Top new guards from 2026 Rankings Update Part 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our 2026 rankings update saw over 30 players added to our list. In this article we'll break down five guards who made their debut during this latest update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2614839"],"_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-67757213afd7e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A prep school prospect who can really shoot the basketball from the outside and can explode vertically, Badea has the microwave ability to take over games with his perimeter scoring ability. Hoping to see the game slow down for Badea as he continues to get more reps and develop as a player, the natural talent is enough where he could find himself higher in these rankings if he takes the steps I believe he can take over the next 15 months before heading off to the college level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1832084"],"_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-67757213afdea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I just wrote about Griggs performance last weekend, click <a href="https://prephoops.com/2024/12/holiday-hoopla-2026-standouts/">here </a>to read my thoughts on his game and improved body transformation! Still wanted to shout him out for making his debut in our rankings in this article!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1812058"],"_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-67757213afe33"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hinton averaged 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and almost 4 assists per contest as a sophomore for Western Hills. He transferred to conference favorite Cincinnati Aiken and while his numbers across the board are slightly down, he's impacting winning basketball with continued excellent defense, an improved assist to turnover ratio and fitting in on one of the best backcourts in Cincinnati. I do hope Hinton eventually takes a leap as a 3-point shooter, that will be especially important after seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1432009' first='Jaiden' last='Arnold'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1432023' first='James' last='Burnett'] graduate but at the moment Hinton is a strong glue piece on an Aiken squad that should have high playoff hopes at the moment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2350192"],"_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-67757213afe77"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It's been a slow start to the hoops season for Wheelersburg after Rucker and a handful of his teammates just finished off another deep playoff push. With two wins to close out the new year and some big games from Rucker, momentum is building before a clash with unbeaten South Webster on January 3rd. If Wheelersburg is going to pull the upset, they'll need Rucker to knock down shots from the outside and take care of the basketball, two skills he's shown he's capable of performing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2570793"],"_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-67757213afeb9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A player who caught our eye at the midwest fall league and our expo showcase, O'Neil had his breakout performance in a blowout win over Pickerington Central to open up his Junior season. On a Bishop Hartley squad that swarms the ball on defense, O'Neil fits in well with his on ball defense and ability to make shots from the perimeter. An under the radar name in central Ohio who is starting to break out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->