Under the Radar Guards in the New 2026 Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Girls Hoops Missouri released its newly updated Class of 2026 rankings this week. Here is a look at a group of guards in the new rankings who operate under the radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='525616' first='Jaicee' last='Carrasquillo'] (Verona): A talented 5'5" point guard who is one of the top small-school performers in the SWMO area. She is an excellent floor leader who can distribute the ball well and get consistent buckets. She is a 1,000-point career scorer. She is also a solid defender at the point of attack. She recently gave a commitment to Mission University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='982995' first='Alyssa' last='Ludwig'] (West County): A 5'9" guard who is an impressive offensive player who can score from all three levels. She can really shoot it well from 3-point range. She has a quick release on the catch and she can also create a shot off the dribble to score. She also attacks the basket well to score on tough drives through contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='982990' first='Peyton' last='Beamer'] (Community): A 5'6" point guard who is a Class 1 standout with her dynamic speed and quickness. She plays with excellent pace and she will get the ball and push tempo at every opportunity. She can finish in the lane at a variety of angles and she can also hit 3-pointers. She is also an excellent defensive player who will apply good on-ball pressure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='813615' first='Jayla' last='Smith'] (Jackson): A 5'6" guard who is an excellent all-around player who holds things together for a young and very talented nucleus at Jackson. She plays much taller than her actual size because she's tough and has a strong motor. She will get in the mix to rebound and get loose balls. She is also a solid ball handler who can make big shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hadley McNatt (Willard): A 5'2" guard from the SWMO area who has excellent fundamentals and who can also light it up from 3-point range. She is very good at moving without the ball and finding the open spots on the floor. She relocates well and her range extends well beyond the 3-point line. She has received numerous small college collegiate offers as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1316682' first='Mia' last='Panton'] (Cape Notre Dame): A 5'9" guard who is one of the top returning players in the SEMO Conference. She stepped into a much bigger role as a junior and became a reliable scoring threat. She shoots the ball very well from 3-point range and she has the athleticism to score on the drive. She can also impact the game on the defensive end as she led her team in steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->