252 Area Preview: 2026 Lead Guards Expected To Have Big Seasons

The 2025-2026 basketball season is just under a week away, with some teams having tryouts, practices, jamborees, and scrimmages scheduled for the next week or so. In this article, we will take a look at the 252 area code and some lead guards that we expect to have a major year.        One of the top returning assist leaders in the area will be sporting new threads as a Farmville Central Jaguar. He's lightning quick with the ball and a solid shooter when getting into his spots with confidence. He'll be tasked with filling the void left behind by Eastern Kentucky guard MJ Williams, with a solid collection of assets around him expect those assist numbers to go up this season.       After almost doubling his production in every category except the senior guard from North Edgecombe to have a big final season. He's a “glue guy” in a sense and seems to find a way to make all the right plays when his team needs him. With new head coach Jonah Williams at the helm, the North Edgecombe HS basketball team will be young but expect Mills to be a key piece of their success.       A double double threat whenever he's on the floor, Dance has the intangibles and skillset to be the top guards in the 252 area code this season. Standing at 6'3 with a solid frame he's best with the ball in his hands but can play off ball when needed and can fill up the stats sheet from either position. In a December conference game last year he finished with a triple double, then later exploded for 41 points in a February conference game not long after.       After averaging a solid 15 points per game last season and producing at a solid rate during the two games I saw him in this summer it was gonna be hard to leave Rascoe off the list. Super shifty with the ball in his hands and a willing passer that makes solid reads the majority of time he knows how to play the game the right while still getting his shots up as well. He plays in a deep rural part of eastern NC but he'll be one of the top guards on this side of the area code.       With the departure of Mason Dobie from First Flight HS to graduation Woods is the next man up in the Nighthawks program. The smooth shooting southpaw is one of the state's leaders in three pointers made and after the performances I saw this summer I wouldn't be surprised if that number nearly doubles. He had two instances at the ECI where he made 9 plus threes and he did so in a variety of ways, whether off the catch or off the dribble.       Losing a five star prospect to transfer will be a tough loss but the depth and quantity of talent at Northern Nash will help them forget. Barnes was the starting PG a year ago as he averaged a solid 13 points 3 rebounds and 3 assists per contest finishing the year with 7 straight double digit scoring nights. He can get his shot off in tough spots and angles while doing a solid job of getting his teammates involved along the way. If the Knights want to have a legitimate chance of winning the new gauntlet of a conference they are in they'll need a bigger year from their lead guard.     Sporting a Division One offer after a solid junior season and summer campaign [player_tooltip player_id='1280985' first='Chaise' last='Smith'] and Washington have their sights set on a 4A state championship. The high flying guard will likely be a key piece to those aspirations as he attempts to duplicate last year's success. A blur in the open court with an improving jump shot and decision making skills he's arguably the top remaining prospect on the board in the 252 area code.     Freshly committed to the Elon Phoenix Edwards is off the board and the highest ranked prospect in the area code by multiple recruiting platforms. Even tho their stats from last season are unavailable if you went to a Greenfield game his impact was very visible. Night in and out he contributed to every the game every way possible, with nifty passes that led to assists, step back pull up jumpers from all over the floor, and the occasional chase down block. If the Greenfield Knights want a chance at winning the NCISAA 2A state championship they will need a big year from Edwards.

The 2025-2026 basketball season is just under a week away, with some teams having tryouts, practices, jamborees, and scrimmages scheduled for the next week or so. In this article, we will take a look at the 252 area code and some lead guards that we expect to have a major year.