All-UP 2026 Guards to Know

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is famous for its outdoor recreation, snowfall, breathtaking natural scenery, mining history, pasties, and vast forests. Dozens of prospects above the Mackinac Bridge have the talent to make an impact at the next level. Increasing awareness about the U.P.'s prospects has been an emphasis of mine for the past two years, and I hope to see more Yoopers getting offers to play downstate in the future. Here are several 2026 guards who earned All-UP honors last year and are having another big senior season.    Emma is one of the deadliest snipers in the U.P., and her deep range caught my attention during ETC's memorable run to the State Finals last season. She has a tight handle on the ball and creates space with an array of crossover dribbles to drive, dish, and fire from beyond the arc. Emma earned All-U.P. First Team honors as a junior, averaging 12.4 points, 3.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. She knocked down triples at a high clip of 41%. Emma committed to UW-Superior in December and will be an excellent addition to their program.     Emery received All-U.P. Special Mention recognition last season and is having another productive season for Hancock. She started the year strong with a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double in a win over Dollar Bay. Emery crashes the boards, gets downhill, and finishes at the rim. She fires passes to open teammates and generates turnovers with her scrappy ball pressure.     Lexi caught my attention when Marquette came downstate to play Grand Blanc last season, and she had another strong outing at the [program_tooltip program_id='928192' first='Zero' last='Star Basketball'] Showcase. A guard who has tight handles on the rock, plus court vision, finishes confidently with both hands, can light it up from three-point range, and has a next-play mentality is a prospect who can make an impact at the next level. Lexi checks all those boxes. She received All-U.P. Honorable Mention recognition as a junior and would be an excellent addition to a college program.     Lexi dropped a team-high 17 points in a win against Marquette. She buried three triples and has many games with two-plus field goals from beyond the arc this season. Lexi has sharp instincts on the defensive end. She's a feisty defender with active hands and a nose for the ball. Lexi has good court vision and distributes passes accurately to teammates. She has a soft finishing touch around the basket and is a talented guard from Menominee who can play at the next level. Lexi earned All-U.P. Honorable Mention recognition as a junior.     Elsie was one of the best surprises and hidden gems at the [program_tooltip program_id='928192' first='Zero' last='Star Basketball'] Showcase. It was my first time seeing her play, and she made a great first impression. Elsie drove by defenders with a burst, made smart backdoor cuts, and converted layups after making smooth transfers. She knocked down threes, fired passes to teammates, made a difference on the defensive end, and played unselfish basketball. Elsie earned All-U.P. Second Team honors as a junior and reached 1,000 points during a win against Superior Central in December. Elsie energizes her teammates and is a prospect who can be an impact player at the college level.

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is famous for its outdoor recreation, snowfall, breathtaking natural scenery, mining history, pasties, and vast forests. Dozens of prospects above the Mackinac Bridge have the talent to make an impact at the next level. Increasing awareness about the U.P.'s prospects has been an emphasis of mine for the past two years, and I hope to see more Yoopers getting offers to play downstate in the future. Here are several 2026 guards who earned All-UP honors last year and are having another big senior season.