2026 Rankings Update: Top 10 Newcomer Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(36) PG [player_tooltip player_id='2519960' first='Cayden' last='Clark'] (Centennial)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An active defender with quick hands and feet, Clark will become a huge contributor for the Jaguars this season after getting no varsity run as a sophomore. He's a downhill guard who loves to get to the bucket off the dribble, and he does a great job keeping his eyes up and active, finding open shooters or cutting teammates when the defense collapses onto him. He's a capable shooter from deep off both the dribble and the catch, but he's at his best when he's in attack mode.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(42) CG [player_tooltip player_id='2136936' first='Chance' last='Burkett'] (Waukee)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burkett is a strong, quick guard who can play with or without the ball in his hands. He scores effectively from all three levels, getting to the rim off the dribble and showing a strong mid-range game, getting the ball into his shooting pocket quickly off the bounce. He's also a solid catch-and-shoot weapon from 3-point range. Defensively he has quick hands and moves well laterally, and he can hold his own against either guard spot as well as bumping up and guarding a few bigger wing bodies.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(61) SG [player_tooltip player_id='2519974' first='Jack' last='Badding'] (Kuemper Catholic)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Badding (pictured) is a skilled guard who can really, really shoot it from 3-point range, off both the dribble and the catch. His shooting is his biggest weapon, but he has also improved as a ball-handler and shown a willingness to attack the rim off the dribble when the defense closes out hard on him. He finishes well with either hand at the bucket, and he does a nice job keeping the ball moving on the offensive end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(74) PG [player_tooltip player_id='1460951' first='Eli' last='Dee'] (Baxter)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dee makes a pretty strong debut in these 2026 rankings because the kid can flat out shoot the basketball. He shot over 40% from behind the arc as a sophomore for the Bolts and carried that dynamic shooting into the spring and summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2075269' first='All' last='Iowa Attack'], where he also showed the ability to attack off the dribble and finish at a high clip around the rim. He has good size at 6-2, can create plays off the bounce for his teammates, and can really, really shoot it. He averaged 12.5 points a game at Baxter as a sophomore and could put up 20 a night as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(85) CG [player_tooltip player_id='2478782' first='Colin' last='Bliss'] (Dowling Catholic)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bliss shoots it at a high clip off both the dribble and the catch, with range well beyond the high school line. His ability to space the floor will be extremely valuable for the Maroons, and he has shown secondary playmaking and ball-handling ability as well throughout the spring and summer with Waukee JAM.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(90) SG [player_tooltip player_id='2519969' first='Micah' last='Mattes'] (Newton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A floor spacing guard who shoots it well off both the dribble and the catch, Mattes moves well without the ball in his hands and has a quick release on his shot. He was a standout performer at the Winterset Shootout in June, knocking down 3s in a variety of different ways while also showing that he can create for himself and teammates off the dribble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(102) PG [player_tooltip player_id='2425928' first='Jeremy' last='Wright'] (Waterloo East)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wright is a quick, athletic guard who loves to push the tempo and get himself and his teammates easy looks by beating defenders down the floor. He does a nice job creating space with his handles, speed, and footwork, and he's a quality finisher around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(106) SG [player_tooltip player_id='2520010' first='Lincoln' last='Cowell'] (Grand View Christian)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cowell could become one of the best pure shooters in the 2026 class if his performance at the Winterset Shootout is any indication. A flamethrower who can get scorching hot in a hurry, he has a quick release off the catch and moves really well without the ball in his hands. He also does a nice job using the threat of his shot to open up his dribble penetration, attacking hard closeouts off the dribble and showing good court vision and passing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(114) CG [player_tooltip player_id='1874786' first='Jameson' last='Demaray'] (Norwalk)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A combo guard who showed the ability to play with or without the ball in his hands, Demaray can shoot it off both the dribble and the catch at a high clip, and he's a quality playmaker off the bounce for his teammates. Following several losses to graduation, look for Demaray to step into the Warriors rotation as a junior and be an impact player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(129) CG [player_tooltip player_id='2425904' first='Eli' last='Evans'] (Waterloo Christian)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A steady guard with good size at 6-2, Evans put up solid numbers for the Regents as a sophomore, averaging 14.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists a game. He's a capable shooter from 3-point range, but he's at his best when he's attacking the rim off the dribble and scoring at the bucket or finding open teammates. He rebounds well on both ends of the floor and looks to push the pace when he can.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->