2026: Underrated Guard Names in the HoopState (Part 1)

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">The 2026 class in the state of North Carolina is heavy on the talent side as offers continue to go out to a number of prospects. There are still a few prospects who college programs should get on their radar in the same breath. Take a look at some Underrated Names in the HoopState's 2026 class worthy of college attention!</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get 30% OFF payment on your first billing cycle with offer code: JAYANDERSON30, sign up <a href="https://prephoops.com/subscribe">TODAY</a>!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1361269' first='LJ' last='Rush'] | 5'11 Point Guard | 1 of 1 Academy/[program_tooltip program_id='2234929' first='1' last='of 1 Elite']</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's only a matter of time before things blow up in a big way on the national stage for [player_tooltip player_id='1361269' first='LJ' last='Rush']. He's a lead guard with a ton of athleticism and prowess on the defensive end of the floor that should carry him for a while over the next few seasons. He's an electric prospect who plays with a ton of pace and can finish with authority in an instant. He's played on a national schedule over the past few seasons with 1 of 1 Academy as he continues to push his case as a top prospect to know in North Carolina's 2026 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJPv4SvKOg0","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJPv4SvKOg0 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2055662' first='CJ' last='Jones'] | 6'1 Guard | Dudley/[program_tooltip program_id='2227286' first='Team' last='Loaded NC']</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones is a prospect to keep an eye on with [program_tooltip program_id='2227286' first='Team' last='Loaded NC'] on the 16U stage given his prowess for making things happen when the ball comes his way. He's got a nice touch on his shot on the perimeter and inside the arc which allows him to score with ease but his biggest asset is probably his ability to keep others involved and keep defenders guessing. College of Charleston offered this past summer. He's another guard prospect in the 2026 class for college programs at the DI level to get eyes on. He put up 19.3 PPG on 43 percent shooting from deep at Dudley High this past season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CoachJonesACS/status/1771238423929520603","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CoachJonesACS/status/1771238423929520603 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1680977' first='Ashton' last='Pierce'] | 6'3 Guard | North Mecklenburg/Jet Academy EYBL</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pierce is an emerging talent who can score the basketball in a hurry in the Jet Academy backcourt on the EYBL stage. He won at state championship with North Mecklenburg High this past season as one of their featured defenders and shooters in the lineup. He's a two-way presence who turns his energy on defense into quick buckets on the other end. He knows how to mix it up by getting downhill and creating off the bounce as well. As he continues to improve on his strength/frame, look for his recruitment to grow. He holds a number of offers from the likes of Wake Forest, Hampton, High Point but look for his list to grow soon as the HS period heats up in June.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1608357' first='Tyzhir' last='Dyer'] | 5'10 Guard | Hickory Ridge/[program_tooltip program_id='2417097' first='Team' last='Ish']</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dyer is part of quite a talented group with [program_tooltip program_id='2417097' first='Team' last='Ish'] who's been on full display this grassroots cycle so far on the Pro16/NXT stage. He's shown he can operate with and without the ball in his hands with his prowess shooting the ball on the perimeter. He does well spotting up on the floor to knock down shots and battles on the boards to keep the ball alive just as well. He's a do-it-all guard that DI and DII programs in the region need to get eyes on given his activity level on the floor at the guard position. He produced 6.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.7 APG and 1.5 SPG as a sophomore on varsity at Hickory Ridge High.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Tyzhir2026/status/1790107514349990248","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Tyzhir2026/status/1790107514349990248 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1672480' first='Ian' last='Bailey'] | 6'2 Guard | Asheville Christian Academy/[program_tooltip program_id='2225832' first='Team' last='Curry']</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bailey is a lengthy guard at 6-foot-2 who's seemingly flying under the radar heading into the June HS period with Asheville Christian Academy. He's a prospect who's shown off his progress as both a scorer and playmaker off the wing on the UAA stage so far. He can knock down shots off the catch as well as operate off the bounce and keeps defenses guessing with his ability to knock down shots on the perimeter. He's no slouch defensively either as he's one to create fastbreak opportunities off turnovers on defense to get the offense going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CoachJonesACS/status/1793728145566392525","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CoachJonesACS/status/1793728145566392525 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1226604' first='Brent' last='Banks'] | 5'11 Point Guard | Hickory Grove Christian/EA Prep Adidas Gold</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Banks is another underrecruited name of out of the Western region of North Carolina at Hickory Grove Christian where he was a top scoring threat. He put up 22.1 PPG this past season, ranking third in all of NCISAA 3A in scoring, according to MaxPreps, while also managing to snag 6.0 RPG. Despite his stature, he showed he could get to the painted area and midrange areas this past season as a sophomore while shooting 41 percent from the field. He's a guard prospect in the 2026 class with EA Prep Adidas Gold to keep eyes on as the 2026 recruiting period opens soon in June.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->