College Basketball Recruiting: Top Point Guards to Watch in the Class of 2017

With the college basketball season rapidly approaching, the current crop of freshmen point guards is generating a lot of buzz. Washington guard Markelle Fultz and N.C. State guard Dennis Smith currently sit at No. 1 and No. 2 in the latest Draft Express 2017 NBA mock draft, while Kentucky guard De'Aaron Fox and UCLA guard Lonzo Ball are also in the top 15.

Since that group likely won't spend more than a year in school, it's time to examine the group of guards coming in after. While only 5-star guards Trevon Duval and Collin Sexton are the only two leading the position in the top 18 of the 247Sports composite, there are a lot of quality guards coming in right behind them. The Class of 2017 has 10 point guards among the top 33 prospects in the country, which means the position should have plenty of quality depth entering next season.

The Class of 2017 might not have the NBA one-and-done star power of the class before it, but the group does have plenty of guys who could stick around three or four years and have a greater impact on college basketball.

10. Makai Ashton-Langford

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 180 pounds

A UConn commit who is one of the best change-of-pace guards in the Class of 2017, Makai Ashton-Langford is capable of scoring or distributing and does a nice job of getting in the paint even if he's not an elite athlete.

A winning player who helped his grassroots team, Mass Rivals, go undefeated during the month of July, Ashton-Langford is the type of point guard who makes others around him better, and he's also flexible enough to share the ball with another guard if the situation calls for it. 

With UConn head coach Kevin Ollie doing so well with talented point guards in the past, Ashton-Langford should be the next in a long line of talented floor generals who play for the Huskies.

9. Matt Coleman

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 170 pounds

A lefty point guard who has already played in a lot of big games during his high school career, Matt Coleman mans the point for Oak Hill Academy and also played for the gold-medal winning USA Basketball U18 team at FIBA Americas this summer. 

A fast and shifty guard who can get in the paint and create for others, Coleman is starting to figure out the solid balance of when to find his teammates and when to score himself. In transition, Coleman has become a near-lethal player, capable of carving up an opposing defense with his passing ability and decision-making.

If Coleman can improve his inconsistent perimeter jumper, then he's going to be a tough cover at the next level because he's effective at running an offense or breaking down defenses off the dribble.

8. Paul Scruggs

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 200 pounds

With good size and strength for the position, Paul Scruggs is the type of lead guard who bulls smaller guards to the basket while picking up a lot of foul calls. Since Scruggs can play on or off the ball and also defend multiple positions thanks to his size, he's also a versatile player who can fit into a few different spots in a lineup.

A willing defender who takes pride in shutting down his opponent, Scruggs can help slow down an opposing offense, and he can create turnovers in the passing lanes for easy scoring opportunities.

Three-point shooting is something that Scruggs will have to address if he wants to be considered a 5-star prospect, but with some of his tools and willingness to play hard, there is a lot to like about Scruggs as a two-way college point guard.

7. Jaylen Hands

Roberto Serra/Iguana Press/Getty Images

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 150 pounds

A UCLA commit, Jaylen Hands is one of the most athletic lead guards in the class, as he's able to use his speed, quickness and explosiveness near the basket to make plays that many other players aren't capable of doing. More of a scoring guard than true point at this juncture, Hands is working on becoming a better distributor, as he made some nice plays as a passer this summer.

Creative with the ball in his possession, Hands is the type of exciting playmaker that could be asked to step in and help replace Lonzo Ball if he decides to enter the NBA draft after his freshman season. With head coach Steve Alford's desire to play an uptempo system, Hands should fit in nicely with the Bruins at the college level, as he could earn immediate minutes.

6. Nick Weatherspoon

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 173 pounds

Coach Ben Howland has another high-level lead guard to work with as Nick Weatherspoon joins his older brother Quinndary at Mississippi State in another season. Nick is an explosive scorer who was one of the best in the country at making plays with the ball in his hands during the summer.

A capable pull-up jump shooter who is also able to play above the rim, Weatherspoon is a high-level athlete who plays in constant attack mode and is able to score a lot of points in transition.

Sometimes Weatherspoon can play a bit recklessly and start to pile up turnovers and bad shots, but he's a rare offensive talent who should form quite a good dynamic duo with his older brother on the Bulldogs. 

5. Jalek Felton

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 175 pounds

The nephew of NBA veteran point guard Raymond Felton, Jalek Felton is a talented guard who can orchestrate a pick-and-roll or score from the perimeter. Also heading to North Carolina like his uncle, Jalek is a slick passer who has a penchant for finding teammates through tight windows of space.

Also an improved jump shooter capable of scoring off the dribble, Felton can carry the scoring burden or run an offense—depending on what is asked of him. Defensively, Felton takes pride in defending multiple spots on the floor, and his size and athleticism make him a threat in the passing lanes.

Consistency might be the one thing holding Felton back from 5-star status, as there are times he will take his foot off the gas and not play with a motor as high as it should be. 

4. Quade Green

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 172 pounds

Already an established top-100 player entering the spring, Quade Green became a 5-star prospect after averaging over 10 assists per game in the Nike EYBL, which led the league by a ridiculous 3.4 per game over second place.

Also a menace as an on-the-ball defender, Green is reliable with the ball in his hands, as he's a sound decision-maker who gives his teammates great looks. Since Green can also knock down perimeter jumpers, he has to be defended closely at all times because he's a major threat on offense. 

Not an elite athlete, Green sometimes has issues playing against bigger guards, but he's elevated his national status significantly since last season.

3. Trae Young

Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 170 pounds

An elite floor spacer with beyond NBA range, Trae Young is a lethal pull-up shooter who can score from all over the floor at a moment's notice. With that ability to drop in three-pointers from 27 feet, defenders have to always check Young from the moment he passes that line; that opens up driving lanes for him to create other scoring opportunities.

But Young isn't only a scorer. Coming in second in the Nike EYBL in assists per game this spring, Young is happy to find teammates for scoring plays. That ability was on full display this July when Young helped MoKan Elite win the title at the Nike Peach Jam. 

Young is becoming a stronger defender who can guard bigger and more athletic point guards, which is helping him move even further up the rankings, but he's already firmly a 5-star prospect.

2. Collin Sexton

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 175 pounds

Blowing up on the national scene this spring and summer was Collin Sexton, as he led the Nike EYBL in scoring by nearly nine points per game. Getting to the free-throw line and making 181 of them in only 16 games, Sexton draws a ton of fouls by changing paces, getting into the paint and drawing contact.

Also a very intense competitor, Sexton was named MVP of the FIBA U17 World Championships this summer while helping USA Basketball to a gold medal in the event—even though he was coming off the bench. 

Wired to score, Sexton might have the highest motor of any guard in the class, as he's a relentless competitor who is driven to win.

1. Trevon Duval

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 175 pounds

The class of this 2017 group of lead guards is Trevon Duval, as he has the type of size and athleticism that could make him a future lottery pick after a year of school.

An elite ball-handler who can throw pinpoint passes and also get to the rim in a flash, Duval is tough to stop at the rim because he's a contortionist with elite body control; he can avoid contact for ridiculous finishes. 

Helping lead his grassroots team, WE R1, to the championship in the UAA Finals this summer, Duval is the type of point guard you want to build a team around, and he could help nearly any college program potentially make a significant run.

Recruiting ratings via 247Sports.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and information were obtained firsthand.