Area Rankings: Top 10 2026 Guards In Northern Nevada

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2025-2026 season less than a month away. I thought it would be a good time to take a deeper dive into some of the different regions of Nevada. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Including Northern Nevada, which has a number of notable 2026 guards who will look to lead their team's to the playoffs this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1768793"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6910cf0fc8e7d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1768793' first='Bryce' last='Stephens'] will likely be making some waves with the Fernley Vaqueros this season. He is an agile guard that can slip by defenders and make tough lay-ups in traffic. He can also splash in shots from the outside and hits his teammates when they're open. On the other end of the court, Stephens uses his athleticism to keep his man in front of him and he's capable of forcing turnovers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2356155"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6910cf0fc8f09"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2356155' first='Sheldon' last='Jacobson'] is another Vaquero that is bound for a big season up in Northern Nevada. He stands at about 6'2 and utilizes his length to intercept passes on defense. He can block shots as well. While on offense, he likes to get downhill and he has a knack for drawing contact. If he and Stephens are both rolling, they will be a difficult team to slow down. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1741193"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6910cf0fc8f7a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1741193' first='Josh' last='Peterson'] is now in is final high school season at Reed and he will look to make it a memorable one. He has the strength and athleticism to get into the paint on offense, and can score or dish out an assist from there. In addition to his output on offense, Reed gives good effort on the defensive end and he gets physical if he needs to. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1463215"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6910cf0fc9012"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1463215' first='James' last='Williams'] is suiting up for Reno this season and I'm sure he'd like to help them make the playoffs. He is one of the taller guards in Northern Nevada. Which makes it easy for him to shoot over shorter defenders. And he also has an advantage when it's time to rebound. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2145557"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6910cf0fc90a5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I really liked what I saw from [player_tooltip player_id='2145557' first='Liam' last='Sorensen'] at The Border League. He was assertive on offense and utilized his speed + IQ to get to his spots. I was also a fan of the way he was flying around on defense. All in all, he gives the Miners a nice spark with his energy. And he'll certainly be a tough guard to go up against this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2805995"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6910cf0fc913f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I wrote about Mills recently in my 'Small School 2026 Prospects" article. I think he's a great PG1 and he manages the game with maturity. He also knows to get his teammates involved, but can create his own shot. Or pull up from long distance and bury a triple. Look for him and Needles to have a very successful season up in Northern Nevada. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2359369"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6910cf0fc91d9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2359369' first='Darrell' last='Russell'] is [player_tooltip player_id='2805995' first='Luke' last='Mills'] backcourt mate and he looks due to a big senior season. He has to be one of the more athletic players in all of 2A (if not they most). And he will be a playmaker on both offense and defense for the Mustangs. Expect him to average around 20 points or more this season. (He averaged 16.6 PPG last year.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1587903"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6910cf0fc9279"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1587903' first='Malik' last='Vaden'] is a guard for Wooster that helps facilitate the offense with his court vision and burst. He can draw the attention of the defense when he's driving, and keeps his eyes up so that he can dump it off to a forward or shooter. But he he can also take it all the way himself. As a defender, he stays active with his hands and he gets in passing lanes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1587902"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6910cf0fc92eb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1587902' first='Kin' last='Vong'] will be one of the go to guys at Damonte Ranch since they had a couple of notable seniors graduate last year. He is a threat to score on offense by getting into the lane and he drains shots from the perimeter a well. Defensively, Vong applies good ball pressure and he collects steals fairly often. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2807180"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6910d0d244de9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2807180' first='Eric' last='Platz'] a very athletic combo guard who was the leading scorer for Reno last year (12.7 PPG). He likes to attack the basket with some speed and is capable of throwing down a dunk if there's a good opportunity. Platz also connects on catch and shoot 3's. Look for him to be a potential stock riser in the next rankings release. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->