Three 2026 Impactful Guards D1 Programs Should Be Tracking Closely
The late recruiting window is where staffs can steal real value, especially with guards who can run a team, stretch the floor, and compete every possession. Here are three unsigned seniors who check those boxes in different ways and project as immediate-use pieces for Division I rotations.
Deuce Newt: Loyola (CA) 6’0 Guard
What he is: A scoring lead guard who can absolutely tilt a game when he’s seeing the rim.
Newt is listed at 6’0”, 160 and plays guard for Loyola. On film and in recent results, his calling card is clear: shot-making and scoring bursts. Loyola publicly highlighted his career-high 50-point night in a 104–70 win over Alemany. That type of eruption isn’t just “hot shooting” it speaks to a guard who can create advantages, sustain confidence, and punish coverage mistakes for four quarters.
Newt matches the eye test: he is one of SoCal’s best three-point shooters, and he’s more than just a bomber. When defenders sell out to chase him off the line, he’s comfortable getting into the lane for pull-ups and floaters. In Loyola’s Classic at Damien run, his impact was immediate (including a 24-point performance right as he became eligible).
How he can help a D1 program
Spacing + gravity right away: Newt forces defenses to “stay hugged,” which opens the floor for your wings/bigs.
Secondary (or primary) ball-screen scorer: His blend of deep threat + in-between game fits modern offenses that live in high ball screens and spread pick-and-roll.
Instant offense off the bench: Even if he’s not your Day 1 starter, he can swing momentum with a 7–0 run by himself—something every staff needs in league play.
Best D1 fits: up-tempo spacing teams, four-out ball-screen offenses, or any roster needing a guard who can win a shot clock without needing a play drawn up.
Shameek Casillas: DNA Prep Academy (CA) 6’2 Guard (Class of 2026)
What he is: A physical scoring guard with proven production against national schedules and real recruiting traction that’s worth revisiting.
Casillas is widely listed around 6’1–6’2. He arrived at DNA Prep after playing at Our Saviour Lutheran (NY) a pipeline program with legit talent and daily competitiveness and has continued that résumé-building on the West Coast.
In Louisville (Grind Session setting), Casillas posted back-to-back 20+ point performances, including a highlighted line of 22 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists in a statement win. That matters because those events are loaded with athletes and length, if you can consistently create and finish there, the skill translates up levels.
Recruiting-wise, he’s had documented D1 interest: Robert Morris and Northern Illinois have both been reported as offer schools.
How he can help a D1 program
Rim pressure + scoring mentality: Casillas’ repeated 20+ outputs in showcase environments point to a guard who expects to score and can do it against stronger bodies.
Two-guard flexibility: If your roster already has a pure point, Casillas can play alongside as a creator/finisher; if you need ball-handling, he can shoulder creation possessions.
Competitive background: The Our Saviour Lutheran → national prep circuit path tends to produce guards who aren’t surprised by pace, physicality, or scouting attention.
Best D1 fits: rosters needing a tough bucket-getter in the backcourt, mid-major to high-major depth piece who can produce in minutes and grow into a bigger role.
Nathan “Nate” Kirk: DME Academy (FL) 6’0–6’1 Point Guard (Class of 2026)
What he is: A steady point guard who fills the box score and can organize an offense.
Kirk is listed as a point guard at 6’1”, 165. Across his varsity sample there, he’s posted 14.5 points, 2.6 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game (59 games).
More recently, Kirk himself shared a season snapshot describing him as an unsigned senior PG, through 12 games averaging 12.5 PPG, 6.2 APG, 5.4 RPG while shooting 39% from three. Even allowing for the difference between self-reported splits and full-season totals, the profile is exactly what staffs look for late: true point guard assists + enough shooting to keep defenses honest.
How he can help a D1 program
Table-setter with real playmaking: 6+ assists over a stretch is not an accident, it reflects decision-making, timing, and comfort making reads.
Defensive activity: Nearly 2 steals per game across a larger sample suggests disruptive instincts and consistent effort.
Low-maintenance fit: Guards like this plug into systems quickly, run second unit, calm possessions, feed scorers, and keep turnovers down.
Best D1 fits: teams needing a true organizer, especially programs graduating a point guard or trying to stabilize a young backcourt.
Written by Alex Karamanos | January 23, 2026