2026 Rankings Breakdown: Playmakers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops Maryland recently updated its <a href="https://prephoops.com/maryland/rankings/2026-rankings/">2026 prospect rankings</a>. Here is a look at some of the top playmakers in the class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">#5 | [player_tooltip player_id='1782593' first='Zyion' last='Chase'] | St. John's</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playmaker would be the first word that I would use to describe the overall game of Chase. He puts some unbelievable stuff on tape. Go to the 6-minute mark in the 3rd quarter of their win at O'Connell to see what I'm talking about. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">#8 | [player_tooltip player_id='1782661' first='Malik' last='Shackleford'] | Friendship Tech</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shackleford is a big guard with a high IQ. He remains one of the better all-around guard prospects in this area regardless of class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">#14 | [player_tooltip player_id='1782590' first='Lawrence' last='Brown'] | St. Andrew's</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown is a traditional unselfish point guard who can get anywhere on the court. Leaving him off this list would simply be a mistake. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">#32 | [player_tooltip player_id='2252255' first='Armani' last='Fowlkes'] | Blake</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fowlkes is a promising young leader at the point guard position. Keep an eye on him down the road. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">#42 | [player_tooltip player_id='1782670' first='Ube' last='Zaid'] | Landon</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zaid is a reliable playmaker on both ends of the floor for the Bears. He is an elite on-ball defender with superior quickness. Zaid is a grab-and-go threat who demonstrates good vision in the open court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->