Even with the excellence demonstrated before the tournament, the guards of the highly acclaimed 2026 NBA Draft can still raise their draft stock with amazing performances during March Madness. With the tournament only days away, now is the time to identify the best guard prospects participating in the big dance. Let’s dive into the top guard prospects participating in the NCAA Tournament and go over what makes them great.
2026 NBA Draft: Best Guard Prospects In The NCAA Tournament
Darryn Peterson
A guard who needs no introduction, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson is the top overall guard in the draft and the tournament. Standing at six-foot-five, Peterson stands out as a tremendous three-level scorer who also performs well on the defensive end. Unquestionably, Peterson is a supreme shooter who can knock down shots anywhere on the court, contested or otherwise. While injuries have been a detriment to his burst and athleticism this season, Peterson is certainly capable of putting major pressure on the rim when healthy. Additionally, Peterson has upside as a passer and ball-handler, though he has been primarily off-ball this season.
In terms of defense, Peterson has the size, length, and basketball IQ to be a significant contributor on that end of the floor. In particular, he is a strong defensive playmaker. He is great at reading plays to force turnovers, and Peterson is an excellent shot blocker for a guard. Peterson is unquestionably the best guard in the tournament. With great performances, Peterson can silence any remaining doubts surrounding his game and give himself a better argument to be the #1 overall pick.
Kingston Flemings
Houston guard Kingston Flemings is another great guard prospect and one who possesses the potential to be a top-five pick. The six-foot-four Flemings is the type of guard prospect who can have two-way impact. Offensively, Flemings is a smooth and efficient scorer who can also effectively set the table for his teammates. Unquestionably, he is a capable three-level scorer, weaponizing his speed and ball-handling ability to do so. However, that isn’t all he can do on the offensive end, as he has the vision, basketball IQ, and passing versatility that allow Flemings to be a great playmaker.
Defensively, Flemings is a competitor on that end of the floor, even if he is slightly undersized. He consistently gives effort as a defender, and he knows how to be impactful as a defensive playmaker. His well-rounded offensive skill and defensive impact certainly make him one of the better guards in the class.
Keaton Wagler
One guard who has been a revelation for Illinois this season is freshman Keaton Wagler. The tallest guard on this list at six-foot-six, Wagler is one of the better three-point shooters in college basketball. Not only can Wagler consistently hit shots from beyond the arc as a spot-up shooter, but he can also hit those shots in other shooting contexts as well. Specifically, Wagler is capable of knocking down step-back threes, shooting off of screens, and taking pull-ups.
Shooting isn’t all that Wagler does, as he can also put the ball on the floor and be a shot creator. He knows how to leverage his dribbling and pace to create shots for himself and others. Speaking of creating for others, Wagler is also a strong passer who demonstrates excellent vision and creative passing. As for defense, Wagler’s size can give him positional versatility if his strength can catch up. For Wagler, his combination of size, shooting, and playmaking sets him apart from other guards.
Mikel Brown Jr.
While injuries have certainly diminished his level of play, Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. is still a top guard in the class. The six-foot-five guard is easily one of the better passers in the draft, having the passing and court vision to be an effective offensive engine. He is an extremely dynamic passer who can use his ball-handling to collapse defenses to create shots for his team, particularly in the pick-and-roll.
Brown is also a skilled shot creator who can take and make tough shots. He is certainly a threat to pull up anywhere on the court, even if his efficiency lags behind. Brown isn’t the best defender, but his size and length allow him to have an impact as a defensive playmaker. While it remains to be seen if Brown actually plays in the tournament, a great run by him if he does play would go a long way for his draft stock.
Labaron Philon
Alabama guard Labaron Philon is easily one of the better guards in the class. After returning for a second year in college, Philon has spent that time well to improve across the board as a player. The six-foot-four Philon is a true three-level scorer who compensates for his lack of athleticism with high basketball IQ, craftiness, and feel for the game. He utilizes his handle well to break down opposing defenders to get to the rim. However, he has the scoring versatility to be a threat from the mid-range and from beyond the arc. In particular, Philon has significantly improved as a three-point shooter, improving his efficiency and volume from distance. Philon is also a capable playmaker who can make impressive passing reads.
Not only is Philon a talent offensively, but he can also bring value as a defender. He has the quickness to stay in front of his man. Plus, he is also solid at generating steals by forcing turnovers. This season has been highly impressive for Philon, who stepped into being the main offensive option for the Crimson Tide. Philon and the improvement he’s made will be something to watch for during the big dance.
Darius Acuff Jr.
Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. has been one of the most productive freshman guards in college basketball. Additionally, Acuff has demonstrated himself to be one of the best offensive players in the class. He is an absolutely lethal scorer who can efficiently knock down shots on all three levels. Acuff is an excellent shooter from anywhere on the court, having put on display major shot-making performances throughout the year. While he is a true scorer, Acuff has also shown great playmaking abilities to augment his offensive game. He has acquitted himself well as the main option for Arkansas, and it will be exciting to see what he brings to the table for March Madness.
Brayden Burries
After a slow start to his season, Brayden Burries has proven himself to be an excellent guard who is worthy of the lottery. The six-foot-four guard plays a physical brand of basketball, using his strength, ball-handling, pace, and strong frame to power his way into the paint. He can also get to his spots and knock down shots in the mid-range and from three. He has also proven to be a solid secondary playmaker who can keep the ball moving. What’s more impressive about Burries is his above-average rebounding ability for a guard. Carrying over his excellence into the tournament will only solidify his status as one of the best guards participating in the tournament.
Bennett Stirtz
Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz is the oldest player on this list, but his skill and talent are right there alongside the other guards. Standing at six-foot-four, Stirtz possesses a complete and well-rounded skill set on the offensive end. He is undoubtedly one of the best facilitators in the draft while also being a capable scorer. In particular, Stirtz has shown tremendous feel and vision as a playmaker, being able to make tight reads to find open teammates. Furthermore, Stirtz is great at using the pick-and-roll to create shots for others. As a scorer, Stirtz is capable of scoring from anywhere on the court efficiently. Overall, Stirtz isn’t going to wow anyone with his athleticism. However, his overall skill and offensive punch have been a joy to watch. It will be interesting to see how Stirtz will perform during March Madness.
Christian Anderson
Another sophomore guard who has been having an excellent year is Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson. He is a smooth operator as a guard, using his polished scoring and dynamic playmaking abilities to fuel his team’s offense. Anderson is truly an excellent shooter who can take and make shots. Additionally, he has the craftiness and ball-handling ability to create solid separation from opposing defenders to get his shot off. Speaking of ball-handling, Anderson is an expert at utilizing the pick-and-roll to generate shots for himself and others. He can be a team’s offensive engine, using his great vision and passing to consistently find teammates. Anderson has his work cut out for him in the tournament due to the absence of JT Toppin. However, if he can still demonstrate his excellence without Toppin, it will do wonders for his draft stock.
Tyler Tanner
Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner has seen a dramatic rise in his draft stock amidst a brilliant sophomore campaign. Despite only being six feet tall, Tanner has stood out as one of the best guard defenders in the draft. He consistently gives great energy and effort out on the court, always looking to make a play defensively. That translates into Tanner being an excellent defensive playmaker, as he racks up steals at a high rate. Furthermore, he can lock down opposing guards, and Tanner has the IQ to rotate effectively around the court.
Not only does Tanner provide immense value on the defensive end, but he can also impact the game offensively. In particular, Tanner is an efficient shooter who can play both on and off the ball. Plus, he knows how to use his incredible speed and ball-handling to break down opposing defenses to apply downhill pressure. Alongside his scoring, Tanner is also a capable playmaker in his own right. Undoubtedly, if Tanner can bring the energy and skill he demonstrated this season to the tournament, his draft stock will rise even further.
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