EYBL Session 3: Top 2026 Houston Guard Stock Risers

As the Nike EYBL circuit continues to showcase elite talent from across the country, Houston prospects made sure their presence was felt on one of grassroots basketball's biggest stages. From high-IQ floor generals to athletic wings and dominant interior forces, the H-Town standouts showed they can compete and excel against national-level competition. Here's a breakdown of the top Houston-based standouts from the latest stop on the Nike EYBL circuit.    [player_tooltip player_id='1593831' first='Christian' last='Gibson'] played with an elite scoring mindset, anchored by a deadly mid-range game. His turnaround jumper served as the foundation of his isolation scoring, executed with polished footwork, great body control, and soft touch. Whether spinning into high-arching fadeaways or elevating in tight windows, his shot was nearly unguardable. [player_tooltip player_id='1593831' first='Christian' last='Gibson']'s efficiency was a result of both his mechanics and elite footwork as he rose cleanly and confidently off the dribble or catch, often requiring just one or two dribbles to get into his spots with rhythm. As his physical tools continue to fill out, Gibson's combination of strength and finesse will make him even more dangerous.     An incredibly active floor general, Alston was the engine of his Houston Hoops' offense at times and the heartbeat of their overall tempo. Alston constantly scanned the floor, using his vocal presence, hand signals, and eye manipulation to orchestrate spacing, direct cutters, and identify mismatches, always in full command of the possession. As a rebounding guard, Alston attacked the glass aggressively and wasted no time transitioning into offense. The moment the ball hit Reese's hands, his head was up, eyes surveying the floor to find advancing wings or sprinting bigs, initiating fast breaks with quick-hit outlets or pushing the tempo himself.     [player_tooltip player_id='1750107' first='Jaxson' last='Thompson'] played with breakaway speed and elite burst, blowing past defenders with ease. Once he gained a step, Thompson was nearly impossible to recover on, using his athleticism and body control to finish with flair at or above the rim. His vertical pop allowed him to rise in traffic, and his creativity at the cup made him a constant threat in transition or off straight-line drives.     Elijah Hayeems is a pure shooter with a smooth, high release and lightning-quick mechanics that extend to deep range with ease. His shooting form was consistent and technically sound, giving him the ability to knock down shots from well beyond the arc. In one-dribble pull-up scenarios, he punished aggressive closeouts, showcasing textbook balance, fluid elevation, and precise follow-through. His quick trigger and elite shot preparation made him a constant perimeter threat.     [player_tooltip player_id='1583467' first='Aziz' last='Olajuwon'] didn't rely on a quick-twitch burst, instead his long, gliding first step allowed him to cover ground effortlessly and get into the lane with minimal dribbles. Off the bounce, Olajuwon used stride length and subtle hesitation to manipulate his defender's angle. Defensively, his sheer wingspan and positional length made scorers think twice about pulling up, especially in isolation or midrange actions. Olajuwon's presence disrupted timing, forcing ball-handlers to pick up their dribble or pass early due to the pressure he created even without full contests.     Livingston displayed incredible shooting touch from beyond the arc. Whether within the flow of the offense or in isolation late in the shot clock, every jumper came off his hands with confidence and purity. He had a quick trigger, a high release, and elite shot versatility, knocking down contested jumpers, pull-ups off the bounce, and deep catch-and-shoot threes without hesitation. All he needed was a slight bit of space, and he let it fly with supreme touch and a beautifully arcing shot.     Loving's was electric with the ball in his hands. His elite first step and twitchy movements gave defenders fits, keeping them off balance from the moment he initiated his dribble. His burst in and out of tight crossovers and between-the-legs combos was next-level, allowing him to create space on command. His dribble package was sharp, reactive, and tight, operating low to the ground and exploding out of his moves with zero wasted motion. He was a blur in space and thrived breaking down defenders.

As the Nike EYBL circuit continues to showcase elite talent from across the country, Houston prospects made sure their presence was felt on one of grassroots basketball's biggest stages. From high-IQ floor generals to athletic wings and dominant interior forces, the H-Town standouts showed they can compete and excel against national-level competition. Here's a breakdown of the top Houston-based standouts from the latest stop on the Nike EYBL circuit.