2026 Class: Unveiling Ohio’s Best Players
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USE PROMO CODE JR30 for a discount on your first subscription The PrepSoccer state rankings for Ohio’s 2026 class were updated this week. The sophomore class in Ohio is one of the best for the state in recent memory. The…
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The PrepSoccer state rankings for Ohio’s 2026 class were updated this week. The sophomore class in Ohio is one of the best for the state in recent memory. The group includes two High School All-Americans and a player on the U.S. Youth National Team for this age group.
As well as a number of players contributing at a high level at the youth club game for teams in the running to win the national championship.
The updated rankings reflect recent scouting efforts for this group. If you would like to learn more about how we scout, read this article. Check out the full class here.
There are a few players in the Ohio rankings for neighboring states. The PrepSoccer state ranking uses a player’s club team location for which state they are included in for our rankings. For instance, there are a few players who play high school soccer in Kentucky in this ranking, but they play club soccer in Ohio so they are included in the Ohio rankings.
Below is a scouting report on a few of the names at the top of the ranking. Alexis Smith Alexis Smith D State OH (featured image) is the top ranked defender and outside back in this class. Read about some of the other names to know below.
Siria is a midfielder on the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy 08 ECNL team. She is part of the US U16 Girls National Team. She plays as an attacking midfielder for her club team. She is one of the best players in this class – at a national level – in having a 360 approach to the game. She is never only focused on one option. She sees every player on the field and can make any pass. Her quality with the ball on either foot is also exceptionally impressive. I thought she was left footed for a solid portion of a game before she took a free kick with her right foot. Siria is from Kentucky but she is included in the Ohio rankings because her club team is based in Ohio.
Francis is a forward on the GTFC Impact 08 team. She was named a United Soccer Coaches High School All-American as a sophomore for Perrysburg. The accolades speak for themselves for Francis and should be plenty to get a number of scouts interested in recruiting her from this class. It should be noted that her sister, Adelle, plays for Michigan State. The younger sister is one of the best forwards in the country. When watching Francis at the club level, her quality is obvious. She is technical on the ball and keeps good close control of the ball. She is lethal around the box and efficient with her chances. Francis plays with the mentality of “go, go, go.” Defenders can’t afford to take a second off against her high-pressure, full-speed approach. The youth game just looks easy for Francis. She trains against college players, and already looks among the standouts from that. She will be an immediate contributor at a high level top 20 Division I program.
Tew is a midfielder on the Ohio Premier 07 ECNL team. She can play any role in a midfield trio, which probably makes her best equipped to play as the No. 8 for her side – because she do anything for her team. She is right footed. She is a difference-maker in the center of the field. She is willing to take chances in possession and she is a creative passer. Tew can open up the game with her dribbling on the ball – she has a quick change-of-pace and often leaves defenders in her dust with her burst. She has the quality to be a star in her role at the next level. I’d love to see her focus on her first touch while under pressure. She is good and keeps control of the ball, but she sometimes takes an extra touch in these situations. If she cleaned up that aspect of her game and kept control so she can move the ball quicker, she will find early minutes at the next level in that key role on the field.
Highlights
Reder is a defender for Cincinnati United Premier 07. She is also a center back for Summit Country Day. Reder was the other sophomore to earn All-American honors this past season. The 2026 center back was outstanding during the high school season and showed her quality while competing against some of the best in the country in the 2025 and 2024 classes. Reder impressed with her ability to organize the defense and play as the last line. She was brilliant when called upon. Calm under pressure and smart about her passing, Reder proved her quality while leading Summit to a State Championship.