local guard with defensive chops and low-mileage upside
In the 2025-26 season, Cole Pepe is a freshman guard at Grand Canyon whose value shows up more in fit and feel than box-score noise: he’s a 6-foot-4, 190-pound Scottsdale product who was named 5A East Sky All-Region Defensive Player of the Year as a senior and posted a 2.33-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio at Notre Dame Prep.[2][6] His early college role has been tiny, with limited minutes and modest scoring output, but that’s exactly why the appeal is projection—he brings size, defensive recognition, and a reputation for making smart, low-mistake plays.[1][4] If your team wants an energy guard who competes, defends, and won’t hijack possessions, Pepe is a sneaky-fit candidate.[1][2][13]
