2026 Public Schools Top 100 Preview: No. 5 Basha

Basha opens the 2026 season at No. 5 in the T25PS Public Schools Preseason Top 100 with one of the cleanest championship profiles in the country.

The Bears went 12-1 in 2025, won the Arizona Open State Championship, finished No. 20 in the final Public Schools Top 25, and now bring back the type of roster that gives them a real chance to do it again.

Basha returns 13 starters from last year’s title team — eight on offense and five on defense. The biggest reason the Bears start inside the national top five is simple: they have championship experience, a returning quarterback, high-level offensive line talent and enough new defensive firepower to stay dangerous against one of the toughest schedules in the West.

This is not just an Arizona contender.

This is a national public-school contender.

Team Snapshot

School: Basha
City: Chandler, Arizona
Classification: Arizona 6A
2025 Record: 12-1
2025 Finish: Arizona Open State Champion
Head Coach: Chris McDonald
Returning Starters: 13 total — 8 offense, 5 defense
T25PS Rank: No. 5

Why They’re Ranked Here
Elite offensive line, QB play, and championship proof.

Basha already proved it can win the biggest bracket in Arizona. Now the Bears enter 2026 with a returning quarterback in Princeton commit Jake Rogers, eight returning offensive starters and one of the best offensive line pieces in the country in 5-star Arizona State commit Jake Hildebrand.

That is a strong starting point.

In preseason rankings, there are a few things that matter more than anything else: quarterback stability, offensive line play, returning production, schedule strength and championship standard. Basha checks almost every box.

The Bears also added major defensive help, including 4-star EDGE TK Cunningham from Grayson, Georgia. That gives Basha another national-level piece on a roster that already had enough talent to win the Arizona Open Division.

There are still questions to answer, especially with replacing key seniors from last year’s championship team, but the foundation is strong enough to justify a top-five national public-school ranking.

Players to Know

Jake Rogers — QB, 2027
Rogers is a 2027 quarterback committed to Princeton and one of the most important pieces of Basha’s 2026 outlook. Returning quarterback play matters in a preseason ranking, especially for a team coming off an Open Division championship. Rogers gives the Bears continuity, leadership and a clear offensive identity entering the season.

Jake Hildebrand — OL, 2027
Hildebrand is a 6’6”, 285-pound 5-star offensive lineman committed to Arizona State. He is one of the top offensive linemen in the country and a major reason Basha starts this high. With a returning quarterback and a national-level offensive lineman up front, the Bears have one of the stronger offensive foundations in the Top 100.

Anitoni Tahi — DL, 2027
Tahi is a 6’2”, 315-pound defensive lineman committed to Kansas State. He gives Basha a major presence in the trenches and should be one of the key players on a defense looking to stay championship-caliber.

TK Cunningham — EDGE, 2027
Cunningham is a 6’5”, 230-pound 4-star edge defender who transferred in from Grayson, Georgia. He gives Basha a major boost off the edge and immediately raises the ceiling of the defensive front.

Jaden Baldwin — WR, 2027
Baldwin is a 6’1”, 170-pound 3-star wide receiver committed to Pitt. He gives Rogers a proven Power Four weapon on the perimeter and should be one of the biggest pieces in Basha’s passing game.

Caleb Jordan — EDGE, 2027
Jordan is a 6’3”, 230-pound 3-star edge defender with an offer from Air Force. He is one of the key names to watch in Basha’s defensive front and gives the Bears another athletic piece off the edge.

Barry Adams — ATH/TE/LB, 2027
Adams is a 6’2”, 200-pound athlete who can help in multiple spots. His versatility gives Basha another valuable returning piece on a roster built around experience and flexibility.

Da’John Yarborough — OL
Yarborough is listed among Basha’s key returning players and gives the Bears another important piece up front. With eight offensive starters returning, Basha’s offensive line and offensive continuity should be one of the strengths of the team.

In addition to the names above, Noah Roberts, Kade Karriker, Jack Bennett, Mikey Barth, Landen Wade, Marc Duerson, Kyser Wilson, Tre Kennard, Geremiah Grimes and Taylan Patterson are all listed among key returning players for the Bears.

Basha also added several newcomers, including TK Cunningham, Brady Allen, Makai Nelson, Chayden Isom and Chris Chaney.

Key Games

Chandler
Basha opens with Chandler in a rematch of last year’s Arizona Open final. That is a huge first test and an immediate chance for the Bears to show they are still the team to beat in Arizona.

Orange Lutheran
Basha travels to California to face Orange Lutheran out of the Trinity League. This is the biggest national résumé opportunity on the schedule and one of the games that can shape how Basha is viewed outside Arizona.

Liberty
Liberty enters the season ranked No. 53 in the T25PS Preseason Top 100. This is another major Arizona test and one of the most important games on Basha’s schedule.

Red Mountain
The road trip to Red Mountain gives Basha another difficult in-state matchup. Championship teams have to handle games like this, especially when they are carrying national expectations.

Brophy College Prep
Brophy is another major Arizona opponent and a game that will help define Basha’s regular-season résumé. This is the type of matchup that can expose weaknesses or confirm that the Bears are built for another Open Division run.

Perry
Perry is one of Basha’s rivalry games and gives the Bears another important late-season test before the playoff push.

Biggest Question

The biggest question is whether Basha can handle the weight of being the hunted.

The Bears are not sneaking up on anyone in 2026. They are the defending Arizona Open State Champions, they open inside the national public-school top five, and they have a schedule that will test them almost immediately.

The good news is that Basha has the pieces you want in that situation. Jake Rogers is back at quarterback. Jake Hildebrand gives the offense a national-level anchor up front. Jaden Baldwin gives the Bears a Power Four weapon at receiver. TK Cunningham adds a major piece to the defensive front.

The challenge is maintaining the same edge after reaching the top of Arizona.

If Basha stays healthy, protects Rogers and reloads quickly on defense, the Bears have enough to win the Open Division again and finish as one of the top public-school teams in America.

T25PS Prediction

Regular Season Prediction: 10-0
Postseason Prediction: AIA Open Champions, Overtime National Runner-Up

Yes, you read that correctly - I predict this squad to be the lone public school invited into the new Overtime 4-team playoff that has been teased for the 2026 season. They even have the ability to even win it, however I think it will be tough for them coming off of 3 games to win the AIA Open, then have to win two vs either IMG/St Frances/Gorman.

*One Note - I'm expecting GA, TX, CA, and FL (FHSAA playoff schools) to not be eligible for the Overtime National event due to scheduling and how late their playoffs go into December.

Bottom Line

Basha has one of the strongest championship profiles in the 2026 Public Schools Top 100.

The Bears have the quarterback, the offensive line, the returning production, the playoff résumé and the schedule strength to justify the No. 5 ranking. Winning the Arizona Open Division once is hard enough. Doing it again with everyone chasing you is the next challenge.

Basha has the roster to do it.

Now the Bears have to prove last year was not the peak.

Thanks for reading,

Alex | T25PS

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