New Guard additions to the 2026 Ranking

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>101 players were added to the 2026 ranking, which includes some incredible guards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1186508"],"_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-67d0f66b369fa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1186508' first='Emery' last='Wilson'] was second on the team in scoring during the regular season and she became a legitimate offensive threat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilson averaged 13.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.2 steals per game during the 2024/25 season. She knocked down 84 threes during the year, with her best outside shooting performance coming against Bald Knob in the 3A-6 championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In that game, Wilson knocked down 8 3-pointers and finished with 27 points in addition to 7 rebounds. Obviously, she can get going from beyond the arch quickly and there is usually not much the defense can do about her quick release.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1186508' first='Emery' last='Wilson'] starred with Harding Academy this past season and she will be a player to watch out for again in 2025/26.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1196168"],"_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-67d0f66b36a5d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1196168' first='Kynnedi' last='Barnett'] is a talented scorer who can get buckets in a variety of ways. Her scoring abilities are why she made her first appearance on the 2026 ranking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barnett can shoot the ball from mid-range and beyond the arch, but she is a tough player to stop when she attacks the basket. She has no problems finishing through contact, often heading to the line to convert and-1s. One of her better games during the regular season was against Hot Springs, where she had 19 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1196168' first='Kynnedi' last='Barnett'] will turn some heads as a senior and there is a great chance she flies up the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1186843"],"_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-67d0f66b36aab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another White Hall Lady Bulldog makes an appearance here as [player_tooltip player_id='1186843' first='Kenedi' last='Bowman'] played well alongside her star junior teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1196168' first='Kynnedi' last='Barnett'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I mentioned the Hot Springs matchup previously and Bowman had 20 points in that conference bout. 12 of her points in that game came in the second quarter alone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is obvious that she can score in a short period of time. Bowman can poke passes away and she can dive on loose balls, where she can then take it the other way and score easy transition baskets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Barnett, [player_tooltip player_id='1186843' first='Kenedi' last='Bowman'] will start to gain some notoriety as she enters her senior year. She is also an early stock riser candidate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1186509"],"_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-67d0f66b36af2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1186509' first='Mackenzie' last='Byrd'] was another successful junior on this Harding Academy squad this past season. With the Lady Wildcats' top 3 players all being juniors, they will be in good hands next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Byrd averaged 9.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game during the season while also connecting on 77 3-pointers. She has a quick release from beyond the arch and she is not shy about dialing up the deep shots. If the defense closes out on her, then she can drive past them and get inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On defense, Byrd is a turnover-machine. She records almost 2 steals a night by intercepting passes and taking advantage of poor ball-handling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1186509' first='Mackenzie' last='Byrd'] is a great two-way weapon for Harding Academy. With the Lady Wildcats only losing one senior, Byrd and company are expected to make another deep tournament run in 2025/26.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["884753"],"_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-67d0f66b36b37"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='884753' first='E'lyse' last='Williams'] made improvements to her game throughout the regular season. She started the year as a microwave scorer and then became a fantastic playmaker and defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior guard is a threat to shoot from outside, as well as being able to drive into the lane and hit a runner. During the season, Williams was tasked as one of Central's primary ball-handlers. She handles full-court pressure well, racking up assists in the process. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like I mentioned, Williams proved to be an excellent defender, as she averaged nearly 2 steals a night. A lot of her scoring came from her play on the defensive end. She would force a turnover, then run down the court and finish the easy layup. If it was a teammate who broke down the opposition's play, then Williams would leak out in transition early.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='884753' first='E'lyse' last='Williams'] has flashed throughout her Tiger career. With Central losing 7 seniors, she is expected to be the go-to offensive option next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are just a few of the great guards in the 2026 ranking. Be sure to look out for similar articles soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->