Ranking the Best Handles in 2017 NBA Draft Class

The 2017 NBA draft class will be loaded with point guards who dazzle off the dribble. The sharper the handle, the tougher a player is to contain in isolation and ball-screen situations. 

We took skill level, move variety and turnover rate into account. Our top ball-handler is both advanced and efficient.

Here we are ranking ball-handling in a vacuum, not each prospect's NBA potential. The rankings themselves are based on future projections of ball-handling ability, not solely stats from the previous season.

For example: Our No. 5 ball-handler may have been more effective this year, but No. 4's tools and athleticism suggest his game will translate to the pros more smoothly.

5. Monte Morris (Iowa State, PG, Senior)

Monte Morris compensates for average speed and athleticism with tight ball-handling skills and IQ.

In four years at Iowa State, he led the country in assist-to-turnover ratio twice (2017, 2015), finished second in 2014 and fifth in 2016. Morris is incredibly efficient off the dribble, where he effectively probes and wisely picks his spots to attack.

He isn't the flashiest, but he's crafty enough to get low and split screens, spin by or beat defenders with change of speed.

His handle also allows him to create separation as a mid-range scorer. He'll use the hesitation crossover into a pull-up and various through-the-legs dribbles to hypnotize before stepping back for a jumper.

4. De'Aaron Fox (Kentucky, PG, Freshman)

De'Aaron Fox plays the game at fast-forward speed yet stays under control (13.7 turnover percentage). 

He keeps the ball on a string in crowds, both during turbo bursts off transition and hesitation in the half court. In 36 games, he finished with 111 unassisted field goals at the rim, plus 212 free-throw attempts.

He uses his handle mostly to attack north and south with change of pace. He times his explosions and crossovers into hard drives or pull-up jumpers.

Fox loves the inside-out dribble to freeze switching bigs when turning the corner off a ball screen, and he utilizes the crab dribble in traffic to keep it low and out of reach. 

He projects as a scoring and playmaking threat in the pick-and-roll game, as well as in isolation, where he's tough to stay in front of. Even if his shooting never improves, Fox's ability to penetrate, trigger the collapse and put pressure on the rim will always hold value. 

3. Dennis Smith Jr. (North Carolina State, PG, Freshman)

Explosiveness separates Dennis Smith Jr., but ball skills and handles are the driving forces behind his production.

He has a tendency to over-dribble, but he's also flashed all the must-have moves for a projected lead guard, from crossovers and stutter steps to behind-the-back pull-backs and various hesitations.

Smith also has a strong off (left) hand, which he frequently uses to turn the corner off ball screens.

His ability to shake defenders and slash to the rack put him in position to tap into the jets around the basket and get to the free-throw line 6.3 times a game.

Smith's handles are as dangerous and advanced as anyone's—he'll just need to tone it down from time to time.

2. Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State, PG, Sophomore)

Defenses can't look forward to guarding Jawun Evans. Ultra-quick and shifty, he's a joystick, capable of shaking east and west with crossovers and inside-out dribbles or north and south off step-backs. 

Evans keeps his handle low to the ground, making the ball difficult to poke away. His moves are decisive and well-timed, and he does an excellent job of forcing his man to lean one way before sharply changing direction on the dime and losing him.

Evans sliced up defenses by splitting screens and freezing them with hesitation. His handle and ability to operate at different speeds are also behind his pick-and-roll production, which was unbeatable among power-conference players, according to Synergy Sports. 

1. Markelle Fultz (Washington, PG, Freshman)

A highly advanced handle fuels Markelle Fultz's shot creativity and playmaking, which led to 23.2 points and 5.9 assists per game.

He separates into makable jumpers or drives with ease. Fultz demonstrates complete control and command off the bounce (13.4 turnover percentage), and he's developed the footwork to optimize his ball skills by eluding defenders with slippery spins and nifty Eurosteps. 

Like any top ball-handler, Fultz is constantly changing speed and direction, making him unpredictable and difficult to contain, both in isolation and ball-screen situations.

He loves the hang dribble, a hesitation move that rocks the defender on his heels, giving Fultz the opportunity to abruptly pull up, blow by or cross over. It's another move he creates a ridiculous amount of room with.

Between Fultz's handle and quickness, as well as his 6'4" size, shot making and vision, there won't be a tougher defensive assignment in the draft.