2026 Guards That Could Turn Heads This Grassroots Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this segment, we take a look at some guys who played a major or important role in their team's success this season that we believe will continue that success into the travel ball season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1165176"],"_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-67de11e5b5c32"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After a strong Junior season where he was the leading scorer of his Wayne Country Day squad that he led to the NCISAA 2A Semifinals, he should be one of the prime candidates to have a big summer. Not many guards in the east have a deeper scoring bag, he has the unique ability to score from all three levels where he uses an array of moves from step back jumpers to floaters with either hand. Will be running with No Guts No Glory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2382809"],"_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-67de11e5b5cc3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A crazy growth spurt has him standing somewhere around 6'7, but it hasn't slowed down his silky handle or his ability to knock down jump shots. At Green Level this past season he saw a nice bump to his scoring from 5.5 to 13.3 and the added inches to his height led to a few more easy buckets around the basket. At Green Level next year, he will be tasked with being “the guy” and I believe we will see some flashes of that this grassroots season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2673399"],"_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-67de11e5b5d3f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wilson Prep had a down year, in terms of the success they have experienced in the last few seasons, the lead scoring combo guard was one of the few bright spots. Averaging just under 17 points he does a good job of getting downhill and finishing with a multitude of crafty finishes, while also being a solid option on the defensive end. He will be running with [program_tooltip program_id='2078500' first='Garner' last='Road'] National team this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1280940"],"_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-67de11e5b5db6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Returning to a new look [program_tooltip program_id='2078546' first='Team' last='Trezz'] squad after an almost conference leading 4.8 assists per game, for the South Central Falcons, I expect him to be one of the better playmakers in the area. He'll have a nice combination of athletes and shooters around him this go around and his high IQ and defensive prowess make him the perfect candidate to lead the squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1761257"],"_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-67de11e5b5e2d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After missing all of his Junior season with a torn ACL he suffered midway through last year's grassroots season the explosive guard is back. Last season he was arguably one of the more athletic guards in the East and was starting to round out the rest of his scoring repertoire before the injury.  After watching his high school squad lose the state championship at the buzzer expect Jalen to play with a vengeance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->