This past weekend, the Under Armour Next Elite 24 featured some of the best boys basketball players from high school and overseas, looking to put on a strong performance in front of a group of NBA scouts.
The three-day showcase kicked off with practice on Thursday and a scrimmage on Friday, culminating in the penultimate event, a televised match on Saturday, in which the 24 players who participated were split into two teams for a highly competitive match.
Overall, the event featured a talented group of athletes, but it was the guards who led the way in Saturday’s game.
Here are five guards who stood out at the Under Armour Next Elite 24 Men’s Basketball Showcase.
2025 4 Star Acadian Lewis
Four-star point guard Akaden Lewis, one of the standouts from Friday’s scrimmage, played for Team Fire in Saturday’s game and finished with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists on 6-of-13 field goals.
Lewis came into Saturday’s game as one of the ball-dominant guards the team relied on, and he was an all-around player who found ways to score and get his teammates involved.
Early in the first half, the 6-foot-2 guard dribbled down the court, sensed the defense, found his spot and found a way to make a nasty step-back 3-point shot.
In the second half, Lewis’ play began to spread out, as the guard hit five-star Dylan Mingo on a drive and appeared to be fouled twice during his possession but wasn’t called. Still, he found a way to power through for a difficult finish at the rim with his left hand.
Lewis drilled another highlight-point 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, dribbling and shooting into the face of 6-foot-8 wing Karim Lopez with the game decided late in the quarter.
His assists were just as impressive as his points. Earlier this week, the guard SB Nation He seems to envision himself as a point guard, even though his playing style may be better suited to a combo guard.
Well, on Saturday, Lewis showed a different side to his game, finding ways to get teammates open and continually driving to the rim before kicking the ball away.
Lewis, ranked as the No. 31 recruit in the 2025 class and the No. 1 recruit in the state of Washington, only increased his reputation with a strong performance this weekend.
Lewis has taken official visits to Virginia and Georgetown and has upcoming visits planned for North Carolina and Florida. According to On3:.
2026 4 star Deron Rippy
Another guard who has really made an impact is four-star Deron Rippey, who is ranked as a top-15 recruit in the 2026 class and the No. 1 player in the state of New Jersey this season.
Lippy, who showed off a smooth shooting stroke over the first two days of the showcase, was in top form again Saturday.
He displayed his high-end athleticism with a pair of monster dunks and also showed off his shot-making skills with some really tough jump shots, including a long two-shot with a tough fake spin fadeaway over the defender’s head after a great one-on-one dribble move.
“Being in my hometown, I knew I had to be aggressive from the get-go,” the four-star recruit said after Saturday’s game. “I didn’t come into the game thinking I was going to score 30 points, but I just came into the game with the mindset that whenever I’m open, I’m going to take the shot, I’m going to play aggressive, I’m not going to push it to make myself look bad, I’m just going to be efficient and take the shot when I can.”
Rippey wasn’t as accurate from long range, making just 1 of 4 attempts, but he did make one on a catch-and-shoot opportunity.
But it was the passing that really stood out, as Rippey led the Fire with seven assists and found teammates in transition for scores.
“Especially in an environment like this where everyone is trying to score. [I pride myself on] “Just share the ball and make the right play all the time,” Lippy said. “I always try to make the right play, but at the end of the game, I’m going to go in with that mindset to stand out. Some people might think of me as a scorer, but passing is important and I take pride in passing.”
Ripley has received scholarship offers from more than 22 schools. According to 247Sports:.
Overall, the freshman showed confidence against some of the best players in the country, proving he belongs in the top tier of freshmen and demonstrating his growth as a player.
“I feel like I’ve grown as a leader,” Rippey admitted about last season. “I’ve become more aggressive. Like my freshman year, I was a little hesitant. I didn’t know my role, I didn’t know what I was capable of. I didn’t have a lot of confidence.”
But this year I’ve become more confident. I’ve been going to the gym a lot, working on different movements and practical shots, so to put that into practice on the court every time is important for me and for my development.”
2026 4 star Abdou Toure
In-form Abdou Toure was one of the top performers in Saturday’s showcase, hitting 7 of 9 field goals and excelling inside the arc to finish with 16 points and four rebounds.
Toure’s athleticism was on full display as the 6-foot-6, 185-pound wing got to the rim multiple times before throwing down a monster poster dunk over the defender’s head.
Additionally, the four-star player made several jump shots, including a difficult fadeaway shot along the baseline, showcasing his smooth shooting motion.
Toure has a great feel inside the arc and can find his spot on the court near the paint or the mid-range area, allowing him to jump well and shoot with consistency.
Who can forget the game-winning shot when Toure side-stepped off the dribble and smashed in a free three-pointer to eliminate Team Fire?
Regarded as the top player in his class in the state of Connecticut, Toure’s athleticism will undoubtedly garner national recognition, but his level of play should also improve over the weekend. He holds offers from Syracuse, Louisville and Oregon.
2026 5 Star Dylan Mingo
Five-star Dylan Mingo, one of the most highly-rated recruits in attendance, began to hit his stride at Saturday’s Next Elite Showcase.
Mingo finished with 13 points and three rebounds on 6-of-11 shooting, and showed particular ability to drive to the basket, including a difficult layup shot off the dribble with his right hand to the left wing.
He later scored another point after hitting the rim in a hard-fought contest, but Mingo really began to settle in when he drilled two consecutive 3-pointers off the dribble.
Mingo, ranked as a top 10 freshman in the class of 2026 and the No. 1 prospect in the state of New York, stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 170 pounds and has room to grow physically.
He has suddenness and explosiveness off the dribble and can attack downhill at high speed, which is what he excels at.
Mingo’s shooting is still developing and was inconsistent throughout all three days, but he was able to get into a rhythm by making consecutive shots throughout the game.
Mingo got off to slow starts at times on Thursday and Friday, but he found the ring and bounced back, and he did just that again on Saturday with another solid performance.
Mingo has offers from several schools, including St. John’s, Virginia Tech and Dayton.
2025 4 Star King Grace
Four-star guard King Grace of Texas also had a memorable day. The 6-foot-5 guard finished with 15 points, three rebounds and three assists on 7-of-13 shooting on Saturday.
Grace was especially effective inside the arc, throwing down several highly athletic dunks and making 6 of 8 field goals.
Grace stayed aggressive throughout the game, hitting three 2-point shots in the final frame to finish with six points.
Standing at 6-foot-5, Grace has the size and length for the guard position and is a promising athlete and one of the top 50 players in the country, according to 247Sports.
Grace’s shooting mechanics weren’t the best — she missed a few open 3-pointers during the game — but overall she was clearly a better scorer.
