Scoring Guards in 2027 Who Made Impression on PHC

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Hoops Circuit held 6 events in Chicago that featured an elite collection teams that were from Shoe circuits and Independent. In this article we look at five of the top scoring and athletic guards in the 2027 class who consistently elevated their play, during those events with a list of notable honorable mentions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2532341' first='Keyae' last='Lacy'] | Geek Squad</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Event(s): Prep Hoops Circuit</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lacy established himself as one of the most explosive and reliable scoring threats on the circuit. A wiry, hyper-athletic shooting guard, Lacy is a true three-level threat who can completely take over games in dynamic scoring spurts. He elevates with effortless bounce and supreme confidence over defenders, lethal both in the mid-range and from beyond the arc. Attacking the basket, Lacy combines quick-burst acceleration with acrobatic, contact-absorbing finishes at the rim. His relentless scoring mentality and knack for creating his own shot off the bounce make him a premier guard prospect in 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2125668' first='Nedas' last='Venckus'] | [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last='']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Event(s): Prep Hoops Circuit</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Venckus stands out as a high-IQ, high-motor wing guard who excels without needing the ball in his hands to dominate. His spatial awareness and precise timing on off-ball cuts, rim dives, and backdoors lead to constant easy paint touches, high-flying transition finishes, and open kick-out passes for shooters. Venckus has taken significant strides as an explosive athlete, playmaker, and perimeter shooter—flashing high-level wing bounce on highlight finishes. His steady development and versatile playmaking feel signal a high ceiling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2389398' first='Orlando' last='Edwards'] | 88 West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Event(s): The Platform</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6-foot-3, Edwards is an athletic long-limbed guard who turns defense into instant offense. Utilizing a lethal first step and expansive wingspan, he regularly disrupts passing lanes and turns steals into dynamic transition finishes above the rim. Edwards attacks off the bounce with long, fluid strides to finish through paint traffic, while showing an improved spot-up jumper to stretch the floor from three-point range. On defense, his length and quick lateral mobility allow him to guard multiple perimeter positions and force high-volume turnovers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2532321' first='Elijah' last='Bell'] | [program_tooltip program_id='2078449' first='Meanstreets' last=''] EYCL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Event(s): The Tune Up &amp; Windy City War</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bell brings rare physicality, functional strength, and toughness to the backcourt. A well-built guard who excels in power-drives, he uses his physical profile to overpower smaller defenders off the dribble and post up inside the paint. Bell absorbs contact with ease at the rim, draws defenders into deep paint help, and possesses the vision to dish to open shooters when the defense collapses. His blend of brute strength, developing playmaking instincts, and steady physical presence makes him an impactful backcourt force.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2829613' first='Danny' last='Ruffin'] | [program_tooltip program_id='2075515' first='Hoops' last='4 Health']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Event: The Tune Up</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ruffin is a stocky, explosive 6-foot guard who combines elite upper-body strength with sharp playmaking feel. Operating as both a primary ball-handler and a secondary scoring guard, he utilizes rapid downhill change of pace and dynamic vertical bounce to navigate tight windows and finish through contact at the rim. Ruffin elevates cleanly on his mid-range pull-up, attacks gaps with authority, and acts as a vocal leader who sets a high standard with his defensive energy and competitive drive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mentions:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2532358' first='Zaire' last='Green'] | [program_tooltip program_id='2075383' first='Chicago' last='Demons'] (Windy City War)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2125677' first='Reggie' last='Stevens']| GPA (Prep Hoops Live)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2125671' first='Nojus' last='Venckus'] | [program_tooltip program_id='2076459' first='Breakaway' last=''] (Prep Hoops Circuit)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2416198' first='TJ' last='Eaton'] | [program_tooltip program_id='2078449' first='Meanstreets' last=''] (The Tune Up)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2432131' first='Isaiah' last='Hall'] | [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'] (Windy City War)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2540149' first='Tobyus' last='Banks'] | IL Heat / Hoopstars (The Tune Up)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2125623' first='D'Angelo' last='Perkins'] | All In (The Platform)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2125584' first='Angelo' last='Lazo'] | Illinois Outwork (Prep Hoops Circuit)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2323622' first='Damari' last='Stephens'] | UEBL Wolves(Windy City War)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->