The return of college football and the NFL signals that the NBA and college basketball are soon at hand as well. As they approach, it is appropriate to identify the top prospects of the 2026 NBA Draft before the college season starts. There are plenty of talented point guards projected in the draft that should be recognized. Let’s dive into the top point guard prospects to watch for the 2026 NBA Draft.
2026 NBA Draft: Top Point Guard Prospects To Watch For
Mikel Brown Jr.
One of the most intriguing prospects in this class is Mikel Brown Jr., who will be playing for Louisville this coming season. The six-foot-five guard has certainly impressed many with his play throughout the FIBA U19 World Cup, helping the US win gold at the event. His game is predicated on his excellent ability to handle the ball, his passing acumen, and his three-level scoring skills.
Unquestionably, he can slither his way into the paint with ease. Brown loves using different speeds and his advanced dribbling to shake defenders off when creating shots for himself. Speaking of creating shots, Brown is a three-level scorer whose pull-up and off-the-dribble game make his offense far more devastating. Additionally, Brown has also shown great passing instincts and skills, possessing great vision. Overall, Brown is one of the better offensive prospects in the draft and someone who can be an excellent offensive engine for whichever team drafts him.
Cayden Boozer
The brother of top-three prospect Cameron Boozer and the son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, Cayden Boozer, is one of the “purest” point guards in the 2026 NBA Draft. Unquestionably, Boozer has demonstrated that he knows how to organize an offense through his playmaking. He is great at dictating the flow of the game, and he possesses great court vision. Not only that, but the six-foot-four guard is a versatile defender who knows exactly where he needs to be on defense. Most importantly, Boozer plays a mature game where he utilizes his high basketball IQ and great feel to impact winning. He does need to improve on his scoring, particularly as a shooter. However, it is hard to deny a player as skilled and fundamental as Boozer.
Darius Acuff Jr.
Out of all the freshmen guards, Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. is one of the better scorers of the bunch. Undoubtedly, he is a dynamic offensive force who can score anywhere on the court. Acuff is excellent at using his ball-handling and burst to get into the lane. In the paint, Acuff uses his craftiness to score buckets at the rim, and he also has a floater in his arsenal.
Not only can Acuff score in one-on-one scenarios, but he also uses the pick-and-roll expertly as a scorer. He is extremely confident in taking and making tough shots on the perimeter. Additionally, Acuff has shown positive flashes as a passer and overall facilitator. The six-foot-three guard’s abilities as an offensive threat will be interesting to watch throughout the college season.
Bennett Stirtz
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Bennett Stirtz put together an impressive season at Drake last year. He quarterbacked an excellent offense that helped get Drake to the NCAA Tournament and win their first-round matchup against Missouri. Unquestionably, had Stirtz stayed in the 2025 NBA Draft, he would have been selected. Nevertheless, he has chosen to return to college and has a chance to raise his draft stock even further.
As a prospect, the six-foot-four guard is an efficient three-level scorer who can also play-make at a high level. He is an excellent finisher around the rim, demonstrating his great touch and craftiness. Furthermore, Stirtz can score off-the-dribble as a perimeter threat. He is a strong shooter, both on and off the ball, allowing him great role versatility on offense. Stirtz is quite an amazing floor general as well, having put on display his great court vision and passing abilities. Stirtz certainly has a blend of scoring and playmaking that makes him must-watch basketball for the season and one of the best point guards of the 2026 draft.
Labaron Philon
Alabama guard Labaron Philon is another prospect who could have been drafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, but chose to stay in school. Last season, he demonstrated himself as a crafty guard who can get into the lane with his handle while being a strong defender on the other end. He has great touch around the rim and possesses a great floater as well. Those qualities assisted the Crimson Tide in making the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
Philon now has the chance to showcase the improvements he has made to his game following his freshman season. He demonstrated great flashes of his passing last season and can showcase that even more now that he is the main guard for Alabama. His shooting is another key area to watch for as he needs to get better from beyond the arc. Nevertheless, Philon is one of the best two-way guards in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Tahaad Pettiford
Rounding out this list is another sophomore, Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford. The electric six-foot-one guard played excellently as the sixth man to an Auburn team that made the Final Four last season. Pettiford knows how to utilize his speed and athleticism to be an impressive three-level scorer and playmaker. Getting into the lane and finishing at the rim is easy for Pettiford as he can expertly use his handle and shiftiness to break down defenses. He can be incredibly deadly as a shooter when he’s hot, both in the mid-range and from three.
While he is known for his scoring, Pettiford showed strong flashes of his passing as well. He is great at operating in the pick-and-roll, using his scoring as a way to open up the floor. Pettiford effectively finds his open teammates for great scoring opportunities. Like Philon, he will have a chance to be the main guard for his team. It will be interesting to see one of the top guards of the class and how much he has improved.
Honorable Mentions
Boogie Fland, Adrian Wooley, Donovan Dent, Braden Smith, Milos Uzan, Xaivian Lee, Anthony Robinson II
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