2027 Rankings: Breaking down the top lead guards

January brought about a fresh update to our 2027 prospect rankings based on observations from the opening portion of the high school season. Keep reading for a look at the top handful of prospects among junior lead guards across the state.    One could argue no one across the state has had a better year than Graham, as the junior do-it-all guard has routinely stuffed the stat sheet alongside some explosive scoring efforts while positioning Haverford atop the Inter-Ac standings and in the thick of PAISAA title conversations. He seamlessly flows up and down the positional spectrum within Haverford's machine-like offensive system, initiating offense from all over the floor while also drawing defensive attention away from his teammates with his scoring gravity. While he's a Swiss-army knife for the Fords, and his versatility figures to always be a positive, Graham projects as a lead guard at the next level as the best means of maximizing his high-level processing ability with the ball in his hands. No matter what you call him positionally, it's clear why his blend of size, skill, and IQ have generated significant high-major interest.     Wood is sitting atop the Catholic League standings right now and it's safe to say they wouldn't be there without the play of their explosive junior guard. Lundy has been as dynamic as any guard in the state with his ability to penetrate off the bounce and make things happen for himself or his teammates. Some of his biggest moments have come throughout Wood's biggest wins, most notably against Roman, Judge, and Neumann within league play. He's still learning some of the in's and out's of managing a game as a lead guard, with it being only his second year truly playing the position, but you can see him growing on the fly while showing increasing glimpses into what things could look like if it all comes together. Lundy is being pursued heavily at the mid-major level with several high-majors keeping a close eye.     Westtown may be the state's top team right now and while he may not generate the most attention, Udo is consistently the straw that stirs the drink for the Moose at the point of attack. He's as pure a point guard as you'll find in today's game, controlling the game with his ballhandling and playmaking while calling his own number as a scorer when needed. Udo's ability to consistently put others in position to succeed is exactly what Westtown needs given the level of talent that surrounds him, and should bode well for his translation to a winning role at the next level. There could also be some upside here if he's able to continue blossoming physically in the years to come. He may not be the splashiest, but Udo brings a rare skillset that D1 coaches are sure to see value in.     Coming off a 45-point effort, Barnes is now the leading scorer in all of District 3 while getting William Penn out to a 13-6 start and positioning the Bearcats for a run at a district title. The southpaw is a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands, getting to his spots off the bounce seemingly on command and showing an advanced ability to finish among the trees. While he's now averaging north of 30 points per game on the year, he's also shown the ability to manage a game without scoring and make his teammates better as a facilitator. Barnes just received his first pair of D1 offers and should have a few chances to generate more buzz in district and state playoffs before heading into the grassroots season.     The flashes have been there since his freshman year, but Starling has now officially arrived as the two-way focal point for Central Dauphin. With the Rams out to a 15-4 start and looking like a potential state title contender in 6A, Starling is averaging just shy of 20 points per game while consistently stuffing the stat sheet on both ends of the floor. He's an advanced athlete with dynamic quickness in the open floor, while having continuously polished his skillset to be more effective in a halfcourt setting. Starling is an unselfish playmaker for others who projects as a lead guard moving forward despite filling a variety of different roles at this level. He figures to be a hot name among high-academic coaches across the region over the next 6-9 months.

January brought about a fresh update to our 2027 prospect rankings based on observations from the opening portion of the high school season. Keep reading for a look at the top handful of prospects among junior lead guards across the state.