Unsung Heroes: 2026 Guards Outside the Top 100

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At this point, anyone who is an avid aficionado of South Carolina high school girls basketball understands who the major names are in the state, which schools they play at and which AAU programs they played for during the spring and summer.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While having those big names wearing your colors can ensure a deep postseason run once February and March rolls around, sometimes it is the unsung heroes that can turn a team from a powerhouse to a state champion.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the next few days and weeks, we at Prep Girls Hoops will shine a spotlight on some of those names. We begin with acknowledging standout guards from the 2026 class.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["759618"],"_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-68a52350ce229"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Davis ensured that Carolina Forest was one of the teams to beat among 5A Division 1 assemblings. The Panthers concluded last season with a record of 25-4 – not to mention winning all 10 of its region contests. The 8.2 points, 5.6 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals Davis averaged helped Carolina Forest's efforts aplenty. Davis competed in 28 games last season. During the course of last season, Davis secured her first collegiate offer from USC-Salkehatchie. Those aforementioned statistics had Davis second on the team in scoring, second in steals and third in rebounding. With its core returning, the Panthers will once again post major problems for the rest of 5A Division 1. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1045454"],"_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-68a49fec3f516"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Warriors of 5A Division 1 Stall encountered a down season in 2024-25 but Spillers proved to a be a bright spot as her junior season proved to be one of her career's best. She wore the Stall uniform on 20 occasions and averaged 8.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists last season. That tied her for the team lead in points scored and she was also among the Warriors' team leaders in rebounds and assists per contest. Spillers also led all Stall players last season in blocks at one per matchup and collected 1.8 steals per game to tie her for the team lead.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["800458"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-68a49fec3f58f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Spears is one of three seniors returning for their final go-rounds with coach Ki'Ari Cain's 4A Wilson assembling. She wore Tigers gold and purple on 28 occasions and averaged 6.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.9 steals for a Wilson team that finished last season with a 19-9 record and held its own in a tough region. Spears led the team in steals and was also among the team leaders last season in rebounds and assists. She is a multi-sport athlete who also competes in track and field events alongside her basketball achievements. While listed primarily as a point guard, Spears can also placed in a team's lineup at the two.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["761894"],"_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-68a49fec3f5db"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fore's career has included a noteworthy stint at Westminster Catawba Christian, a team plays in a North Carolina-based private school conference. Fore's team finished with a record of 13-12 this past season. She played in 22 of the team's 25 contests in 2024-25 and averaged 16.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals en route to the sixth seed in last season's NCISAA 2A state tournament. Fore led Westminster Catawba Christian last season in points per game and field goal percentage. Her travel career has included a stint with North Carolina Gems. She stands at 5-foot-9 and shared team captaincy duties last season at Westminster Catawba Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["840355"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":841719,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-68a49fec3f62e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Teams looking to score victories over 1A St. John's likely have to find a way to keep Buford in check. That, of course, is not always the easiest of tasks. Buford was one of the state's breakout freshmen three seasons ago and she has not looked back since. She averaged 11.9 points, 4.9 steals and 3.3 rebounds last season as she played in 15 of the Islanders' 18 contests in 2024-25. Listed at 5-foot-3, Buford has thrived as a two guard at St. John's. The Islanders reached double-digit win totals for two of Buford's three seasons and her team's goal is to make it three out of four – and then some – in 2025-26.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["567029"],"_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-68a49fec3f673"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Young is one of the higher profile names on this list given she wears the colors of one of the state's premier 4A teams in South Pointe. After missing her sophomore season due to an injury, Young bounced back to be a key x-factor in the Stallions' impressive run in 2024-25 to the 4A Upper State championship game. Young's primary spot is at the two and her grassroots career has included a stint with Queen City Ballers. She is listed at 5-foot-6. Young competed in 25 games last season with South Pointe and she is poised to conclude her high school career with an emphatic exclamation point with a team that will once again be a 4A state favorite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->