This year's point guard class doesn't have nearly the talent of last year's group which included a franchise player in Chris Paul and three overall top 5 picks (including Deron Williams and Raymond Felton), however this year's group could see just as many (five) (Nate Robinson and Jarrett Jack were also first rounders last year) get into the first round. Here's a look at the top point guards available for this year's draft: Randy Foye 1.) Randy Foye 6-3 205 PG/SG Villanova Sr. -- Should be the first point guard selected. Some list him as a shooting guard, however he's a combo in the mold of a number of NBA PGs including Chauncey Billups. What makes Foye stand out above the rest is his package of size, speed, athleticism, toughness and go to ability. Foye has the fearlessness and one on one skills to take over late in ball games. His point guard abilities are underrated and his outside shot is a thing of beauty. 2.) Marcus Williams 6-2 200 PG UConn Jr. -- The top pure point guard in the draft. Williams showed during the tournament that he wanted to take the big shots in crunch time. UConn's bid for another National Championship fell short, but Williams improved his stock with his gutsy play. He lacks tremendous foot speed and shooting range, but he has the vision and natural point guard skills that so many of today's point guards lack.3.) Jordan Farmar 6-1 170 PG UCLA So. -- Farmar's NCAA tournament performance leading the Bruins to the National Championship game boosted his stock considerably. Farmar is seen by most as a likely mid to late first rounder. He has an excellent package of all around skills. Though he lacks great size and strength, his decision making and overall feel for the game puts him among the top handful of PG prospects for this year's draft. 4.) Kyle Lowry 6-0 185 PG Villanova So. -- Lowry is the scrappiest player in the college game. Not unlike Nate Robinson, his game is based on hustle and will power. Lowry though has a much better natural feel for running a team. His biggest drawback is his lack of a jump shot. He has incredible body strength and finishes well around the basket. But without a consistent outside shot, his stock is lower than it would likely be next year. Lowry will look to get a promise in the first round, or return to Villanova for another season. 5.) Rajon Rondo 6-2 171 PG Kentucky So. -- Rondo is all over the board with scouts, some calling him a late lottery pick, while others feel he isn't even a surefire first rounder. He's easily the most athletic point guard in this draft and has as much potential as anyone out there. The big concern is his outside shot which is so unorthodox and ugly that some wonder if it's beyond repair. Mustafa Shakur severely adjusted his jump shot after arriving at Arizona with a much bigger prep reputation, and has struggled with his confidence ever since. Rondo hit a number of game winners proving that he can hit shots when it matters, but the question remains, can he raise his shooting percentages, or will he always be a poor shooter? 6.) Quincy Douby 6-3 175 PG/SG Rutgers Jr. -- One of the top overall scorers in the draft. Douby lacks a great body and is more of a combo guard, but his sophomore season of playing mostly point guard helps him. As one of the most prolific shooters in the college game, Douby is not unlike Salim Stoudamire who was one of the top rookie performers in the NBA this year. 7.) Sergio Rodriguez 6-3 180 PG Spain 1986 -- The top European point guard prospect since Tony Parker, Sergio has a chance to be even better but would greatly benefit by waiting another year before remaining in the draft. He's not ready and struggled this year with consistency and maturity. Another season playing in Europe's highly competitive Spanish league should boost him into possible lottery status for next year.8.) Will Blalock 6-0 205 PG Iowa St. Jr. -- His teammate and friend Curtis Stinson had the better statistics and more celebrated career, however Blalock is the more sought after prospect due to his ability to play the point guard position. Blalock is a very intriguing point guard prospect who plays much bigger than his size due to his huge wing span. His speed and quickness make him an excellent up tempo point guard. 9.) Daniel Gibson 6-2 190 PG Texas So. -- Struggled with tendinitis and inconsistency in his sophomore year. He's one of the top outside shooting point guards available. He's also one of the top defenders, however his feel for the point guard position came into question, and when he was switched to the off guard position he struggled to develop and prove that he has the necessary point guard skills. He could end up being a major sleeper if he chooses to remain in the draft.10.) Dee Brown 6-0 175 PG Illinois Sr. -- Maybe the fastest player in college from baseline to baseline, Brown can really push the rock. Detractors feel he lacks size and the natural point guard abilities to have success on the next level. He shows a tremendous amount of heart and is a strong character guy, and has shown solid improvement in his PG skills and scoring ability. http://nbadraft.net/draftbuzz058.asp
I read this list to earlier today and dont agree w/ it as much as I did w/ nbadrafts shooting guard ranks. Here is my list1. Marcus Williams2. Randy Foye3. Jordan Farmar4. Rajon Rondo5. Kyle Lowry6. Quincy Douby7. Sergio Rodriguez8. Will Blalock9. Dee Brown10. Daniel Gibson
The parts i always have problems with on these rankings, and the reason i personally don't rank them myself, is because i do not know any of these foreign players. I can only go by what other people tell me of these foreign players, and the mixed tapes that sports center shows of the foreign players.I really think though, that Rajon Rondo is the third best point guard prospect in this draft in front of Farmar and Lowry. Besides that, i really don't have a whole lot to argue with on these rankings.Darius Washington who isn't even on the list of top 10 point guard prospects, and Daniel Gibson who is at the bottom, obviously should have gone back to college for another year or two. Washington did a decent job of running the attack at Memphis, but he still had alot he needed to learn. He also needed some time to develop his jumper a bit more. With Gibson, like was said already, the Longhorns didn't do overly well when he was running the show as the main point guard. They was not playing their best basketball. They switched him over to the two guard, but he doesn't move without the ball enough or try to get open without the ball for anyone to see how well his shot was. I also don't know how this writer got to watch and say that Gibson is a "top defender," because every time i watched Texas ran a 2-3 zone. That makes it hard to show how good of a defender you are, because your covering an area and not really one player.
I think Sergio should be higher up on the list. He has impressed alot during his workouts, and drawn many comparisons to Tony Parker. I think one of the biggest wild cards in this draft is Daniel Gibson. He's got all the potential to be a good player, it's just a matter if he can put it all together or not.
My rankings: 1. Marcus Williams He has a nice feel for the game, easily the best playmaker in the draft, can have quick feet when he wants to, and knows how to run/set up an offense. He can play a slowed down pace or run a break, and he always delivers the pass right on the dime. He also has NBA 3-point range and can knock down some outside shots. 2. Randy Foye I do not think he will be as good as Chauncey, but his career will be similar in the sense that he will always been solid with his scoring and intangibles, but won't grasp the NBA true point guard roll until he is in the league for a couple years. I think in time he is going to be a very good player, but for a team that wants a PG to run an offense, he isn't on the same playmaking level as Marcus Williams, although he has his flashes. 3. Jordan Farmar He is a big PG, one that can run a team or score the basketball. He has a very nice feel for running and offense and is an underrated shooter. His defense is also worth talking about. He shuffles his feet to the speed of his man and can get into passing lanes. He also has done good in workouts, and GREAT in the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp. He is going to be a very solid player for years to come. 4. Rajon Rondo He is a true project, but a guy that in time has the potential to be a special player. He does so many things. He is very quick and can get into the lane using his quickness, he is an exceptional rebounder for a 6'2'' man, a good playmaker in transition, and a relatively good defender with quick hands. But his game is going to take time to translate into the NBA style of play. He does not have a good jumper and he is a world class stinker at the line. But again, give him 3-4 years and he could suprise. 5. Kyle Lowry I agree with the original poster in saying he is the scrappiest player in the draft. He is a true hustler who is always on the floor and giving his all to do whatever it takes for his team to win. He runs and has unbelivable stamina, and he is your man with the ball on a break. But, like Rondo, needs to work on his jump shot, although he can go in streaks where he can hit some. He is going to be a solid pick in the mid-late 1st round and has a chance to make an ok backup as a rookie. 6. Sergio Rodriguez I like this kid. Not because of his flash, but his ball control and court vision is impressive to me. He is very quick and has an explosive 1st step that flashes right before his defenders eyes. He has a decent jumper and likes to pull up off the run like Jason Williams. He not only throws the nice looking no-look passes, but can also make a nice simple bounce pass to set his man up for a bucket. He has been impressive in workouts as well. What I question is his defense and size. He is listed as 6'2''-6'3'', but he is very skinny. He needs to hit the weight room and learn defensive transitions. 7. Quincy Douby Can light up the scoreboard and has an excellent outside shot. He runs hard and has quick hands to bother people when he is on defense. But he is a very undersized SG. He will have a tough time if he is transitioned into a PG on the NBA level. He is a short SG that could have a very hard time getting off shots over bigger guards. 8. Will Blalock I love this kid. Not only is he a Boston native :happy0144: but he is a very good on-ball tenacious defender and leaves his entire heart on the court. He isn't an exceptional/flashy passer like Williams or Rodriguez, but he makes the perfect basic pass that sets up his teammate for a good shot. He is fast and he can blow by a lot of people to get to the bucket. The pride and love for the game in this kid impresses me. He will be a great 2nd round pick, and I could see him going to Atlanta at 33, Toronto at 35, or Minnesota at 36-37. If he slips past there he is a steal. 9. Daniel Gibson He has a chance to be a good player, but I don't see him ever being a true PG. I agree completely with the Derek Fisher comparisons. He in a PG's body and can make a few plays in the right situations, but is a lights out shooter who has a decent amount of lateral quickness. He is a better ballhandler than Fisher, but again, isn't the stereotypical PG. He will develope into a good roll player, I promise you that. 10. Dee Brown A very very very poor man's Allen Iverson. He is small, extremely quick, and has a lot of heart. He can shoot and score the ball and also can make some impressive plays setting up his teammates. His defense is a disadvantage though, not because he is a bad defender, but because of his 5'10'' body. He is like Iverson in the sense that he can use his quickness for a steal, but steals don't make you a good defender. He will get abused by bigger guards, but I think he has a chance to be a decent backup in the future. There's my 2 cents, what do you think?
