With less than 30 days until the college basketball season tips off, we continue our position previews. This year’s guard class is as deep and skillful as any in recent memory. There are score-first creators, two-way playmakers, and every archetype in between. With so much talent at this position, narrowing it down to just 15 players was no easy task. Here are the best guards in college basketball entering the 2025–26 season.
1. Braden Smith | Purdue | Senior
Arguably the best player in the nation, Smith is a true floor general. His playmaking is unmatched, using angles and spacing to set up easy buckets for teammates. He is also a knockdown shooter who brings consistent scoring impact.
2. PJ Haggerty | Kansas State | Junior
After averaging 21.7 points per game last year at Memphis, Haggerty arrives at Kansas State as one of the nation’s premier scorers. When he gets rolling, defenders are helpless against his tough finishes, deep threes, and deadly midrange game.
3. Bennett Stirtz | Iowa | Senior
Stirtz’s journey to Iowa has been unorthodox, much like his playing style. Despite lacking elite burst, his timing, pace, and poise allow him to excel as both a scorer and a passer.
4. Darryn Peterson | Kansas | Freshman
At 6-foot-5 and 206 pounds, Peterson already looks like a pro-level prospect. He has a smooth midrange jumper, finishes at the rim with both finesse and power, and is a reliable three-point shooter. If he shows advanced playmaking ability, he will be a top-three NBA draft pick.
5. Donovan Dent | UCLA | Senior
Blazing fast with elite vision, Dent thrives in transition where he can pressure the rim and kick out to shooters. A one-man fast break, he led the nation in transition points last season and has the tools to repeat that feat.
6. Otega Oweh | Kentucky | Senior
A true wing-guard hybrid, Oweh is a relentless slasher who uses his strength to finish inside. His size also makes him one of the most versatile defenders in the country.
7. Tahaad Pettiford | Auburn | Sophomore
Pettiford is a premier pull-up shooter who can make even the toughest looks look easy. He attempted five threes per game last season despite limited minutes, and as a starter he could easily surpass 100 made threes this year.
8. Milos Uzan | Houston | Senior
A high-energy defender who embraces every challenge, Uzan epitomizes the two-way playmaker. His unselfish, pass-first approach benefits his teammates, though his self-creation must improve for Houston to reach its ceiling.
9. Labaron Philon | Alabama | Sophomore
The understudy to Mark Sears last season, Philon was inconsistent but showcased high-level shot creation. In Nate Oats’ system, he will have every opportunity to become a go-to scoring option while refining his playmaking.
10. Boogie Fland | Florida | Sophomore
A twitchy guard with elite touch around the rim, Fland is tailor-made for a screen-heavy offense. His passing and on-ball defense are strong, but he must improve his three-point shooting to reach his potential.
11. Josh Hubbard | Mississippi State | Junior
At just 5-foot-11, Hubbard makes up for his size with fearless scoring ability and undeniable swagger. He combines physical drives with reliable perimeter shooting, making him nearly unguardable at times.
12. Mikel Brown Jr. | Louisville | Freshman
Poised and confident, Brown is a special shooter who can create off the dribble and drain threes from deep. If he improves his driving ability, he is a guaranteed lottery pick.
13. Ja’Kobi Gillespie | Tennessee | Senior
Now on his second team in as many years, Gillespie has established himself as one of the nation’s most creative shotmakers. He is highly efficient and compensates for his lack of athleticism with defensive IQ and a relentless motor.
14. Ryan Conwell | Louisville | Junior
Conwell is one of the purest shooters in college basketball, having shot over 40 percent from three in back-to-back seasons. His shooting stretches defenses, and he also finishes well off two feet when attacking closeouts.
15. Solo Ball | UConn | Junior
Ray Allen, Jordan Hawkins, and Ben Gordon are the only Huskies to ever make 100 threes in a season. Ball is poised to join that group. A lefty with a smooth stroke, he thrives on catch-and-shoot opportunities and will demand constant attention from opposing defenses.
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