NBA Draft 2012: Top 7 Point Guard Prospects

The 2012 NBA draft class is going to be shallow at the point guard position, but when it comes to evaluating the league’s newest floor generals this summer, try to look at quality over quantity.

There may be only a handful of floor generals taken this summer, but with prospects littered all over the board, there should be someone available for any team looking to add depth to their point guard spot this offseason.

Tu Holloway

Listed at just 5’11”, 180 pounds, Tu Holloway will come into the Association undersized compared to most of the game’s elite players at the point guard position.

Despite his size, the 22-year-old player from Xavier was able to average 17.5 points as a senior last year while adding on nearly five assists per game.

Holloway has been known to dribble too much out on the perimeter, but as a player who can take over at seemingly any point in a game, it’s a flaw you can afford to work on early in his NBA career.

Tyshawn Taylor

At 6’3”, 185 pounds, Tyshawn Taylor is a great athlete at the point guard position.

Quick, fast and an incredible leaper, the 22-year-old guard out of Kansas can impact the game on both ends of the floor with his athleticism.

His shot needs improvement, and turnovers were a problem at times last season; but having averaged 16.6 points and 4.8 assists as a senior, Taylor should help bring talent to any team looking to add depth to the point guard position next year.

Marquis Teague

Marquis Teague, the 6’2” point guard from Kentucky, should continue using his quick first step as his best resource at the NBA level.

His quickness helps creates shots for both himself and his teammates, but it’s also been a problem, as he’s been known for his out-of-control play at times throughout his college career.

Teague needs to work on his shot, but if he can continue to use his incredible speed and finishing ability at the rim, he’s going to be a problem for defenders night in and night out next season.

Scott Machado

Out of Iona College, Scott Machado has proven that he has talent despite spending the past four years with a relatively unknown basketball program.

The 6’2” point guard averaged a nation-leading 9.9 assists per game last season, and with his career-high 40-percent shooting from the three-point line, he also averaged 13.6 points per game as a senior.

Machado is excellent at getting out in transition, and while he won’t be a big-time scorer at the next level, he should be able to find his teammates well in the fast break. 

Tony Wroten Jr.

At 6’5”, Tony Wroten Jr. could be considered a combo guard if it weren’t for his horrible shooting percentages at the University of Washington.

Shooting just 16 percent from the three-point line last season, the 19-year-old guard needs to use his incredible court vision to prove how great of a distributor he can be.

Although he lacks the athleticism of today’s NBA point guard, he is a very good finisher at the basket and can draw in defenders and find his open teammates out on the perimeter.

Kendall Marshall

North Carolina’s Kendall Marshall is the definition of a pure facilitator.

A floor general if there ever was one, Marshall averaged 9.7 assists per game last season and will bring an extremely high basketball IQ with him to the next level.

His 8.1 point-per-game average doesn’t scream NBA superstar, but his ability to see the floor and get his teammates involved will propel him to a solid level throughout his professional career.

Damian Lillard

The NBA has seemingly transitioned into a little man’s game, and with that transition has come the transformation of the athletic, score-first point guard.

Damian Lillard fits the mold of the new NBA point guard, as he can shoot, score and attack the basket while creating his own shot on a regular basis.

The nation’s second-leading scorer last season, Lillard averaged 24.5 points per game and trailed only Kentucky’s Anthony Davis for the highest PER in all of college basketball.

If Lillard is able to continue creating his own shot at the next level, he could prove to be a great all-around player at the point guard position throughout his professional career.