Among the high highschool and worldwide males’s basketball recruits have been in attendance this previous weekend on the Below Armour Subsequent Elite 24, seeking to put collectively sturdy performances in entrance of a contingent of NBA scouts.
The three-day showcase started with a apply on Thursday and scrimmage on Friday, with the penultimate occasion being a televised recreation on Saturday, the place the 24 gamers in attendance break up into two groups and competed in opposition to one another in a decent contest.
General, there was a robust pool of expertise on the occasion, however it was a gaggle of guards that led the best way throughout Saturday’s recreation.
Listed here are 5 guards that stood out on the Below 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 Hearth through the recreation 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 method to hit a nasty stepback three-pointer after dribbling up courtroom, sensing the protection and discovering his spot.
Within the second half, Lewis’ recreation started to develop 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 method to energy by for a troublesome end on the rim along 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 a degree guard, even when his play fashion could match extra of a combo guard.
Nicely, on Saturday, Lewis discovered a method to get his teammates open, driving continuously in direction of the rim earlier than kicking the ball out, displaying one other dimension to his recreation.
Ranked the No. 31 participant within the Class of 2025 and the No. 1 recruit in the state of D.C., Lewis upped his inventory with a great efficiency this weekend.
Lewis took official visits to Virginia and Georgetown, and has an upcoming go to scheduled to North Carolina and Florida State, according to 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 taking pictures stroke through the first two days of the showcase, was in every single place on Saturday.
He displayed his high-end athleticism with a pair of monster dunks, whereas displaying off his shot-making expertise with some actually tough jumpers, which included a troublesome 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 mentioned after the sport Saturday. “I didn’t are available in considering 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 unhealthy. Simply be environment friendly, you already know, take photographs once I can.”
Rippey wasn’t as correct from distance, going one-of-four, however obtained one to go down off a catch-and-shoot alternative.
However, it was the passing that basically stood out, as Rippey led Staff Hearth with seven assists, discovering teammates in transition for scores.
“Particularly in an setting like this the place everyone’s making an attempt to attain, [I pride myself on] simply sharing the ball and making the proper play always,” Rippey mentioned. “I attempt to make the proper play always on the finish however simply having that form of mindset on the finish of the sport to have myself stand out as effectively. Although some folks might imagine I’m a scorer, passing can also be key and one thing I satisfaction myself on.”
Ripley has over 22 scholarship presents from faculties, according to 247Sports.
General, the rising junior showcased confidence in opposition to a number of the high gamers within the nation, proving himself to be in that higher echelon of recruits and displaying his progress as a participant.
“I really feel like I’ve change into extra of a frontrunner,” Rippey acknowledged concerning the previous season. “I’ve been extra assertive. Like my freshman 12 months, I used to be a bit of bit hesitant. I didn’t know my position, I didn’t know my skills. I wasn’t too assured.”
However, this 12 months I obtained quite a lot of confidence. I’ve been within the gymnasium rather a lot, put in quite a lot of completely different strikes, dwell photographs. So simply carrying that on with me on the courtroom 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, residing 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 troublesome fadeaway bucket on the baseline, displaying off his easy taking pictures movement.
Toure has a great really feel contained in the arc, as he’s capable of finding his spots on the courtroom, each nearer within the paint and close to the midrange space, elevating effectively to get his shot off on a constant foundation.
I can’t overlook concerning the game-winning shot, as Toure sidestepped with one dribble earlier than flattening the open three to ship Staff Hearth dwelling 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 recreation as effectively over the weekend. He has had presents fro Syracuse, Louisville and Oregon.
2026 five-star Dylan Mingo
One of many highest-rated recruits in attendance, five-star Dylan Mingo started to search out his groove on Saturday on the Subsequent Elite showcase.
Ending with 13 factors and three rebounds on 6-of-11 taking pictures, Mingo was particularly efficient driving to the ring, hitting a troublesome layup on the left facet along with his proper hand off the dribble.
Later, he had a troublesome contested floater that rimmed in for an additional 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 along 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 capable of get right into a rhythm when flattening back-to-back photographs through the recreation.
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 presents, 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 effectively, because the 6’5” guard scored 15 factors, three rebounds, and three assists on Saturday off 7-of-13 taking pictures.
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 ultimate 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, based on 247Sports.
His taking pictures mechanics weren’t the cleanest, as Grace did miss a number of open three-pointers through the recreation, however the potential was clearly there along with his general knack for scoring.
