Summer Challenge 2026 Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PHI's Summer Challenge occurred last weekend and I took in all the activity on Saturday and Sunday at Romeoville Athletic Center. Here are a handful of unranked 2026 guards that popped out throughout the weekend. Check out the young competitors in <strong>Summer Challenge 2026 Guards!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2058215,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Xavier Haynes ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Homewood-Flossmoor","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Next Level 24","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"For a guard, Haynes did a fine job in the post taking advantage of smaller and weaker opponents, and used the glass nicely or a soft baby hook. Extended his range to three-point land where I saw him connect from the corner. He was pesky on the offensive glass against SBT 2026 as that helped him score Next Level's first 12 points all from inside the key. It always seemed as if Haynes new were the ball would be, and his competitive drive enhanced his overall skills.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":2058223,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Isaiah Whitehead","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Marist ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"Chicago Lockdown","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"This was the second time throughout the summer in which I was able to watch Isaiah, and the lead-guard impressed me even more. Whitehead displayed a natural talent to keep the ball tight to his hip while dribbling through traffic. His raw ball-handling package assists with him maneuvering between defenders, and on many occasions Isaiah attracted two defenders and multiple eyes. When defenses collapsed, Isaiah showed his IQ to dish out quick passes to cutters or open teammates along the perimeter. Otherwise, Isaiah connected on pull-up 3-pointers or elbow jumpers, displayed a soft touch on floaters, and displayed the toughness and focus to sink and-1 chances.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":2058199,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Landon Gayle","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"New Trier","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"Full Package Black","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Another 2026 guard prospect I was able to observe a second time was Landon Gayle out of New Trier. Gayle is a combo guard who can either act as a floor general or score at all three levels. His three-point stroke and confidence causes defenders to never lose track of his location. When the ball was in his hands, Gayle proved his ability to drive past defenders, and sink well-timed floaters and finish with slick finger rolls.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":2058226,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Hayden Harrington","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Loyola Academy","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"Powerhouse Sports ","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"The 6'3u0022 lefty from Loyola Academy is a sharpshooter from downtown. Against Full Package Black, Harrington drained 5 treys, and most of those buckets occurred with a defender right in his face. Not only can he shoot from three-point land, Harrington displayed the capability to attack the basket and finish with his non-dominant hand. He is definitely a shooter scouts and college coaches need to keep an eye on for the next three years.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Victor Guaramato","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Mt. Carmel","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"Calumet City Thoroughbreds ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Guaramato's motor never seemed to come to an end. In a game against Illinois Elite, I witnessed him pick-pocket defenders and jump passing lanes, to then score in transition. He had the strength to finish with either hand while avoiding contact. Guaramato may have even found a hot spot on the floor as he presented a good touch and accuracy from the elbows. He also reminds me of a glue guy type player with the mentality and heart he competes with.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1552431"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Manzke is another 2026 point guard to track for the upcoming years. Manzke's main strength is accuracy from three-point land because he's capable of spotting up in transition, catch-and-shooting within the half court, and flowing along the perimeter for open shots. Besides his deep ball skill, Manzke can take charge of the point and direct Chicago Lockdown's offense, and penetrate the defense by slicing his way to the rack. He'll be a reliable shooter not only for Lockdown, but for Providence Catholic as well.rnrnu003cemu003e(Manzke now plays with Chicago Lockdown during grassroots season)u003c/emu003e","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64a760c6b6b3a"} /-->