Top new guards from 2026 Rankings Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our 2026 rankings update saw 13 players make their debut to extend our ranked list to 41 total players. In this article we'll discuss the six guards who got added to our list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2113258"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Last night Shoultz had a huge poster slam dunk in a city league win for Northland. He was added in our rankings update last week due to his perimeter shooting ability and production. Able to get hot from well behind 3-point range, Shoultz provides spacing for a Northland team that wants to get up and down and run in transition. I'll be curious to see Shoultz on the grassroots circuit for another evaluation setting as I've only caught him with his high school program thus far. A name to track among central Ohio guards in the 2026 class.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1535701"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"A multi-sport stud, Davis had a monster season on the gridiron and has continued his rise on the hardwood. An old school point guard who flat out helps you win games, Davis has shown increased confidence as a ball handler and creator. When I watched him in January, he made a couple plays off the bounce that I didn't think he was able to as a freshman, clearly showing his growth as a player. Olentangy Orange has continued to find ways to win and a lot of that has to be credited to the play of their backcourt with Davis helping run the show for one of the most efficient offenses in the area. A big-time football recruit don't sleep on Davis ability to make things happen on the hardwood as well.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["2113257"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Hawken has a sleeper team in northeast Ohio with an 8-3 record, their 2026 duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1705959' first='Daron' last='Hill'] and Price have been key factors in their rise. We already had Hill in our rankings but Price enters as the 2026 combo guard is able to really shoot the ball off the catch or bounce and catch fire from 3-point range. Defenders can't afford to go under ball screens when Price has it because he's confident enough to knock down that shot a couple feet behind the line. For Price, getting quicker to improve his ability to create space for himself off the bounce and get into the paint should be an area of focus as he's already one of the more skilled guards in northeast Ohio's 2026 class.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2205099"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Like Davis, Russell has helped take charge of one of the top teams in central Ohio as a Sophomore and making plays at both ends of the floor. A standout at the Midwest Basketball Club Fall League, Russell had maybe the highlight of the season with a monster poster dunk. I love the tenacity he plays with defensively, forcing a lot of turnovers by jumping passing lanes and pressuring ball handlers. On the offensive end of the court, Russell is a pass first point guard who wants to get into the lane and kick to one of Hayes Division I recruits on the wing. Delaware Hayes has the talent to make a deep playoff run with pieces like Russell leading the way.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1879105"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"A small town product, Fields has been putting up huge numbers for Teays Valley this season and also knocked down 44 consecutive free throws as well. With good size from the guard position, Fields can really score the basketball off the bounce by creating for himself. A confident shooter running off screens, Fields has the ability to catch fire from 3-point range. Continuing to expand his game, Fields has shown improved scoring in the paint with two-foot finishes and pivots to open up space to shoot. Watching him at the grassroots level against tougher competition will further give a better picture for how his talent stacks up to other top guards in central Ohio's 2026 class.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1845820"],"_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":"An injury cost Castro the start of his Sophomore season but he picked up where he left off this summer once he got going. One of the quickest guards in Ohio, Castro can get by the first defender and collapse the defense. With his ability to drive and force the defense to help, Castro's quick decision making allows his teammates to get set up in positions to score. His game-high 15 points in a win over Cleveland Heights is his marquee outing of the season. If Glenville is going to make another district title run in the postseason, Castro has to be playing his best basketball come March.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a80c05f3f9a"} /-->