2026 Player Rankings Update: Impressive Guard Play

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we are starting to break down the in's and out's of the 2026 Class here in Iowa, it's the time in a players career where their production needs to start being evident. In the article below, we are highlighting five Guards that have been quite impressive this season for their perspective varsity teams. So impressive that I wouldn't be shocked if each one of these athletes went on to play collegiate ball at the end of their high school careers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["510277"],"_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":"The Nodaway Valley Wolverines have been on the up and up throughout the past couple of seasons. A team that relies on the leadership of their Senior star, [player_tooltip player_id='314095' first='Lindsey' last='Davis'], also has a cold blooded killer in the form of [player_tooltip player_id='510277' first='Izzy' last='Eisbach'] at the Guard position. When it comes to this sport of basketball, Eisbach checks off a lot of boxes. She has natural size, swift movement with the ball in her hands, knowledge of the game, a high motor, and she can produce at either the PG or SG position. We are now about half way through the season and Eisbach is putting up impressive numbers across the board statically, while standing out as one of the states most prominant Assist leaders, averaging 5.7 APG through her teams first 12 games. This number actually ranks her as the #1 player in the 2026 Class, through the state in total Assists with 68 up until this point.  Pretty impressive accounting for the fact that she is also averaging 17.5 PPG, making up for 28% of her teams scoring per contest as well. This high school season is far from over but I'm sure that when it comes to an end, Eisbach is going to be receiving collegiate interest to some degree. She can hoop and that's been obvious the past two seasons.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["524262"],"_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":"We don't hear too much about [player_tooltip player_id='524262' first='Sydney' last='Doeschot'] but don't let that fool you. She is another player that is years beyond her age level when it comes to her skill on the basketball court. Doeschot is a shifty point guard, that is elite in finding ways to score the basketball. She demonstrates picture perfect shot-form, a balanced stance on every take, and great body control when she is attacking her defender. Some players out there just have u0022itu0022 when you watch them play. The u0022itu0022 in this case being, effortless movement with the ball and a dominant instinct once she see's weakness. I expect Doeschot and her Kingsley-Pierson team to have a lot more success before this high school season comes to a close. They are going to be favorited in most of their matchups to finish out this year moving into the Playoffs. If everyone can stay locked in with one common goal and Sydney does her thing, this is a group we could be seeing in Des Moines at the end of February.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["641977"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='641977' first='Grace' last='Fincham'] of Iowa City West has been doing it all this season. That is a phrase I find myself using a lot lately but if it applies to anyone I've seen so far this winter, it's Fincham. There isn't anything on the high school floor that she hasn't done this season at this point other then play the Center position for her Trojans team. Offensively, if they need her to take the middle spot against a zone, she's going to kill it. If they need her to bring up the ball against pressure, she will do it safely. If they need her to score from her natural 2-3 position on each possession, she is going to find her mismatches and go to work. The point is, Fincham has a versatile game with her skill-set and she has been killing it this 2023-2024 season because of it. As it pertains to some of the most complete players I've seen so far this year, Fincham is in that conversation.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["502104"],"_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":"The progression and growth of [player_tooltip player_id='502240' first='Samantha' last='Becker'] over the past year and a half has been impressive. She has sprouted up a couple of inches physically and that has made all the difference in her game. Becker has always had the natural ability to lead. That's never been a question. At a younger age, she understood how to set the pace of a game for her team, showing her control at all times. From there she would create, facilitate and make sure that everyone around her was in the correct spots throughout their offense. As she has gotten older and grown, she has learned to use that control to an elite-type level. When I think of a great Point Guard, I think of someone like Becker. Someone who can lead by example and make a difference in every contest WITHOUT scoring the ball. This is the type of player who isn't only going to be successful on the high school floor but on the collegiate floor as well one day.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["502091"],"_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":"The impressive guard play that is happening across the state of Iowa is at an all-time high. Players are more skilled than ever and making their names known on every given night for a handful of different reasons. Someone that has been productive and consistent for her Washington High School team this year is [player_tooltip player_id='502091' first='Adalyn' last='Long']. Long is a lengthy and skilled Guard that can play on or off of the ball. I think her best ability is at the 2 spot but she isn't afraid to run the Point as well if need be. Throughout her teams first 11 games, she is averaging 12.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 2.5 APG on the way to an overall 6-5 record. If you sit down to watch Long compete for five minutes, you can tell she is a winner. She possesses a great attitude, above average skill, and the willingness to learn from her mistakes. From a coaching perspective, what more can you ask for? This is the type of player that if I'm a college coach, I take a chance on.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a973075679a"} /-->