2026 Guards That Are Expected To Break Out This Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With basketball in the Garden State set to start regular season play in the coming weeks, let's take a look at some guards in the class of 2026 throughout the state of New Jersey expected to break out onto the scene and take on bigger roles and break out onto the scene this upcoming season.</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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2763494' first='Jayden' last='Solomon']","_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":"Newark Collegiate Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67511169519eb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With a natural instinct and innate ability to score the basketball, [player_tooltip player_id='2763494' first='Jayden' last='Solomon'] excels at being able to score the ball in a multitude of ways, both on and off the ball. Off the ball, a role where Solomon was effective last year, he does a great job of converting off catch and shoot opportunities at a high rate as well as playing off screens and ball reversals. Operating on the ball, Solomon does a great job of leveraging his shooting ability into opportunities to get to his mid range as well as get to the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Showcasing improved playmaking and progressing as a decision maker this summer, along with the ability to create for himself and score off the dribble, look for Solomon to take on a large portion of the offensive workload for Newark Collegiate Academy this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1943569"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6751116951a64"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A smooth and methodic scorer with great positional size, [player_tooltip player_id='1943569' first='Donnie' last='Gregory'] has a natural knack for getting to his spots effectively. An excellent perimeter threat, Gregory does a great job of knocking down shots from behind the three point line as well as taking advantage of closeouts and finishing at the rim. Proven himself to play at his own pace and never really get too sped up, Gregory also does a great job of getting to his mid range when the defense gives him the opportunity to do so. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Transferring to Morris Catholic this season, look for Gregory to continue a lot of the success he had scoring the ball at Pingry and put up large scoring performances for the Crusaders this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1595763"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6751116951aaf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A quick and dynamic point guard, Kareem Anthony does a good job of consistently putting pressure on the defense as he always seems to find a way to maintain a healthy balance between creating offense for himself as well as excelling as a facilitator and creating offense for others around him. In terms of creating for himself, Anthony does a great job of using his quick first step to get downhill and attack the paint as well as be effective from the perimeter and be creative off the bounce. In terms of creating for others, Anthony does a good job of reading the help defense and knocking when to hit the open man whether it be in the half court or in transition as well as hitting the dump off around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Transferring to Arts this season, look for Anthony to operate as the Jaguars' point guard and be an effective decision maker for Arts' offense this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2342638"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6751116951af6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A steady guard, able to play either guard position, [player_tooltip player_id='2635689' first='Jaden' last='Brown'] excels at being able to attack on drives and get into the paint. When in the paint, Brown does a good job being able to finish around the basket as well as attract help defenders and hit dump offs down low or kick out to open shooters. On the perimeter, Brown does a good job of knocking open shots as well as hitting mid range pull ups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Look for [player_tooltip player_id='2635689' first='Jaden' last='Brown'] to be a nice connective piece for Bergen Catholic this year; as a guy that pushes the ball in transition, plays with a high motor, initiates offense, keeps the ball moving in the half court, knocks down open shots, and defend his position at a high level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1865348"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6751116951b3b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A strong and physical guard, [player_tooltip player_id='1865348' first='Jaen' last='Chatman'] excels at utilizing his explosiveness to put pressure on the rim and get into the paint. Terrific at using his physicality and strength to finish around the rim, Chatman is a guard that just gets wherever he wants off the bounce and lives in the paint. An improved perimeter shooter, Chatman is also highly effective off the ball as he can contribute knocking down open shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After transferring to Blair and having a phenomenal summer that saw his stock rise, look for Chatman to showcase his two way ability in combination with his high motor as not only a playmaker for Blair's offense but a tenacious and disruptive on ball defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->