2026 Guards Outside the Top 50 to Watch (Part 1)

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Take a look Part 1 of the guard prospects outside of the Top 100 in the 2026 rankings in North Carolina to keep eyes on as the grassroots season heats up!</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get 30% OFF payment on your first billing cycle with offer code: JAYANDERSON30, sign up <a href="https://prephoops.com/subscribe">TODAY</a>!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1411217"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Price is a versatile presence in the 2026 class at 6-foot-4 who's shown he can operate in a variety of ways on the hardwood. The 6-foot-4 guard put up 16.3 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.8 APG and 1.8 SPG in the Southeastern Christian Academy backcourt in 2023-24 as they went 16-4 on the season. He's a name to keep eyes on with TSG Hoops on the independent scene this spring/summer.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1411220"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Fowler continues to show intrigue with his athleticism and abilities to operate around the rim in the 2026 class out of Northwood High. He's another 6-foot-4 prospect who's shown he can finish with authority and rebound in bunches after posting 11.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.7 APG and 1.1 SPG on 53 percent shooting from the floor and 35 percent shooting from deep as a sophomore on varsity. He's a name to keep an eye on with [program_tooltip program_id='2407474' first='Rising' last='Pros Training'] this grassroots cycle.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["2382790"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Sims was a top scoring-guard as a sophomore on the NCHSAA stage this season with Southeast Alamance High. He showed he could fill up the stat sheet in a number of ways after averaging 23.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.5 SPG and 3.2 APG on 43 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent shooting from 3-point land. He's a face to watch with Carolina Blitz on the independent grassroots scene this spring/summer.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1454560"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Johnson is a point guard prospect in the 2026 class to keep eyes on out of Caldwell Academy. He's really improved on his overall strength to add to his high-level ball-handling and defending ability. He's easily a prospect for DII programs in the region to get eyes on given his ability to run the show at point guard. He'll be one to watch with [program_tooltip program_id='2226228' first='Team' last='CP3'] Academy squad as they'll compete on the EYCL stage this spring/summer alongside the EYBL.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["2043560"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"VanBuerden is a guard prospect out of St. Stephen's High to keep watch of on the grassroots stage this spring/summer in the 2026 class. He's a knockdown shooting presence who knocked down 73 3-pointers on 42 percent shooting from behind the arc as a sophomore in 2023-24. He'll be a name to keep eyes on with [program_tooltip program_id='2078471' first='Carolina' last='Riptide'] Malston this spring/summer on the independent grassroots scene.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662941c439af6"} /-->