Updated 2026 Rankings: Guards (25-16)

We recently updated our 2026 class rankings for Virginia heading into the season, and we have a lot of new faces and movement in the class. Heading into their sophomore year, this list is still new and while we did our best we know things will change a lot as players continue to grow and develop moving forward.   Here's a look at part one of the point and combo guards in the rankings.   25) [player_tooltip player_id='1782701' first='Sam' last='Rubino'] | 5'7” PG | Stone Bridge (#56 Overall)   Rubino worked his way into the rotation as a freshman and played big minutes for a Stone Bridge team that made a deep playoff run, and he should have an even bigger role moving forward his sophomore season. While he isn't the biggest he's a heady lead guard who makes great decisions, he's shifty off the bounce and doesn't turn it over and he's a dead eye shooter from deep as well.   24) [player_tooltip player_id='2252312' first='Justin' last='Jones'] | 6'0” CG | Atlantic Shore (#54 Overall)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Jones-Justin.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Jones-Justin.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1910741" /></a></figure>   Jones had a big freshman season at Atlantic Shores with multiple games of over 20 points, and he could see himself shoot up the rankings as he continues to develop. While he's only 6'0” now he has good genes and should continue to grow into his lanky body, he can knock it down from deep and gets to spots off the bounce and he's a high IQ player who makes plays on both ends of the floor.   23) [player_tooltip player_id='1588126' first='Joshua' last='Rice'] | 6'1” PG | Hampton Christian (#52 Overall)   Rice helped lead Hampton Christian to a VISAA DIV state championship appearance before falling to Banner Christian, and he could be one of the top players in the whole classification this year. At 6'1” he has good positional size and is very strong despite his young age, he can get downhill and make plays for others or finish around the rim and he can knock down shots from deep when he's left open.   22) [player_tooltip player_id='1963548' first='Colin' last='Stemberger'] | 5'8” PG | John Champe (#48 Overall)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/487-Colin-Stemberger.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/487-Colin-Stemberger.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2167181" /></a></figure>   Stemberger may not look the part but he was one of the best freshmen in the NOVA public schools last year, eventually taking the reigns at Champe as their go-to ball handler. He's quick and shifty off the bounce allowing him to touch the paint, he's excellent in pick-and-rolls and makes great decisions with the ball and he can drill it from deep off the catch and off the bounce.   21) [player_tooltip player_id='1963549' first='Mikhai' last='Martin'] | 5'11” PG | Bishop O'Connell (#47 Overall)   Martin is a two sport star who also shines on the football field, and his natural athleticism makes him very intriguing moving forward on the basketball court too. He is quick off the bounce and a blur in transition with the ball in his hands, he's able to get to the rim and touch the paint to make plays for himself and others and he's an excellent on ball defender as well.   20) [player_tooltip player_id='1782693' first='Dominic' last='Stephen Nguyen'] | 5'11” PG | Seton School (#46 Overall)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/441-Dominic-Nguyen.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/441-Dominic-Nguyen.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2167163" /></a></figure>   Nguyen follows his older brother as the next very good guard out of Seton School, being one of their top players as a freshman and will only continue to increase his production moving forward. The 5'11” lead guard is a natural floor general who makes the right play consistently, he scores it well from deep and in the midrange and he is a leader who holds teammates accountable and is a very hard worker.   19) [player_tooltip player_id='1588134' first='Zyon' last='McGlone'] | 5'10” PG | King's Fork (#46 Overall)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/McGlove-Zion-rotated.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/McGlove-Zion-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1910737" /></a></figure>   McGlone is one of the most naturally gifted young guards in the 757, as he just flat out knows how to hoop and can score it in a lot of different ways. He has an unorthodox cadence to the way he plays and is very shifty off the bounce with the ability to change speeds, he can make tough shots from all three levels and when he gets it going he can fill it up in bunches and score it all over the floor.   18) [player_tooltip player_id='1963547' first='Braxton' last='Sebastian'] | 5'7” PG | Robinson (#43 Overall)   Sebastian is another smaller guard who has already made an impact as a freshman and will be even better as a sophomore with more experience and improvement. He's a true floor general who has great vision and a high IQ, he can finish over bigger defender with floaters and high finishes off the glass and he can create shots off the bounce for himself and others.   17) [player_tooltip player_id='1963527' first='Matthew' last='Burkhart'] | 6'3” PG | Rockbridge County (#39 Overall)   While Burkhart isn't in a big metro area, he was a standout as a freshman at Rockbridge and will have a great career with the chance to move up this list if he continues to dominate the way he did. He's a big guard with a good handle who can get to spots and knock down shots off the bounce, he's an unselfish playmaker who sees the floor and delivers passes on time and he has great instincts on both ends of the floor.   16) [player_tooltip player_id='1963526' first='Trey' last='Beamer'] | 6'2” PG | Carlisle (#38 Overall)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/PH-Trey-Beamer-JBSC.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/PH-Trey-Beamer-JBSC.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1991089" /></a></figure>   Beamer is admittedly likely too low on this list and will move up as he continues to show he's one of the best guards in the state after breaking the VISAA record for most points by a freshman leading Carlisle to the state semifinal. The 6'2” lead guard is a walking bucket as he can score it off the bounce from all three levels, he has effortless range well beyond the three-point line and he plays with great pace as he changes speeds and directions well to get in the lane and make plays.

We recently updated our 2026 class rankings for Virginia heading into the season, and we have a lot of new faces and movement in the class. Heading into their sophomore year, this list is still new and while we did our best we know things will change a lot as players continue to grow and develop moving forward.