#UAPrezDay: Point Guard Standouts (Class of 2026)

Spencer Pulliam February 23, 2022 @ 10:00 AM

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Memphis, Tenn. — The time has come to settle on the top performers from the Under Armour Future Presidents’ Day Classic, and while it was difficult to narrow down the selections, this collection of eighth-grade floor generals absolutely earned their individual accolades based on their play over the weekend. Here’s my take on the best Class of 2026 point guards that I observed at the tournament with some additional insight into their games and background…

Larry ‘Trey’ Benson | Memphis, TN | Class of 2026

A diminutive lead guard with immense quickness, P7 Elite (TN) relied on Benson to initiate their offense throughout the Under Armour Future Presidents’ Day Classic. A confident playmaker and ball-handler, the southpaw flashed his perimeter scoring abilities, and was a blur off the bounce as defenders struggled to stay in front of Benson. He’s comfortable forcing tempo and finished a fairly high rate in the lane despite his lack of size. It’s clear that his team trusts him with the ball down the stretch and he’ll need to continue to demonstrate his ability to limit turnovers and make winning plays in clutch situations.

Jude Gibson | Huxley, IA | Class of 2026

Following his 17-point performance in the championship game for the 8th grade division at the Under Armour Future Presidents’ Day Classic, Gibson earned his place on my Day 3 report. The 5-foot-10 guard was my choice for the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award, and was the best vocal leader I observed during the weekend. Although not an explosive leaper at this stage, Gibson has excellent agility, and a frame that allows him to absorb contact at both ends of the floor. He applied constant pressure with his tenacity on the defensive side of the ball, while also consistently attacking off the dribble, and capitalizing on opportunities in transition.

Jack Sparks | Austell, GA | Class of 2026

Sparks was one of the more relentless competitors that I observed at the Under Armour Future Presidents’ Day Classic. The Peach State prospect balanced ball-handling and scoring duties for his P3 Elite (GA) club and kept his team within striking distance in the majority of their games. The 5-foot-8 guard appeared to embrace his defensive assignments and his coaching staff raved about his individual work ethic and desire to improve following the conclusion of the event. The amount of talent that the greater Atlanta area generates each year is no secret but Sparks should have an opportunity to create some additional buzz for himself in due time.

Jordan Walker | Chicago, IL | Class of 2026

A 5-foot-9 guard hailing from the Windy City, Walker was fearless on offense and showed a flair for the dramatic, knocking down multiple shots with high degrees of difficulty for his Dream Chaser Elite (IL) club. His quickness allowed him to easily shrug off defenders, and once free, he was typically able to find ways to score or locate open teammates for easier looks near the rim. Similar to many of the guards mentioned in this feature, Walker is a bit undersized at this stage, but he competed with excellent skill and toughness during the Under Armour Future Presidents’ Day Classic and his overall performance is worthy of recognition.

Kareem Willmore | St. Cloud, FL | Class of 2026

Willmore and his Powerhouse Bulls (FL) teammates helped kick-off the action at the UA Future Presidents’ Day Classic with a thrilling overtime loss versus P7 Elite (TN) on the event’s opening day. The steady play of the 5-foot-10 floor general earned my praise on Day 1 and his flashes throughout the weekend continued to catch my eye. It’s worth noting Willmore’s father, Frankie, starred at NCAA Division II Dowling College (NY) before playing professionally for nearly a decade in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Considering his talent and pedigree, the younger Willmore is a name to monitor in Florida’s upcoming Class of 2026 group.

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