2026 Guards to See: AAU Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a plethora of talent playing AAU this summer and the younger players seem to be getting more and more skilled each year. It's a wonderful thing to see and the group of players below are some you should have on your radar as can't-miss student athletes!</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":2429862,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Landon Drummond","_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":"Summer Creek","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Trae Young Texas Adidas Gold","_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":"Landon is a strong, physical guard that can hang with anyone out on the court. His versatility is amazing, which he'll show by fearlessly posting up his defender in the paint one trip down the floor, and using his speed and ballhandling ability to create space and sink a 20-footer the next. He can stretch the floor with his solid three-point shooting and he's excellent at finishing through contact in the key. He's got an impressive vertical ability and creates separation for himself on the offensive end by significantly elevating on his jumpers. He uses that leaping ability on defense to terrorize his opponents and alter their shots, many times sending them sailing in the opposite direction. He's got quick hands and will make anyone pay that thinks they can get away with casually protecting the rock. His bursts of speed really make him stand out as an offensive weapon - if he doesn't elevate over his defender, he'll likely be flying right by them with a rapid first step and an easy finish at the bucket. Drummond is one you won't want to miss this summer and throughout his upcoming Junior season that's sure to be unbelievable.","_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":2429865,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2233781' first='Robert' last='Moore']","_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":"6'1u0022","_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":"Timber Creek","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"IFN Basketball","_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":"Robert is a crafty, patient point guard that always seems to make the right decisions. You can see him sizing up the defense and taking whatever they give him, making him nearly impossible to consistently guard or lock up in any form or fashion. He's effective through contact with his impressive focus and solid hang time to think through how he's going to get the most accurate look at the rim. He stretches the floor nicely and can sink his shots well beyond the three-point line. His court vision is elite - he can quickly identify the skinniest of passing lanes or the smallest of open spaces to rise and sink a jumper in his defender's face. He's an excellent communicator on the floor and he's so focused on his guys that it almost appears as if he doesn't see his defenders - either that or he easily makes them irrelevant. He's a natural leader on the hardwood - doing so both by example and vocally telling teammates their spots and what the defense is doing. He almost seems like a coach on the floor at times and he's a player any coach would want to have leading the charge down the floor for their squad.","_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":2429871,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1961303' first='Traetyn' last='Johnson']","_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":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Little Elm","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2385486' first='Second' last='2 None']","_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":"Traetyn is a versatile, powerful guard that will devour his defenders if he's given any sort of space. He's got a beautiful rotation on his shot and can operate from anywhere on the floor - which makes him an incredibly dangerous player. He can dominate in the paint way more than your typical guard with excellent footwork and a high basketball IQ. You can tell he has a lot of fun out on the court and the way he gets down to business when the whistle blows shows his dedication to the work he puts in and his passion for the game. Johnson seems to get along effortlessly with his teammates and he appears to be one of the crucial pieces that makes his team fit together so well. He's a fantastic passer and he moves extremely well without the ball - which makes him deadly to his opponents in the pick and roll game. He can spot up, sink the three, drive either way, and finish through contact - all which make him unbelievably challenging to defend. The work he puts in doesn't stop on the offensive end of the floor though. Traetyn consistently disrupts opposing passing lanes for wide-open fast breaks and he knows how to swipe at the ball effectively without fouling - often getting the steal and creating extra possessions for his team. Johnson will be a must-see this summer and throughout his upcoming Junior campaign.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2393335"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"KJ's game is smooth and he always stays cool, calm, and collected regardless of the situation or pressure that his team may be under. He has a beautiful jump shot with solid rotation and significant elevation. He's got one of the prettiest floaters out there that I've seen. He can accurately finish at the rim with either hand, which makes him incredibly difficult for his defenders to keep up with. Bradford is always looking for his teammates and he makes great decisions regularly - he'll pass up a good shot for a great shot every time. KJ has massive potential and is the kind of player you need on every team - he makes his teammates better, he consistently develops his game, and he never seems nervous or like the lights are too bright. I expect Bradford to turn plenty of heads this summer and to get significant attention his Junior year.","_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":2429873,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Christian Cox","_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":"77246","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Independence","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2385486' first='Second' last='2 None']","_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":"Christian operates as if he has 360-degree vision, regularly dishing incredible no-look passes and setting his teammates up for easy buckets. He's a tough point guard that can break ankles, maneuver through traffic, and consistently put his defenders on skates. Cox makes clutch plays like it's second nature and will always be the first to the ball on hustle plays. He can elevate with the best of them and doesn't hesitate to put defensive pressure on anyone - making him incredibly versatile on defense and an absolute asset for a coach to be able to plug and play him in multiple spots as needed. Christian's passing ability is elite and so much fun to watch. He doesn't rush into decisions and he's excellent at reading the defense and taking the path of least resistance. I expect Cox to make a ton of noise this summer and to continue doing so going into his Junior season.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6635160ee2a09"} /-->