New England's 2026 Combo Guards

Today, we continue our positional breakdown for the Class of 2026 by taking a look at the Combo Guards.   Holding the top Combo Guard spot is [player_tooltip player_id='2341338' first='Ty' last='Tabales'], who comes in at #18 in the overall rankings. A bigger guard that played a complimentary role on a really good New Hampton squad this winter, he impacts the game on both ends of floor with his instinctive playmaking, feel for the game, and basketball IQ. He should take on a bigger playmaking and scoring role next season and is a prospect to watch this spring and summer.   Here are ten more Combo Guards of note from our latest rankings update.   [player_tooltip player_id='2472274' first='Bentley' last='Shelton'] #36   A big, strong guard at St. Thomas More, Shelton impresses with his versatility as a scorer. A three level scorer, Shelton has a great feel for the game on the offensive end. He moves well without the basketball, sliding into open passing lanes and quickly getting into his shot. He has deep range on his jumper, the ability to shot fake and go by, and can finish in a variety of ways around the rim. He's a good finisher in the paint in transition, has some blow by ability off the bounce, and can make plays for others out of ball screens. He competes defensively and has the ability to guard all three perimeter spots.   [player_tooltip player_id='2407063' first='Adrian' last='Shepard Jr.'] #53   An impressively athletic guard out of Tabor Academy, Shepard impacts a game with his effort level and intensity that leads to loud plays in the open floor. With great size at the guard spot, he can impact a game with his athleticism and effort level alone, but also showed flashes of an advanced skill level his winter. He continues to improve as a perimeter shooter and does a good job of making shots in catch and shoot situations. He makes plays on the offensive glass and is a strong finisher when he attacks the rim. Defensively, he makes winning plays. He can protect the rim, gets steals in passing lanes, and is versatile enough to guard four different positions.   [player_tooltip player_id='2341442' first='Jonathan' last='Ocasio'] #66   A big time competitor with terrific ball skills, Ocasio is a special offensive talent out of Deerfield Academy. A compact guard with the strength needed to play through contact, he's really good at creating for himself and others on the offensive end. He's become a terrific scorer in the mid-range, capable of playing out of ball screens or getting into his jumper in isolation situations. He consistently knocks down shots from behind the arc, makes good decisions in transition, and is a crafty scorer in the paint. Defensively, he sits in a stance and competes and knows how to force opposing guards into making bad decisions.   [player_tooltip player_id='2696623' first='CJ' last='Azor'] #81   An attacking guard who impressed at Tilton, Azor is athletic and strong and uses those traits to his advantage on both ends of the floor. He has elite burst when turning the corner with the ball in his hands and uses his length and athleticism to finish at the rim. He does a good job playing in ball screens and with his ability to get into the teeth of a defense off the bounce, can create easy scoring opportunities for his teammates. He makes shots at multiple levels and can really get up and down the floor in transition. His physical gifts pop on the defensive end where he can hound opposing guards with his lateral quickness and forces turnovers with quick hands.   [player_tooltip player_id='1866230' first='Markus' last='Maxwell-Grimes'] #86   A versatile guard, Maxwell-Grimes did a bit of everything offensively this winter for Suffield Academy. He's turned himself into an elite shooter with in the gym range and the ability to make shots off the bounce or in catch and shoot situations. He leverages his shooting to open up driving lanes and finishes in the paint in a variety of ways, including crafty lay-ups and with floaters. Defensively, he uses his length to his advantage and makes instinctive plays in passing lanes. He has a good basketball IQ and that allows him to make plays in transition both for himself and for his teammates.   [player_tooltip player_id='2452018' first='Brandon' last='White'] #116   A talented offensive performer, White had a good junior season at Taft. He's a quality ball-handler that makes good decisions out of ball screens, showing a good feel for the game and the ability to find the roller cutting to the basket or to make pull up jumpers. Off the ball, he can really make shots from behind the arc and is a next level shooter in catch and shoot situations. Defensively, he can guard either back-court spot, does a good job of being vocal, and isn't afraid to make plays going after loose balls. He turns defense into offense and keeps his eyes up as a facilitator in transition.   [player_tooltip player_id='2465142' first='Omar' last='Robinson'] #135   An athletic, gritty, and tough guard, Robinson did a bit of everything this winter for Pomfret. He's an impressive open floor athlete that can really attack the rim in transition. He has a strong frame and is physically powerful, showing the ability to score above the rim. He gets downhill off the bounce and has proven to be an improved shooter from behind the arc. His ability to impact a game on the defensive end also stands out as he's a quality rebounder from the guard spot and has the ability to guard multiple positions on the perimeter. He's not afraid to be physical and has good instincts in passing lanes.   [player_tooltip player_id='2553823' first='Chais' last='Harriette'] #136   A quality defender and offensive playmaker, Harriette was solid in his first year at the Rivers School. He has good length on the perimeter and combines that with impressive athleticism to be a good on-ball defender. He moves his feet well laterally and really competes on that end of the floor, making things difficult for opposing ball-handlers. Offensively, he's a quick twitch athlete that has good burst off the bounce and the ability to repeatedly get into the paint. He's a good facilitator that makes quick decisions with the basketball. He can score at multiple levels and impresses with his willingness to play through contact around the rim.   [player_tooltip player_id='2553784' first='Jayvon' last='Robinson'] #143   A shifty and creativity ball handler, Robinson is in constant attack mode on the offensive end of the floor. The New London guard is at his best with the ball in his hands, and while he's a capable scorer, he does a great job of drawing the defense in and then finding teammates for easy scoring opportunities. He has good burst with the ball in his hands, the ability to quickly change directions, and the know how to play at different speeds. He's great in ball screens and does a good job of making plays with the defender on his hip. Defensively, he can really move his feet laterally and, with quick hands, is able to generate plenty of steals and deflections.   [player_tooltip player_id='2633567' first='Kehari' last='Walker'] #163   A versatile guard out of East Hartford, Walker shines on both ends of the floor. At 6'2", he has good positonal size and with a nice combination of athleticism and strength, uses his physical traits to his advantage on the defensive end of the floor. He plays with great intensity, can guard multiple positions, and is disruptive when he guards the ball in space. Offensively, he's in constant attack mode, getting into the paint off the bounce and finishing through contact at the rim. He can make plays with his quick and also with power, showing the ability to score at multiple levels.   Keep an eye out for our breakdown of the Shooting Guards, coming soon!

Today, we continue our positional breakdown for the Class of 2026 by taking a look at the Combo Guards.