2026 Spring Stock-Rising Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a handful of showcase events and club basketball tournaments under our belt, it's a good time to take a closer look at some prospects who have raised their recruiting stock in the early going of travel basketball season. The following players in the class of 2026 will likely see their ranking rise in our next update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2779851' first='Jeremiah' last='Hunt'] | Millikan | Cali Rebels</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hunt is one of the most under-the-radar recruits in the state, and based on the multiple games we watched him play this spring, a ranking at No. 27 in the class looks to be a bit too low. The 6-foot-2 point guard is a steady and savvy decision-maker who uses his ability to change speeds and lull defenders to sleep to get into the lane and create for himself and teammates. Hunt strikes a great balance on when to score and when to distribute and has the ability to do both in bunches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2136707' first='Amir' last='Jones'] | Harvard-Westlake | BTI United</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the high school level, Jones (pictured) started out his career as a steady-handed back-up on an elite team and has blossomed into a starting point guard for that same program and excelled in that role. In our viewings of him this spring, Jones has shown a bit more aggressiveness as a scorer with his BTI club, especially when it comes to early offense and perimeter jumpers. Watch for the current No. 48 prospect to make a jump in our next rankings update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2571744' first='Devin' last='Wright'] | Redondo Union | Team CPSA</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wright currently sits at No. 65 in our 2026 ranking but, if he continues to improve his ball handling and attacking off the bounce, the 6-foot-3 guard could see a major bump up. Wright is one of the premier spot shooters in Southern California but we've seen him grow more confident and aggressive in attacking closeouts and driving to the rim to score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2779853' first='Emmitt' last='Claiborne'] | La Salle | Build Your Way Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Claiborne's value is in his ability to shoot off the catch and off the bounce on the perimeter. The 6-foot-2 combo guard is a balanced three-point and mid-range shooter who also makes smart decisions with the ball and practices good shot selection. Claiborne allows the game to come to him and doesn't force many bad shots and will likely see a bump up from his current ranking of No. 79.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2425764' first='Semaj' last='Carter'] | Ranco Verde | Cali Rebels</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter is a super physical downhill style guard who uses his frame and athleticism to initiate, absorb and finish through contact around the rim. The 6-foot-3 combo guard is best in open court settings where he fearlessly attacks the rim and can finish with power, finesse or craftiness. After our latest viewings of Carter, it's clear to us that his current ranking of No. 103 is far too low.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2131801' first='Aiden' last='McIntyre'] | Leuzinger | Team Build Up</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McIntyre is a shifty left-handed guard whose ability to break defenders down in isolation for paint touches and finishes at the rim is his best quality. The 6-foot-2 junior is lightning quick with the ball in his hands which allows him to keep defenders off-balance and guessing what his next move will be. McIntyre has an uncanny ability to squeeze through small cracks in the defense and get into the lane where he scores with efficiency. Currently ranked at 104, he will receive a large bump in the next 2026 update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->