A few of the high highschool and worldwide males’s basketball recruits have been in attendance this previous weekend on the Beneath Armour Subsequent Elite 24, trying to put collectively robust performances in entrance of a contingent of NBA scouts.
The three-day showcase started with a follow on Thursday and scrimmage on Friday, with the penultimate occasion being a televised sport on Saturday, the place the 24 gamers in attendance break up into two groups and competed towards one another in a decent contest.
General, there was a powerful pool of expertise on the occasion, nevertheless it was a gaggle of guards that led the way in which throughout Saturday’s sport.
Listed here are 5 guards that stood out on the Beneath Armour Subsequent Elite 24 males’s basketball showcase.
2025 four-star Acaden Lewis
One of many standouts through the scrimmage interval on Friday, four-star level guard Acaden Lewis took over for Staff Fireplace through the sport on Saturday, ending with 15 factors, 5 rebounds, and three assists on 6-for-13 from the sphere.
Lewis was relied upon by his workforce to be one of many extra ball-dominant guards on Saturday, and he delivered as an all-around participant, discovering methods to attain, whereas additionally getting his teammates concerned.
Early within the first half, the 6’2” guard discovered a technique to hit a nasty stepback three-pointer after dribbling up court docket, sensing the protection and discovering his spot.
Within the second half, Lewis’ sport started to increase because the guard attacked five-star Dylan Mingo on a drive, seemingly getting fouled twice on the possession, however not getting a name. Nonetheless, he discovered a technique to energy via for a tricky end on the rim together with his left hand.
Lewis had one other spotlight three, hitting one off the dribble within the face of tall 6’8” wing Karim Lopez with the sport on the road on the finish of the fourth quarter.
His facilitating was equally as spectacular because the scoring. Earlier this week, the guard instructed SB Nation that he envisions himself as some extent guard, even when his play model could match extra of a combo guard.
Properly, on Saturday, Lewis discovered a technique to get his teammates open, driving consistently in direction of the rim earlier than kicking the ball out, exhibiting one other dimension to his sport.
Ranked the No. 31 participant within the Class of 2025 and the No. 1 recruit within the state of D.C., Lewis upped his inventory with efficiency this weekend.
Lewis took official visits to Virginia and Georgetown, and has an upcoming go to scheduled to North Carolina and Florida State, in accordance with On3.
2026 four-star Derron Rippey
One other guard who was actually feeling it was four-star Derron Rippey, who’s a top-15 recruit within the Class of 2026 and the No. 1 participant within the state of New Jersey in his cycle.
Rippey, who showcased a easy capturing stroke through the first two days of the showcase, was all over on Saturday.
He displayed his high-end athleticism with a pair of monster dunks, whereas exhibiting off his shot-making expertise with some actually troublesome jumpers, which included a tricky pretend spin fadeaway for a protracted two over a defender after a pleasant 1-on-1 dribble transfer.
“I imply, it’s my hometown, so I do know I needed to be aggressive proper from the bounce,” the four-star stated after the sport Saturday. “I didn’t are available in pondering or wanting to attain 30. I simply got here up with the mindset that I’m gonna shoot each time I’m open, I’m gonna be aggressive, and I’m not gonna pressure something to make myself look dangerous. Simply be environment friendly, you recognize, take pictures once I can.”
Rippey wasn’t as correct from distance, going one-of-four, however acquired one to go down off a catch-and-shoot alternative.
However, it was the passing that actually stood out, as Rippey led Staff Fireplace with seven assists, discovering teammates in transition for scores.
“Particularly in an setting like this the place all people’s attempting to attain, [I pride myself on] simply sharing the ball and making the appropriate play always,” Rippey stated. “I attempt to make the appropriate play always on the finish however simply having that form of mindset on the finish of the sport to have myself stand out as properly. Although some individuals might imagine I’m a scorer, passing can be key and one thing I delight myself on.”
Ripley has over 22 scholarship provides from faculties, in accordance with 247Sports.
General, the rising junior showcased confidence towards a few of the high gamers within the nation, proving himself to be in that higher echelon of recruits and exhibiting his progress as a participant.
“I really feel like I’ve turn out to be extra of a pacesetter,” Rippey acknowledged concerning the previous season. “I’ve been extra assertive. Like my freshman 12 months, I used to be slightly bit hesitant. I didn’t know my function, I didn’t know my skills. I wasn’t too assured.”
However, this 12 months I acquired lots of confidence. I’ve been within the fitness center loads, put in lots of totally different strikes, dwell pictures. So simply carrying that on with me on the court docket each time is necessary for me and my progress.”
2026 four-star Abdou Toure
The high-flying Abdou Toure was one of many high gamers on the showcase on Saturday, scoring 16 factors and 4 rebounds on 7-of-9 from the sphere, dwelling contained in the arc.
Toure’s athleticism was on show, because the 6’6”, 185-pound wing had a monster poster dunk over a defender, whereas attending to the rim on a number of events.
Moreover, the four-star hit a number of jumpers, together with a tricky fadeaway bucket on the baseline, exhibiting off his easy capturing movement.
Toure has really feel contained in the arc, as he’s capable of finding his spots on the court docket, each nearer within the paint and close to the midrange space, elevating properly to get his shot off on a constant foundation.
I can’t neglect concerning the game-winning shot, as Toure sidestepped with one dribble earlier than flattening the open three to ship Staff Fireplace residence packing.
Seen because the No. 1 participant within the state of Connecticut in his class, Toure’s athleticism will certainly get him nationwide acclaim, however he ought to different ranges to his sport as properly over the weekend. He has had provides fro Syracuse, Louisville and Oregon.
2026 five-star Dylan Mingo
One of many highest-rated recruits in attendance, five-star Dylan Mingo started to seek out his groove on Saturday on the Subsequent Elite showcase.
Ending with 13 factors and three rebounds on 6-of-11 capturing, Mingo was particularly efficient driving to the ring, hitting a tricky layup on the left aspect together with his proper hand off the dribble.
Later, he had a tricky contested floater that rimmed in for one more rating. However, Mingo actually began to get comfy when he knocked down a pair of back-to-back threes working off the dribble.
Ranked a top-10 recruit within the class of 2026 and the No. 1 prospect within the state of New York, Mingo stands at 6’4”, 170 kilos with room to develop together with his body.
His burst and explosiveness off the dribble is there, permitting him to assault downhill at a excessive clip, which is his bread and butter.
Mingo’s mechanics are nonetheless coming collectively as a shooter, the place he was inconsistent over the three days, however he was in a position to get right into a rhythm when flattening back-to-back pictures through the sport.
There have been occasions on Thursday and Friday when Mingo had a gradual begin, however he snapped out of it by discovering the rim, which was the case once more on Saturday, resulting in a stable efficiency.
Mingo has a handful of provides, with St. John’s, Virginia Tech and Dayton within the combine.
2025 four-star King Grace
Texas four-star King Grace had a day to recollect as properly, because the 6’5” guard scored 15 factors, three rebounds, and three assists on Saturday off 7-of-13 capturing.
Grace was particularly efficient contained in the arc, the place he shot 6-of-8 from the sphere, thanks to a couple dunks that displayed his high-end athleticism.
Grace did rating six of his factors within the remaining body, hitting a trio of two-pointers, as he maintained his aggressiveness all through the sport.
At 6’5”, Grace possesses good dimension and size for the guard place, making him an intriguing prospect and a top-50 participant within the nation, in accordance with 247Sports.
His capturing mechanics weren’t the cleanest, as Grace did miss a number of open three-pointers through the sport, however the potential was clearly there together with his total knack for scoring.
