2027 NOVA Guards on the Come Up

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 Northern VA guards that are on the come up and coaches should take a look at!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2552618' first='Dhruv' last='Iyer'] | 6'0” PG | Bethel Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2199103,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/227-Dhruv-Iyer.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/227-Dhruv-Iyer.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-2199103" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iyer is part of a big transfer squad that came to Bethel this offseason, and has been a big part of their success in Angelo Hernandez' first year as the head coach. The 6'0” lead guard is a coach's dream at the position as he can handle pressure and doesn't turn it over, he has a great IQ as a playmaker and sees the floor, he changes speeds well and is able to get in the paint, and he picks his spots and scores it efficiently from multiple levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2546241' first='Micah' last='Young'] | 6'2” CG | Gainesville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2962203,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Young-Micah.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Young-Micah.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2962203" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Young is having a great junior season for a Gainesville team that has had a good year so far, and he's a really intriguing prospect for the next level with his blend of size, skill and athleticism at the position. The 6'2” lefty is dynamite in transition with his speed and explosive finishing ability when he gets to the rim, he can knock down shots from deep off the catch, he can make plays for others, and he has huge upside on the defensive end as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jonathan “JJ” Bell | 6'2” CG | Gar-Field</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bell has quietly been one of the best guards in NOVA public schools over the past few years, and he's been up to the same business this season as he's been putting up big numbers consistently. The 6'2” combo guard can score the ball efficiently from all over the floor, he has great footwork and change of direction to create space and knock down shots, he has good vision and is an unselfish playmaker, and he leads by example and vocally on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2898014' first='Dylan' last='Williams'] | 5'10” PG | Heritage-Leesburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams is another player that has been really good over the past few years, and when it comes to skillset he's one of the best guards in Loudon County and his numbers reflect that. The 5'10” lead guard can get it done in so many ways whether it's shooting it off the catch or off the bounce from deep, he has a great middle game with floaters and pull-ups, he's a crafty finisher over bigger defenders, and he makes others on his team better as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2815368' first='Maddox' last='Davis'] | 5'10” PG | Centreville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Davis only stands about 5'10”, his impact is much bigger on the court as he sets the tone on both ends of the floor and has a knack for making big plays when it matters the most. He is quick and shifty off the bounce and is excellent in ball screens and dribble hand-offs, he pushes the tempo and makes great decisions in transition, he can make shots from deep and has a great floater to negate his size, and defensively he can pick up full court and hound ball handlers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2898057' first='Mateo' last='Alvarado-Gallego'] | 5'11” PG | Chantilly</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alvarado-Gallego is one of those throw back kind of floor generals, where he may not always put up big scoring numbers but he impacts and controls the game in a way that just seems to come naturally to him. He is capable of scoring it off the bounce around the rim and in the midrange, he can knock down shots and picks his spots to score it efficiently, he has great vision and can deliver pin-point passes with both hands, and his instincts on both ends of the floor makes him impactful in a lot of different ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->