2026 Guards: Tough Defenders

The players on this list are some of the toughest defending guards in the 2026 class.   Most of these guards can get up  on the ball handler and still have enough speed to cut off driving angles and prevent the ball handler from getting to the rim.   If the opposing guard's handles are loose,  the ball is going the other way for two.  Some of these guards are deceptive and will bait the opponent to pass the ball before intercepting the pass and taking it the other way.  The personal stats of these players usually don't show the effectiveness and full impact of their work unless it is a straight rip from the ball handler.   They usually cause the opponent to pick up their dribble and pass the ball.  These lock down defenders  cause bad passes and they deflect the ball that ends up in the hands of a teammate.  Don't let the 0 steals and 0 points fool you. These players impact the game in ways you won't see on the stat sheet. In this article,  we hilight some of the top defending guards in the 2026 rankings.        [player_tooltip player_id='248551' first='Alanna' last='Tatum'] is one of the top defensive guards in the entire State of Florida. Tatum has great speed, great footwork, and quickness and can move laterally. She can stay in front of the ball handler and prevent them from getting to the basket. Tatum also has quick hands and deflects a lot of passes that lead to steals. Any looseness with the dribble results in a steal and layup. Tatum also has lightening quick hands to steal or deflect passes and she can also play the passing lanes. What separates Tatum's defensive abilities is her athleticism and vertical jump. She has the ability to contest and block shots. Tatum has good timing and can protect the rim against guards and even taller players. Tatum is so skillful on the defensive end that she can cause a player to exhaust every cross over move, stop the dribble, and take away the shot- leaving the opponent with only the option of passing to a teammate to reset.     Dekara Merthie is one of the top prospects in the State and her defense is on an elite level (So is her offense). Merthie is fast and has great quickness and athleticism.   Not many opposing guards can get by her, nor can  many opposing guards keep her from getting by them.   Merthie is averaging an incredible 26.2 points per game.  Back to the defense,  Merthie averages 4.1 steals per game and has 11 blocks for the season.   A lot of what Merthie does on the court is predicated on her speed, athleticism, and explosiveness.   They are her greatest assets and the reasons she is one of the best  prospects and defenders in the 2026 class.       [player_tooltip player_id='514608' first='Evelyn' last='Freeman'] is one of the quickest guards in the state and she keeps most guards at bay.     Freeman is a very  good on- ball defender,   but she is an even better defender  in the passing lanes.   Freeman reacts quickly  to the ball  and jumps passes with great anticipation.   Also,a  lazy or soft pass around  Freeman leads to a deflection or steal and frequently a layup at the other hand.  Freeman‘s help side defense is also  very good.  She bails out teammates if they are beaten by an opponent.  Freeman leads her team in steals and on the opposite end she leads in assists. Her speed and explosiveness make her one of the top defensive players in the state and 2026 rankings.       [player_tooltip player_id='514522' first='Morgan' last='Cremen'] is one of the best on ball defenders in the State and she has been among the State leaders every year in steals. Cremen has great anticipation, great instincts, quick hands, and an explosive first step. She frequently turns steals into layups for herself and for her teammates. She has the ability to assess the situation quickly and make the right play. Cremen averages nearly 5 assists per game and nearly 5 assists per game. The Junior guard is turning heads is showing that she is one of the top guards in the 2026 class.     [player_tooltip player_id='811411' first='Ronneisha' last='Thomas'] is one of the top defenders in the State. Her on-ball skills athleticism, and the physicality she plays with are elite. She applies relentless pressure on the opposition, disrupts their flow and causes turnovers. Thomas has the energy to run all night and she is always defending the toughest player on the opposing team - 94 feet. This effort inspires her teammates and has a huge impact on the game. Thomas is so competitive and she had the endurance to maintain this intensity from the beginning of the game to the end.     [player_tooltip player_id='514544' first='Narissa' last='Blocton'] is one of the most versatile defenders in the 2026. She has the length and speed to cover small guards as well as tall guards and small forwards. Blocton is the “boss” of the box and one defense. I have seen her single-handedly disrupt a teams offense and deem it ineffective. She also plays the passing lanes and uses her quickness , instincts, and length to get steals. Blocton is equally effective on the offensive side of the ball.

The players on this list are some of the toughest defending guards in the 2026 class. Most of these guards can get up on the ball handler and still have enough speed to cut off driving angles and prevent the ball handler from getting to the rim. If the opposing guard's handles are loose, the ball is going the other way for two. Some of these guards are deceptive and will bait the opponent to pass the ball before intercepting the pass and taking it the other way. The personal stats of these players usually don't show the effectiveness and full impact of their work unless it is a straight rip from the ball handler. They usually cause the opponent to pick up their dribble and pass the ball. These lock down defenders cause bad passes and they deflect the ball that ends up in the hands of a teammate. Don't let the 0 steals and 0 points fool you. These players impact the game in ways you won't see on the stat sheet. In this article, we hilight some of the top defending guards in the 2026 rankings.