Which 2026 guards can boost their stock with a big season?

With so many skilled players, we tend to overlook a few. Here are some players to watch out for this upcoming high school season, as they're poised for breakout junior seasons.    [player_tooltip player_id='514601' first='Talia' last='Busser'] is a threat every time she's on the floor due to her ability to shoot from anywhere, combined with her quick release. She forces defenses to respect her shot, even while playing at Cardinal Mooney, where there are two Power 5 players on the team. Defenders still make sure not to leave Talia open. She can also put the ball on the floor and finish at the rim with crafty off-hand finishes, throwing off the timing of shot blockers.   This travel season with [program_tooltip program_id='713590' first='FGB' last=''], Talia continued to shoot with high efficiency, so expect that to carry over into her junior season.     [player_tooltip player_id='892014' first='Kelsey' last='Sharpe'] does everything FAST, while still staying controlled and efficient. She has a quick release, allowing her to get her shot off over taller defenders, and can use her speed to blow past slower defenders and finish at the rim. This makes her a major threat in transition, as her ability to change direction before the defense sets up makes her a priority to stop.   Kelsey's speed and quickness translate to the defensive side as well. She's relentless, always in the personal space of the ball handler, forcing turnovers. She has a habit of turning defense into offense, stealing the ball and quickly scoring in transition.   Sharpe will have more opportunities to score this year with Sickles' star guard, Beckham, graduating this past season. Expect a breakout season from Kelsey.     Lailani Washington, a super quick guard, is attending Cardinal Mooney this year after suffering an ACL injury before her sophomore year. Washington returned to the court this travel season with [program_tooltip program_id='713590' first='FGB' last=''], and her speed was as sharp as ever. She also played her first high school game since her freshman year at Sumner during the FABC High School Live Period in June with Cardinal Mooney.   If you didn't know her story, you wouldn't be able to tell she hadn't played in a year. Washington was able to guard full court and shot the 3-ball well off the catch. Expect Washington to be back on everyone's radar this season, making up for lost time.       [player_tooltip player_id='728921' first='Yvette' last='Brown'] is a do-it-all player who excels in every aspect of the game. She's a true team player, willing to do whatever is needed. If the team needs her to score, she can put the ball on the floor, get to the rim, and has a knack for drawing contact and finishing strong for the and-1. If she's asked to run the offense, Brown unselfishly gets her teammates in position to score. On defense and rebounding, she's just as effective, playing with a high motor and as an ultimate competitor.   Expect her to play a major role in Booker High's success this season.     [player_tooltip player_id='248697' first='Paisley' last='Binswanger'] is what we call a "Phone Booth Scorer"—she doesn't need much space to get a bucket. Paisley is a skilled three-level scorer, both on and off the ball. At 5'8", with a high and quick release, it's difficult to stop her from scoring, and her confidence is evident when she hits contested shots.   She's also a force when driving to the rim, initiating contact and putting defenders in a position to either foul her or give up the easy bucket. Either way, she's going to score.   Sarasota High loses a few players this year to graduation and transfers, but don't expect that to stop Paisley from scoring in double digits every game.     [player_tooltip player_id='1268293' first='Kaytee' last='Tyler'] plays hard and with a swagger about her. You can tell she's confident in her game whenever she has the ball. Tyler has excellent shooting form and can knock down shots, especially from mid-range. What impresses me most is her ability to finish off two feet. Her footwork when attacking the rim allows her to make difficult shots look easy, as well as catch defenders off guard with pump fakes and step-throughs. This is a skill many players her age lack, but Tyler has mastered it.   After a competitive travel season with PHS Elite NXT, she's poised to have a great season at Wharton. With Wharton losing some leadership from their previous senior class, I'm sure Tyler will step in and fill that void as a team leader.     [player_tooltip player_id='767817' first='Emme' last='Dalhoff'] is a smooth operator—you rarely see her get flustered. Whether playing on or off the ball, she is always looking to make the right play. The majority of the time, when she's making decisions, it leads to a score, whether it's through her passing or her own scoring.   Emme can shoot the 3-ball at a high percentage, especially off the catch, but she can also put the ball on the floor for a one or two-dribble pull-up. She's also very crafty at finishing at the rim, using euro steps and floaters to throw off the timing of defenders.   One of Emme's most impressive skills is her ability to make passes into tight spots. She has a knack for passing her teammates open with her quick decision-making and high basketball IQ, drawing defenders in so she can set up her teammates to score.

With so many skilled players, we tend to overlook a few. Here are some players to watch out for this upcoming high school season, as they're poised for breakout junior seasons.