2026s Summer’s Hidden Gems Ready to Prove More

We're a couple of weeks out from the Expo on Sunday, September 13th. This is your chance to test yourself against 2026 & 2027 talent from across the state as we all head out under one roof. I will be on-site to evaluate how your game translates in a showcase setting and get an early read heading into the season. Rankings will be updated shortly after, using this as a key baseline.   Use code “JohnsonHoops25” at checkout for a discount. (<a href="https://events.prephoops.com/e/1616/register/the-expo-colorado">Here</a>)      At 6'1, Starr is a big guard with the size and skill that stand out. But now it is about piecing it together in a competitive and unfamiliar setting against the state's best. He runs the point with leadership and has great vision, but also scores with ease. His shooting, handles, and finishing make him an offensive threat, and defensively, he brings toughness and instincts. This showcase is the perfect stage for Starr to prove he's one of the top rising guards in his class who is poised for a big season.     Perry flashed big-time name potential as a junior, putting up impressive numbers and showing he can take over games. At 5'11, he's quick, aggressive, and tough to contain off the dribble. The tools are there, and his upside is clear, but the next step is consistency. That's why this showcase matters, as it is an opportunity for Perry to prove he's ready to rise into one of the state's top guards, not just a conference standout.     Nesbitt is a player who sets the tone as a true floor general with vision, creativity, and the ability to run the offense. He reads defenses, creates for teammates, and scores with confidence from deep or at the rim, and that is what separates him. With his ability to control tempo and open the floor, this is exactly why we want him at the showcase to display his skills against top competition, but also add a guard willing to get others in the mix. This is an opportunity to rise a bit more with a solid showing.     Borne is a player who took a bit of a dip in the rankings from the last go round, and it is simply because we need to see more of him to justify how he looks amongst the other top players in the state. We did see him at Colorado Live, and that explosion looks back. He was attacking the rim and finishing through contact. He was physical defensively and will be the team's workhorse this upcoming year as a two-way specialist who can impact the game with his energy and athleticism. But now we have to see the consistency. This will be another opportunity to make an impression, and he's a player that should head out to the event with a chip on his shoulder. Hope to see him there to show he's who he's always been and progressing.     Vigil isn't a name many know yet, but he's the type who makes you take notice. He's a high-motor competitor; he does whatever it takes to impact the game, and we saw that this summer. He's a player who isn't afraid to crash the glass, he cuts, sets hard screens, and defends with grit. He doesn't need the ball to be effective, but he finds ways to make winning plays. After getting on the scene this summer, he's a player I'm genuinely intrigued by, and this showcase is the perfect stage to prove himself further. Hope to see him there.

We're a couple of weeks out from the Expo on Sunday, September 13th. This is your chance to test yourself against 2026 & 2027 talent from across the state as we all head out under one roof. I will be on-site to evaluate how your game translates in a showcase setting and get an early read heading into the season. Rankings will be updated shortly after, using this as a key baseline.