Ranking Ricky Rubio and All 2011 NBA Rookie Point Guards

This rookie class isn't one of the better ones in recent memory, but it's loaded with point guards.

Cleveland's Kyrie Irving and Minnesota's Ricky Rubio highlight the class and clearly have great futures ahead of them, but there are some other guards with a decent future.

Here's a look at the top-10 rookie point guards in 2012.

10. Nolan Smith

Smith edges Cory Joseph, Shelvin Mack and others for the No. 10 spot, but is off to a disappointing beginning to his career.

It looked like he would get some decent minutes coming out of camp, but his playing time has been minimal and he has only averaged 2.7 points and less than one assist per game.

9. Josh Selby

Selby has supplanted fellow rookie Jeremy Pargo as the backup point guard in Memphis.  Either rookie, though, isn't expected to get a lot of minutes behind Mike Conley.

8. Reggie Jackson

Jackson has become the primary backup point guard for the Thunder after the season-ending injury to Eric Maynor.

He only gets limited minutes and has done a nice job defensively, but his offensive game has a ways to go.

7. Jimmer Fredette

Fredette is struggling through the Kings' first 14 games. He's not shooting very well and he doesn't do anything else well enough to warrant getting major minutes.

He hasn't scored more than six points in the past three games and saw his minutes drastically decreased in the Kings' last game against Minnesota.

6. Kemba Walker

Walker was a pick of many to win the Rookie of the Year Award coming into the season.

That's not going to happen, but Walker han't been terrible.

He's seen his scoring average up to 11.5 points per game and has contributed a little bit in other areas.

Walker could stand to shoot the ball much better though.

5. Norris Cole

Cole landed in a dream situation in Miami and is a solid pick-and-roll guard that can both run the offense and score the basketball.

He's slowed down a tad bit of late from his hot start to the season, but has still made a name for himself in the early going.

4. Iman Shumpert

Shumpert is probably playing out of position at the point for the Knicks, but he's given them a boost.

He's fast and brings energy to a team that desperately needs it..

Shumpert's been very good defensively and has scored in double figures in all but one game this season. When Baron Davis returns from his back injury, Shumpert is still going to be a big part of the Knicks rotation.

3. Brandon Knight

Knight has been more of a scorer than a facilitator so far, but has shown glimpses of being a future star and you can see why Detroit liked him.

He's doing a decent job of taking care of the ball and playing defense though.

2. Ricky Rubio

We can rank Rubio No. 1 as easily as No. 2 but he gets edged out slightly for the top overall spot.

He's a fantastic point guard with a bright future.

The outside shot is a concern but that can improve with time.

Rubio is an excellent floor general with great vision who distributes the ball to almost perfection whether he's in transition or in the half-court set.

1. Kyrie Irving

Irving has been great.

He's an outstanding floor general with great vision that can get to the rim with either hand and extend defenses with his jumper.

I could compliment his game all day, but the biggest thing is he's got a Cavaliers team, with a below-average roster, winning so far.

Right now Irving gets the nod for the top spot with a season that's seen him average 17.7 points and 5.2 assists per game.

Many people questioned whether or not Cleveland made a mistake by drafting him No. 1 overall. Through Cleveland's first 13 games, Irving has answered all of those questions.