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">There is an argument Kavanagh could be listed as an ATH as he plays DB and a little QB but I was impressed with his tape at WR and think his best chance as a college prospect is from the WR position. The Clarkstown North WR is a big, physical outside prospect who excels in making contested catches. Kavanagh catches away from his body and showcases strong consistent hands. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Antoine is one of the only true slot WR prospects on this list, and he was a really solid performer in the PSAL last season for South Shore; although South Shore adds a couple of prospects to their WR room this season, Antoine still is one of their top prospects. Twitchy and quick Antoine runs really solid short routes and shows some versatility in the way he can be used on offense as a player that can take handoffs, catch screens, or create separation as a WR. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">WR Rankings Table</h2>

This WR group is another strong group that likely will feature a couple of FBS-level players. It is led by Messiah Hampton Messiah Hampton 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR James Monroe | 2026 State NY , who you could argue is the best player in the entire state, regardless of class. Hampton is as dominant as they come. After Hampton, there are plenty of new additions to our rankings alongside multiple players who rise up the rankings in our 2026 rankings update, which you can see HERE.