Updated 2026 Rankings: Guards (15-6)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We recently updated our 2026 rankings, with over 30 new additions and a total of 105 prospects across the state getting ranked.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we've looked at the new additions and stock risers, it's now time to take a look at the positional rankings. We've broken it down into three different categories in guards, wings and forwards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at part two of the guards rankings, looking at some of the best point and combo guards in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15) [player_tooltip player_id='2459244' first='Amare' last='Cooper'] | 6'2” CG | Monacan (#42 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2448643,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImagetNEyU6.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/tempImagetNEyU6.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2448643" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cooper is a new addition to this rankings and is looking like he could be one of the better guards in the Richmond area over the next few years. He's a smooth combo who is very talented offensively as he can create and make shots from all three levels, he keeps it on a string when he handles it and while he isn't the most explosive he's extremely crafty when creating space and finishing around the rim too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>14) [player_tooltip player_id='2301294' first='Akim' last='Iscandari'] | 6'0”” PG | The Potomac School (#41 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iscandari is the leader of an up and coming group at Potomac School, and he's one of the more intriguing long term guards in the DMV area moving forward. At 6'0” he's built like a running back with a strong frame and is freakishly athletic with great end-to-end speed with the ball in his hands, he's a very good on ball defender and rebounder and he can create for himself and others off the bounce too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>13) [player_tooltip player_id='1782687' first='Phenix' last='Card'] | 6'0” PG | Hayfield (#40 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1465473,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/Card-Phoenix-Head-Shot.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/Card-Phoenix-Head-Shot.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1465473" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Card stepped in as the floor general for a new team after Hayfield won back-to-back state championships, and while he was just a sophomore he showed great maturity and was fantastic for them all season. He's a calming presence at the lead guard spot as he handles pressure well and makes good decisions, he can drill it from deep off the catch and off the bounce and he has great instincts as an on ball defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>12) [player_tooltip player_id='2347779' first='Nick' last='Byrd'] | 5'11” PG | Hopewell (#33 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Byrd is the leader of a young Hopewell team that will be making deep playoff runs again here shortly, and he's the perfect player to run a talented team with a ton of weapons. He's a throwback style floor general who is a pass first guy who understands concepts and puts his teammates in positions to succeed, he's a tone setter defensively that is a great point of attack defender and he can score the ball efficiently when he needs to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>11) [player_tooltip player_id='1782691' first='Jordan' last='Hunter'] | 6'1” PG | Paul VI (#25 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hunter is a player on the rise for a new look PVI team, and while he's been overshadowed in the past he is having a great summer showing he'll be yet another great guard from there. The 6'1” lead guard is both crafty and dynamic off the bounce with the ability to touch the paint at will, he scores it well in the midrange and can knock down shots from deep and he is a good defender who makes plays on that end as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10) [player_tooltip player_id='1963397' first='Chris' last='Morrison'] | 6'1” PG | West Potomac (#20 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2219612,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Screen-Shot-2023-09-29-at-4.54.02-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Screen-Shot-2023-09-29-at-4.54.02-PM.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2219612" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morrison is emerging as one of the top guards in the DMV even playing at a public school, and he could go anywhere and be an impact guy with his all-around skillset at the lead guard position. He's able to get to wherever he wants on the floor with the ball in his hands and makes tough shots from all over, he is a great playmaker who has vision and feel when directing traffic and he can move off the ball and drill it from deep as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9) [player_tooltip player_id='1446198' first='Carmelo' last='Swinson'] | 6'3” CG | Norcom (#16 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2147640,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Screen-Shot-2023-09-04-at-3.23.39-PM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/Screen-Shot-2023-09-04-at-3.23.39-PM.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2147640" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swinson is part of a talented group of guards in this class from the 757, and when it comes to pure bucket getters there aren't many that can do it better than he can. The 6'3” combo guard has improved his body quite a bit over the past few years which has made him more athletic and explosive off the bounce, he changes speeds and directions well with a tight handle to create space and he can hit very difficult shots consistently from all three levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8) [player_tooltip player_id='1963392' first='Keon' last='Mitchell'] | 6'2” PG | Nervier (#13 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mitchell is another talented guard out of the 757 who plays with Swinson on the same Boo Wiliams team, and he has been one of the best players in Norfolk in his two high school seasons. He's a tough nosed guard who brings it on both ends and sets the tone defensively, he's an aggressive driver with good wiggle and finishes strong in traffic and he can create shots for himself and others off the bounce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7) [player_tooltip player_id='1963526' first='Trey' last='Beamer'] | 6'2” PG | Carlisle (#11 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1991089,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/PH-Trey-Beamer-JBSC.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/PH-Trey-Beamer-JBSC.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1991089" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beamer was the biggest riser in this class as we had him ranked entirely too low, and his resume includes the most points in two seasons in VISAA history, already topping the 1,000 point mark, and he's been a standout on the Nike Circuit with Team United as well. He's grown a few inches over the last year and growing into his body has made him a much more explosive driver and finisher, he can shoot the ball extremely well from deep with effortless range and he has a knack for scoring in traffic and in the midrange too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6) [player_tooltip player_id='1782683' first='Anthony' last='Brown'] | 6'1” PG | Paul VI (#10 Overall)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1784662,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Screen-Shot-2023-02-06-at-11.47.56-AM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Screen-Shot-2023-02-06-at-11.47.56-AM.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1784662" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown will likely see the ball in his hands a lot more after being the backup on PVI's national runner up group last year, and he has shown that he can lead a talented team when he gets the opportunity. He's a big and physical guard who changes speeds and directions well, and when he gets in the paint he can use his strength to stay on balance. He picks his spots and scores it efficiently from all over, he sees the game a few plays ahead and he brings winning qualities on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->