2026 Rankings Update: Watch List Guards on the Rise

Updated 2026 rankings were released about a week ago, and there is a whole lot to debrief. Will Armishaw has already done a good amount of coverage, but I'll also be highlighting some additional players.   <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/01/icymi-2026-rankings-were-posted-this-week-23/">ICYMI: 2026 Rankings Were Posted This Week</a>   Read: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/01/2026-rankings-update-risers-with-even-more-room-to-grow/">2026 Rankings Update: Risers With Even More Room to Grow</a>   To continue on, let's look at some guys on the watch list who could certainly make our rankings next time around.    LeGage has been one of the better players in the state of Maine to start the season, and his game looks quite translatable to the next level. The 6-foot-2 guard's shooting ability is where everything starts; he has a super quick release, and he's accurate both off the bounce and on the move. But when defenders overplay him, he's able to attack closeouts and either stop short for mid range jumpers or get all the way to the rim for finishes. He's cerebral and crafty with his footwork, and he probably has some untapped passing potential once he plays at a higher level. He's a D3 player for sure.     Butera is a really fun player to watch. The 5-foot-11 guard is probably under-recruited because of the fact that he plays public school hoops in Maine and is undersized, but he has some really interesting tools on both ends. He competes his behind off defensively and can slide his feet with anyone, and he has good hands. Offensively, Butera has a quick shot release and is very shifty with the dribble, so he's able to attack the rim despite his size. Once he gets there, he has exceptional hops for his size and can throw down dunks. He's a definite D3 player.     Huss is just always chugging along. The Marianapolis Prep guard continues to get better year after year and has made himself a legitimate prep school role player, which I'll be honest I didn't see coming. He shoots the three ball well, he has good quickness on drives to the hoop, and he has better finishing and jumping ability than you'd think. His passing has also taken a step forward this season. I'm not sure what his recruitment looks like, but some lower level D3 programs should certainly be interested in the 5-foot-10 combo guard.     King is a super under-the-radar prospect who has had a solid season for a very high level Vermont Academy team so far this year. The 6-foot-3 guard doesn't have much of a weakness offensively and can score from all three levels while playing with or without the ball. He's playing at a super high level at VA, and his reps there will certainly help him be an impactful college player from day one. I would be surprised if there aren't a good number of D3 schools on King already, because his combination of size and skill is difficult to find at the guard position at the D3 level.     Bussey is one of the freakier athletes in the entire region. He doesn't start for an incredibly talented Winchendon School squad (nothing to be ashamed of), but he guards the other team's best player whenever he comes in the game and does so quite impressively. He slides his feet very well, he has active hands, and he consistently competes on that end of the floor. Offensively, he's a lob threat at only 6-foot-3, and his athleticism alone allows him to be an exceptional slasher and rebounder.     Kahawai is a little things guy for a talented Worcester Academy squad that's coming off a NEPSAC title. The 6-foot guard can shoot the ball solidly from three (especially on the catch) and can attack closeouts when needed. Defensively, he uses his strength to guard larger players and is more than willing to take a charge when someone tries to match his physicality. Kahawai probably has what it takes to play at the D3 level, but it'll take a coach watching him a few times to see that.     Jamieson's superpower is his shooting ability. The 6-foot-2 guard has a quick and accurate release from well beyond the three point line, and he has all the confidence in the world when shooting it. I think he has a good amount of untapped playmaking and dribbling potential, though. He shows some flashes of really impressive vision and has some finishes at the hoop that make me think he has a lot more to figure out. Jamieson is a D3 player but could look a lot different in a couple of years.

Updated 2026 rankings were released about a week ago, and there is a whole lot to debrief. Will Armishaw has already done a good amount of coverage, but I'll also be highlighting some additional players.