Mike’s Saturday Afternoon Notebook: 2026 and 2027 Guards To Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I caught 3 games worth of action on Saturday afternoon. From the northern suburbs of Chicago to the west side of the city and the final destination from central Illinois. Teams ranged from the 2A, 3A, and 4A classes. In this breakdown, I will take you through some of the 2026 and 2027 point guards and combo guards I had the opportunity to watch. Below is also the scoring breakdowns per quarter from each of these matchups. <br><br>Rolling Meadows: 7, 13, 29, 39<br>Libertyville: 20, 36, 48, 61<br><br>Oak Forest: 4, 17, 27, 44<br>Lincoln Way Central : 19, 30, 42, 49</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Monticello: 8, 20, 38, 50<br>Warrensburg-Latham: 17, 34, 51, 79<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2963437"],"_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-6976a72c7aaa9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Plays the primary point position for Wildcats. Presented court vision with good passing. Tallied a handful of assists throughout on getting to thick of defense in traffic for drop offs and kickout out for open 3's. Also hit a back door man in stride to convert. Scored it driving to the cup or off catch and shoot 3's as well. Totaled 12 on the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2824754"],"_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-6976a72c7ab6b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Attacks the basket at a high rate. Consumed contact to get to the stripe and was efficient form ft line. Had a drive in lane with a crafty finish. Passed to wing then cut through immediately to get it back and convert. Off ball guard finished with 12.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brennon Bonds","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_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":"Warrensburg-Latham","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_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-6976a72c7ac9f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Main point for squad that can get to another level speed wise in transition. Shifty at times in the ½ court phase. Will push for primary break points off of outlets or initiating himself off defensive rebounds. Has a natural willingness to be around the glass for board opportunities. Showcased 3 level scoring abilities. Flare screen for catch and shoot 3 off wing and knocked down another trey from inside out action. Has a solid mid range jumper off the bounce. A true 1 that should pickup more traction this spring and summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Nolan Buehnerkemper","_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":"6'2u0022","_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":"Monticello ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_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-6976a72c7adb7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A tough athlete that competes with tenacity. Successful on in and out dribbles drawing defender leniency to get off balance and then get to the cup to finish. Created contact on defenders a few times throughout to get to the stripe. Will bang down low from the guard position vs bigger size on both ends. Splashed in 4 3's with a couple being from well beyond arc. Walked into 1 in the primary offensive phase. Even keeled off the ball mover. Continued to battle in 3^rd quarter to keep team within arms length. Paced team high with 23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Neiko LeFlore","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_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":"Oak Forest","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_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-6976a72c7aec7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Poised handler that can get shifty with the ball. Team's main facilitator. Has another level in the open floor. Defensively made his mark. I tallied 4 take-a-ways either while getting into the passing lane or pick pocketing directly from the ball handler. Competes. Stock should continue to rise in the off season going into senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->