2026 Heart of It All Classic – Rising Young Guards Who Shined

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops covered the 2026 Heart of It All Classic in Geneva, Ohio at SPIRE Institute April 3rd and 4th. There were many stars who shined both Friday and Saturday during the exposure event. In this article I will break down the rising 13U and 14U star guards that shined throughout the weekend!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":3581611,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Austin Belmarez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2031","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fruitport Middle School (MI)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Midwest Most Wanted GOATS 13U - 1","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69d2069f56b30"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Austin plays with a level of confidence that really turns heads! He is an electric ball handler who can play either guard position. He is a true wiz with the ball in his hands as an orchestrator! Excellent crossover and shot mechanics for his age! He showed the ability to knock down the corner 3-pointer and hit difficult shots all throughout the weekend. Belmarez has elite burst and thrives at getting down hill and scoring at the rim. Loved Austin's enthusiasm for the game and watching him thrive as a all-around playmaker for the Midwest Most Wanted GOATS 13U!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2847805"],"_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-69d2069f56c32"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Navaree has elite ball handling and separation skills for his age. His natural athleticism allows him to get down hill and create scoring opportunities at the rim. Grisby is a willing defender who sits in a stance and closes out with intensity. He stays engaged and shows a high motor defending in transition. Grisby is a capable free throw shooter who makes his opportunities count when he gets them. He showed solid chemistry with Austin Belmarez playing off each other in the halfcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3581694,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG_9298-crop-1092x718-1775372214.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG_9298-crop-1092x718-1775372214.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-3581694" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3072124"],"_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-69d2069f56cf4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Now playing for Midwest Most Wanted GOATS, Juelz offers a versatile game on both ends of the floor. He is a solid rebounder who uses his size well to secure defensive boards and push in transition. I liked his overall motor this weekend and the fact that he seemed to be in the middle of every play when he was on the floor! Jackson is a smooth transition finisher who uses his elite speed and length to create separation and get the rim for finishes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3579344"],"_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-69d2069f56d80"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A small guard with a lot of flare to his game! Dejuan "DJ" Bird has a loud game for a player of his size! He is a strong ball handler who keeps the ball tight to his body on dribbles. His shiftiness and speed allows him to create separation for his jump shot. Love his pure shooting mechanics! DJ is a very fundamentally strong player who applies constant pressure defensively without fouling. This hooper has a relentless motor that makes him a joy to watch and evaluate!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3579324"],"_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-69d2069f56e0d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Holliday for three! Cody is a knock down from all over the court! I love his confidence to fire when he's open and display his pure shooting stroke for his age. This guy is also a huge competitor who makes his teammates better through his constant talk and encouragement on the floor. He might be a small guard, but he has elite court awareness and vision for his size. Cody has the ability to see plays before they happen. Playmaker University 2032 is lucky to have a young man with his level of shooting and overall talent! [player_tooltip player_id='3579324' first='Cody' last='Holliday'] has a big future in store for him!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3581696,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG_9380-rotated-crop-4284x2813-1775372359.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG_9380-rotated-crop-4284x2813-1775372359.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-3581696" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3579334"],"_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-69d2069f56e8d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='3579334' first='Bryce' last='Karls'] is another stud guard on this loaded Playmaker University 2032 team! He loves to play off his teammates and knows when to fire for his jump shot. Bryce is an elite pressure defender who jumps at opportunities to apply pressure on ball handlers, create steals, and run out for easy baskets in transition. Constant energy and motor on this kid! Bryce also is a sniper from deep with the ability to rise and fire in both transition and in the halfcourt. He shows a pure stroke! I like the scoring option that Karls offers this very talented Playmaker University 2032!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3581698,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG_9377-rotated-crop-4284x2813-1775372480.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/IMG_9377-rotated-crop-4284x2813-1775372480.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-3581698" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->