John Wall: Freshman Crashes Party of Nation's Top Point Guards

They're often the players that our eyes drift to the most. They determine the pace of the game, the distribution of the ball, and the angles of passes. They are the glue that holds teams together. Without a solid point guard, teams can kiss their hopes of a National Championship goodbye.

It appears to be no different this year, when the nation's top point guards come from some of the strongest teams in the country. Most are proven, battle-tested leaders, but some young up-starts are trying to pry away control.

1. Sherron Collins, Kansas

The 5'11" senior leads a Kansas team that many people are betting on to take down the nets this year. Coming off a season in which he averaged 18.9 points and five assists, he is the driving force behind the Jayhawk offense. But he's also a stellar defensive player, picking 1.1 steals a game and helping lock down opposing point guards.

2. Kalin Lucas, Michigan State

The reigning Big Ten Player of the Year is all set to take Michigan State back to the promised land. Lucas' numbers were strong last year at 14.7 points and 4.6 assists per game. But what makes him most important is how cold the blood runs through his veins on the road, where Michigan State was 8-1 last year. The kid just steps up in big games.

3. John Wall, Kentucky

The young buck pokes his head into the argument. He's being talked about by some as the best player to ever play at Kentucky, and he hasn't even stepped on the court yet. The No. 1 ranked point guard in this year's recruiting class, and ESPN's fifth overall recruit, could very well be the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft.

4. Devan Downey, South Carolina

Another PG whose first instinct is probably to score rather than to pass. Downey is lightening quick and a tremendous instinctual defender. He averaged 19.8 points and 4.5 assists last year to go along with 2.9 steals and 2.8 rebounds. He just does a bit of everything.

5. Greivis Vasquez, Maryland

Another talented senior who does a little bit of everything. Maryland always seems to somehow find itself in the mix when it counts, and Vasquez will be the guy leading the Terps again. Last year he compiled another strong season, averaging 17.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and five assists.

6. Scottie Reynolds, Villanova

He may be more of a natural scorer than distributor, but he is unquestionably a top talent. The senior averaged 15.2 points and 3.4 assists, to go along with 1.6 steals, in leading Villanova deep into the tournament last season.

7. Isaiah Thomas, Washington

The reigning Pac-10 Freshman of the Year is set to take a big step forward this season. After averaging 15.5 points and 2.6 assists last year, Thomas has only gotten more comfortable in the offense and will improve on his ability to set the pace for his teammates.

8. Kemba Walker, Connecticut

Connecticut always seems to have a dynamic player running the show, and this year it's Walker. He was an exciting player to watch as a freshman, averaging 8.9 points and 2.9 assists playing behind AJ Price, and will only get better now that he is the man at the point.

9. Talor Battle, Penn State

An under-the-radar player on a team that was surprisingly strong last year. Battle was one of the leading forces of Penn State's resurgent season, averaging 16.7 points and five assists. Penn State won't catch as many people off guard this year, but that won't make Battle easier to stop.

10. Jerome Randle, California

At 5'10" Randle is one of the smaller PGs on the list, but he might be the most explosive. He was second in the Pac-10 in scoring last year at 18.3 points a game. He also added five assists per game and shot 46 percent from behind the arc.