Graduating seniors say goodbye to high school sports
As their senior seasons come to an end, we caught up with some of the top athletes in the Class of 2026 about what advice they have for the next generation.
Twenty years ago, high school athletes rarely had to choose where they would attend school. Today, the rise of academies has changed that.
As schools such as IMG Academy, Montverde Academy and Link Academy continue to attract elite basketball prospects, today’s recruits face a choice that barely existed a generation ago: attend their local high school or move to a school that could enhance their national exposure?
Jessie Moses, the No. 42 prospect in the Class of 2027, made that decision before her junior season, leaving Westtown School in Pennsylvania for IMG Academy in Florida.
“Playing a national schedule was really important for me,” Moses said. “It was a really hard decision to make, but I feel like just trying to prepare for college was one of the main factors of transferring.”
One of the biggest advantages to these schools is the multi-million-dollar facilities. IMG’s campus spans 600 acres – offering 15 sports – and it’s only continuing to grow.
Just months before Moses was set to transfer to IMG, she tore her ACL. While she was unable to play in her first season, she was able to take advantage of the facilities to aid her recovery.
“It was definitely tough,” Moses said. “But I feel like it was a blessing in disguise because of all the resources they have there.”
But those advantages aren’t enough to convince every elite prospect to leave home.
For Eve Long, a Notre Dame commit and the No. 5-ranked prospect in the 2027 class, attending her local high school was a no-brainer.
Long recalls going to watch the girls’ basketball team play at Olathe South High School, which is just a seven-minute drive from her home. She attended camps and always looked forward to the day she would get to play on the team herself.
“I always wanted to play for my school,” Long said. “I think having people who you grew up with support you and also giving back to your community is important.”
Ivanna Wilson Manyacka, the No. 2-ranked prospect in the Class of 2027, felt similarly. For her, it was the familiar faces that led her to the Bullis School.
“My assistant coach – he’s like a father figure to me,” Wilson Manyacka said. “I’ve just always been with him, and I stay loyal to the people that I know the most.”
For Moses, however, the decision was about more than just the facilities – it was about the exposure to college recruits and the mentorship offered by her coaches throughout the recruitment process.
“They have a lot of [college] coaches coming in and out,” Moses said. “My coaches have great relationships with the coaches, which helps, and obviously they are there any time I need help or support and make sure I keep in touch with all the coaches.”
Moses remains open in her recruitment, but has received offers from 34 schools, according to 247Sports.
Wilson Manyacka said the opportunity to work through adversity and grow from her mistakes has been something that has kept her at Bullis rather than transferring to an academy.
“I feel like that’s why I’ve gotten better over the course of the years,” Wilson Manyacka said. “When I go to high school, I get to play through my mistakes. I get to grow. I get to become a better leader every year.”
The decision has paid off. As a junior, she averaged 21.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.4 steals – all of which have improved in each of her three high school seasons.
While prep schools have become an increasingly popular route for elite prospects, the decision is dependent on each player’s personal journey. Some have seen a rapid rise in exposure by attending an academy, while others are already where they need to be.
“I want to be a history maker in Maryland,” Wilson Manyacka said.
