2027 Hampton Roads Guards on the Come Up

There have been a lot of players taking the junior jump this season, and many of them being guards who are a bit overlooked for one reason or another. Here's a look at six Hampton Roads area guards that are on the come up and coaches should take a look at!   Melvin Wofford | 6'0” PG | King's Fork   Wofford has had a huge junior season so far for King's Fork, emerging as one of the top floor generals in the 757 and putting up big numbers leading them to a great start to the season. The 6'0” lead guard plays with grit on both ends of the floor, he makes great decisions and delivers pin-point passes, he gets downhill to put pressure on the defense and finishes well through traffic, and he can hit shots from multiple levels too.   [player_tooltip player_id='2898036' first='Quinton' last='Cruse'] | 5'11” PG | Nansemond River   Cruse has been the leader of this new look Nansemond River team, and he's another guard that has had a breakout season with his dual threat ability to both score it and make plays for others. He has a great first step and good burst to get by defenders and put pressure on the defense, he can push in transition and use his speed to create advantages, and he can score the ball in a variety of ways off the bounce.   Kelley King | 6'1” PG | Oscar Smith   King transferred to Smith after having a breakout season at Great Bridge last year, and he's continuing that as the Tigers' leading scorer on a team that looks like they could make a deep playoff run this year. The 6'1” lead guard is a true bucket getter who changes speeds and directions well to get downhill and finish over bigger defenders, he can knock it down from deep off the catch and off the bounce, he's shifty with good footwork to get to spots in the midrange and make tough shots, and he has great instincts on the defensive end as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='2898019' first='Chase' last='Johnson'] | 5'11” PG | Landstown   Johnson is part of perhaps the best backcourt in the 757 if not all of public schools in VA, and while he doesn't put up the big numbers some of the other guys do he provides a great secondary scoring option and makes plays for others. He is a downhill attacking guard who can push in transition and put pressure on the defense, he picks his spots and scores it efficiently, and he makes winning plays on both ends of the floor with his high motor and scrappy style.   [player_tooltip player_id='3275759' first='Christian' last='Lynch'] | 6'1” CG | Kempsville   Lynch is emerging as one of the top guards in the Beach District, as he's been on a tear this season putting up big numbers and putting on a true scoring clinic throughout the season. He's a bit of a throwback style of scorer as he thrives in the midrange with an array of floaters and pull-ups, he moves well off the ball and can make shots on the move coming off of screens, he gets to the line often, and he uses footwork and fakes well to create space and score it.   [player_tooltip player_id='2128046' first='Tabren' last='Hawkins Jr.'] | 6'1” PG | Catholic   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/tabrenhawkinsjr-27-catholic-va-crop-1626x1068-1751355363.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/tabrenhawkinsjr-27-catholic-va-crop-1626x1068-1751355363.png?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2893011" /></a></figure>   Hawkins transferred to Catholic from Maury where he had a great start to his high school career, and now that he's with the Crusaders he's emerged as their primary ball handler and playmaker and is having a great season doing so. The 6'1” guard is a big bodied and strong finisher when he gets downhill, he can score the ball from all three levels and has great fundamentals off the bounce and off the catch, he's a tough nosed defender, and he makes others on his team better as well.

There have been a lot of players taking the junior jump this season, and many of them being guards who are a bit overlooked for one reason or another. Here's a look at six Hampton Roads area guards that are on the come up and coaches should take a look at!