By Andy Tolbert
True
After hours of research, evaluation and countless hours spent studying game film and highlights, VYPE is proud to unveil the 2026 VYPE Hot 100.
Ladies first.
The VYPE Hot 100 "Girls List" recognizes the Top 50 female athletes in the Houston area, celebrating those who have distinguished themselves through elite performance, athletic achievement and impact on their respective programs.
The primary factor in determining the rankings was their performance during the 2025-26 school year. Additional consideration was given to multi-sport athletes, college commitments, national recruiting status and overall accomplishments at the district, regional, state and national levels.
The result is a collection of the area's most dynamic and accomplished athletes — competitors who have proven themselves on the biggest stages in 2025-26..
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TOP 50
No. 1 EK Smith, Katy, Softball
Nation’s Top Softball Recruit, State Champ (OU-commit)
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No. 2 Halle Thompson, Grand Oaks Volleyball
2X State Champ, Under Armour All-American (Wisconsin-signee)
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No. 3 Macie Bryant, Barbers Hill, Softball
Super Ace; Threw Perfect Game in State Final (LSU-commit
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No. 4 Kennedy Simpson, Summer Creek, Basketball
Led team to back-to-back State Titles, All-State (Tulane-signee)
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No. 5 Sara Wiggins, Lake Creek, Softball
Ace on Back-to-Back State Champs (Wichita State-signee)
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No. 6 Landri Von Gonten, College Park, Wrestling
Junior is a 3x State Champion
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No. 7 Elsa St. Rose, Tompkins Volleyball, Basketball and Track
District MVP led Falcons to Final Four
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No. 8 Lainy Zabiegala, Lake Creek, Soccer
Scored nearly 40 goals on State Champion Team
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No. 9 Emerson Lechler, Foster, Volleyball and Softball
District MVP in VBall and Softball (Baylor-signee)
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No. 10 Bayleigh Taylor, Liberty, Softball
Carried Liberty to State Championship (Florida State-commit)
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No. 11 Ogechi Okeke, Hightower, Basketball
Top 15 National Recruit; All State; Went to Regional Final
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No. 12 Gemma Hopkins, Tomball, Volleyball
District MVP led Tomball to State Finals (Arkansas-commit)
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No. 13 Cadence Johnson, Bellaire, Swim
VYPE Swimmer of Year and State Meet (UCLA-commit)
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No. 14 Carolyn Liu, Katy Jordan, Golf
Won Class 6A State Golf
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No. 15 Jayden Robinson, Ridge Point Volleyball
Under Armour All-American (Nebraska-signee)
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No. 16 Addison Martin, Summer Creek, Basketball
All-State, 2x State Champ, Offensive POY
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No. 17 Madalyn Davis, Lake Creek, Softball
2x Offensive POY, 3-Time State Champ (UNC-signee)
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No. 18 Wiggles Ngoh, Seven Lakes Volleyball, Basketball, Track and Flag Football
Explosive Junior Headed to USC Volleyball
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No. 19 Emily Betran, Katy Wrestling
Won state individually and was on best team in H-Town
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No. 20. Ahona Chowdhury, The Woodlands, Tennis
State Champ in Tennis Singles
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No. 21 Jenna Thedford, Dawson, Volleyball
Defensive POY; Led to State Finals (Texas A&M-signee)
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No. 22 Hope Smith, Bridgeland, XC and Track
Finished 6th on State XC Champ; Silver in Both Long Distance Events
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No. 23 Concepcion Maya, Kingwood Soccer
Led Kingwood to State; District MVP
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No. 24 Ma’Ryiah Alfred, Kinkaid, Basketball
Won SPC State, TABC All State
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No. 25 Naomi Booker, Tomball, Track and Field
Gold & Bronze in Hurdles; Defending Champ (Texas A&M Signee)
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No. 26 Nadi’ya Shelby, Friendswood, Volleyball
State Final Four (Florida-signee)
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No. 27 Avery Koonsen, Dawson, Volleyball
District MVP; Led to State Finals (SFA-signee)
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No. 28 Laney Barnes, Cy Woods, Cross Country
Silver at State (Texas A&M-signee)
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No. 29 Ari Holbert, Logos Prep, Swim
4 Gold Medals at TAPPS State Meet
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No. 30 A’Zyua Blair, Houston Christian, Basketball
Dominated SPC as a Junior Transfer; TABC All State
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No. 31 Tyler Weaver, Kingwood, Soccer
The State MVP (DBU-Signee)
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No. 32 Ashtyn Lewis, Iowa Colony, Track and Field
Gold in the 100m; Silver in 200 Meters
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No. 33 Claire Guydon, The Woodlands, Wrestling
Highlander dominated and won State
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No. 34 Courtland Cloud, Shadow Creek, Basketball
District MVP; Led Sharks to Final Four
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No. 35 Zora Bello, Cypress Ranch, Volleyball
District MVP (Rice-commit) led ‘Stangs to State Final Four
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No. 36 Winnie Liu, Dulles, Swim
Won 2 Silver Medals at Class 6A State (Rice-signee)
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No. 37 Ryan Fox, Episcopal, Soccer
Led Knights to Back-to-Back SPC Titles (ULL-signee)
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No. 38 Hunter Quentel, Kingwood, Softball
Best hitter, pitcher on one of city’s best teams
(Oklahoma State-commit)
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No. 39 McKale Lee, Alief Taylor, Track and Field
Gold in 800m
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No. 40 Delaney Wright, Montgomery, Volleyball
District MVP, City’s Leading Kill Artist (Utah-commit)
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No. 41 Faith Etienne, Dawson, Basketball
Was District MVP, 1000-points, Went to Regional Final
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No. 42 Jacey Carroll, St. John’s, Volleyball
Dominant in SPC play, won State Title
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No. 43 Rowan Saake, Bridgeland, Cross Country
Led Bears to State Gold, Finished 5th at State
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No. 44 Makenzie Thomas, Clear Springs, Softball
USA Softball Team, Beast at the Plate
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No. 45 Saniya Reynolds, Cypress Ranch, Volleyball
District Attacker of Year (Kentucky-commit)
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No. 46 Ashley Baxter, Friendswood, Soccer
Scored 46 goals as sophomore; US National Player
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No. 47 Reagan Rohrlich, TWCA, Softball and Track
One of State Top Private School Players (Texas A&M-signee)
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No. 48 Taylor Synnott, St. John’s, XC and Track
Sophomore has won Back-to-Back SPC Titles
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No. 49 Eguonome Akpobassa, Bridgeland, Track
Won Class 6A Gold, Silver in Jumps
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No. 50 Macey deGroot, Clear Springs, Swim
Gold at Class 6A State (Arizona-signee)
2027 Katy Tompkins four-star cornerback Blake Jenkins has announced his commitment to Michigan.
The four-star cornerback commits to the Wolverines over Vanderbilt, Texas, SMU and Houston among others.
The decision to commit to Michigan for Jenkins came down to playing high level Power Four football and new Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham.
"It's big time football in the Big 10," Jenkins said on what made him want to commit. "I feel like coach Whitt is building something special there and the foundation is set with the entire new staff there."
Michigan has history developing players to the NFL and that ability to be developed to the next level was another big factor in the Wolverines gaining Jenkins commitment.
"NFL potential is always there whenever you think of Michigan in general when you think of the defensive backs they've produced there over the past five to six years," he said. "That's one of the main reasons I committed and I know with coach Gilford there, they will have one of the best cornerback rooms in the country."
Jenkins makes his commitment ahead of his senior season which means a great deal to the Tompkins star as he can relieve some stress and focus on his last season in a Falcons uniform.
"It definitely relieves stress for sure knowing where home is going to be," Jenkins said. "I'm just ready to work this summer, getting bigger, getting stronger to be ready for my senior season and for playing in the 'Big House' after that."
With his commitment out of the way and a big senior season approaching, Jenkins and the Falcons are looking to have a big year next fall but the cornerback had one last message for Wolverine fans on his commitment.
"You got a hard worker and a dog for sure," he said. "I just can't wait to see the development of the program and to get the 2027 class moving."
The Katy Tigers are once again the queens of Texas softball.
Katy captured the Class 6A Division II State Championship with a convincing 7-2 victory over Forney, bringing the title back to one of the state's premier programs.
The Tigers' powerful lineup — dubbed "Death Valley" — was virtually unstoppable all season. The trio of EK Smith, an Oklahoma signee, Evie Willemssen, an Auburn commit, and Maddie Smith, an NC State signee, combined for an astounding 64 home runs and provided one of the most feared offenses in Texas.
In the circle, freshman sensation Haley Schmitt was dominant from start to finish, posting a remarkable 0.59 ERA and emerging as one of the state's brightest young stars.
While it's been seven years since Katy last hoisted a state championship trophy, the wait proved well worth it as the Tigers reclaimed their place atop Texas high school softball.
VYPE's Matt Malatesta caught up with the players and head coach Meghan VanEtta after the final out and championship celebration.
Watch here.
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