2026 Guards to Have On Your Radar

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seems like talent at the guard position is overflowing these days. In order to stand out, you have to significantly elevate your game and the group of players below have done just that. They're all incredibly talented student athletes to keep steady eyes on this summer and next season.</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":2436701,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"JaKendrick Clevenger","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Kingwood Park","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Trae Young Texas Adidas Gold","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"JaKendrick is a quick, talented point guard that's excellent at creating space and getting himself and his teammates open opportunities. His ballhandling skills are fantastic and he has the speed to blow by his defender in either direction with ease. He's extremely comfortable leading the charge for his squad down the floor and he sees the court with elite vision. He anticipates where his teammates are going to be and his laser-like passes are regularly on point to his cutters for easy buckets. He's shifty with a mean crossover that's very difficult for any defender to lock down. His peripheral vision seems superhuman at times with his impressive no-look and wraparound passes. Clevenger has a pretty jump shot and one of the more effective step-backs I've seen recently that he uses consistently to get an open shot whenever he wants. He uses his superior court vision on defense as well - regularly anticipating where the ball's going and disrupting passing lanes for steals and easy fast break points the other way. JaKendrick is a difference maker with a TON of talent and I expect him to make big waves this summer and next season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":2436719,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2431566' first='Orion' last='Sylvestre']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Southwest","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"Beast Up","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Orion is a FIERCE defender and I love that about his game. His opponents will never get an easy bucket on him and he makes sure of that with his active hands, his quickness to stay in front of them, and his never-ending hustle and tenacity. He's vocal on the court and he's a great communicator with his teammates - which is exactly what you want to see in a combo guard. He's excellent at adjusting on the fly and quickly identifying what the opposing defense gives him in order to take advantage. His drives to the lane are strong and effective - creating the space needed for his spot shooters to receive his dishes and get wide open shots at the bucket. He has fantastic hands and uses them effectively, often picking off lazy passes and swiping the ball from his opponent without fouling. Sylvestre doesn't settle - he'll make a third or fourth pass on a possession to get the best possible shot. He's patient and smart, which is crucial in players that lead the charge down the floor. Orion will make significant noise this summer and next season and he's one to absolutely catch whenever you get the chance.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":2436739,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Frank Smithers","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Kingwood Park","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Frank is QUICK and he can stop on a dime to elevate and swish a jumper right in his opponent's face. I like that he combines his speed with his patience - consistently making the smart decision and passing up good shots for great shots both for himself and his teammates. Smithers is a lethal defender in opposing passing lanes, constantly disrupting his competitor's rhythm and creating turnovers and easy points for his squad. He's not afraid of anyone on the hardwood and he doesn't shy away from a challenge or pressure situations. He listens to his coach shouting adjustments from the sideline and he executes them beautifully. He's got an unstoppable Euro step that he'll bring out on fast breaks and he's excellent at creating contact to get to the free throw line to establish an easy rhythm for himself. He's a great ballhandler that can drive in either direction on his defender and he's awesome at identifying high-percentage shot opportunities in the paint for his teammates. To round out his game - Smithers is also a significant threat from the three-point line and he stretches the floor for his team incredibly well. Smithers is going to turn more and more heads going into this summer and next season and catching him live is a must.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":2436750,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Jeremiah Sims","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"Trae Young Texas Adidas Gold","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Jeremiah is an incredibly crafty combo guard with an unstoppable shooting ability - quick release, picture-perfect form, pretty rotation, SWISH. He's much more than just a shooter - Sims has the whole package. His confidence is unwavering and he's unbelievably active on both ends of the floor. He doesn't back down from anyone and he won't hesitate to go into a full court press and lock down his opponents defensively. He's got disruptive hands and he's smart - regularly swiping the ball away from his man and picking off passes without contact to create extra opportunities for his team. Sims is FAST and his shooting accuracy puts his defenders in an impossible position because he has the ability to blow right by them if they try and stick too close. He's a graceful player that can adjust in mid-air offensively to get his high-percentage shots and create beautiful disasters defensively without racking up fouls. He's vocal on the court and carries himself like a leader - regularly encouraging and lifting up his teammates. Sims is going to make significant noise this summer and next season and he puts on an absolute show that you don't want to miss live.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":2436775,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1545657' first='Dillon' last='Foster']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Fort Worth Christian","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"Ellis Elite","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Dillon is long and has a solid build and he's incredibly active cleaning the glass on both ends of the floor. He's stronger than most of the opposing guards he comes across and he uses that to his advantage - regularly banging bodies in the paint with no fear and overpowering his defenders. Foster has great hands and he stays aware and ready at all times - you will not catch him off guard with a quick pass of any kind. It's nearly impossible to get offensive boards against his box-out ability and his court vision and IQ are elite - he regularly identifies easy scoring situations that your average player simply won't see. You can tell he puts in the work behind the scenes and you can't let him run on you in open space because he has the ability to dunk on your head. He can finish at the rim with both hands and he's laser-focused throughout the game - you're not going to get into Foster's head. Dillon is going to continue elevating his team and putting on a show this summer and next season and he's one you don't want to miss any time you get an opportunity to see him play.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663e4a4b2d958"} /-->