NBA Draft 2011: Kyrie Irving and the Top 15 Point Guard Prospects
The 2011 NBA Draft is not a particularly deep year at the point guard position. While there are some nice prospects at the top of the list, the rest are relatively unproven. There are a number of freshman and young underclassmen who have potential, but it will be a couple of seasons before they are ready to seriously contribute for a team.
It’s also worth noting that the line between true point guard and combo guard is blurred substantially more this year than in the past. Some are more shooting guard type NBA players, but are largely being evaluated as point guards because of their size and skill projections at the next level. While some may not be true point guards, they will garner more looks from the league because the talent pool is so shallow for NCAA point guards right now.
That said, SwishScout.com presents The Top 15 Point Guard Prospects of the 2011 NBA Draft.
15 Kalin Lucas
1 of 15
6’1”, 195 lb. Senior
After a great sophomore season that included a trip to the NCAA final, Lucas’ stock has taken a free fall over the past couple of years. Lucas possesses good quickness and end-to-end speed, but is undersized and doesn’t have the NBA skill set nor upside that his peers do.
14 Shelvin Mack
2 of 15
Shelvin Mack (Butler)
6’3”, 215 lb. Junior
After an outstanding run to the NCAA final last year, scouts took notice of Mack’s shooting and potential. While more of a combo guard than true point prospect, Shelvin could intrigue some teams because of his offensive skills in the second round.
13 Maalik Wayns
3 of 15
Maalik Wayns (Villanova)
6’2”, 185 lb. Sophomore
Despite the recent struggles of Villanova, Wayns is quietly having a nice season in the Big East this year. He’s averaging five assists per game and showing good scoring ability, but has struggled shooting the ball from the perimeter.
12 Ray McCallum
4 of 15
Ray McCallum (Detroit)
6’1”, 185 lb. Freshman
The former McDonald’s All-American has been uneven this season in the Horizon League, struggling to settle in as a predominantly scoring point. While only a freshman, McCallum has an NBA skill set and potential but will require some time to develop.
11 Cory Joseph
5 of 15
6’3”, 185 lb. Freshman
While more of a natural scoring guard, Joseph has a lot of potential to play the point and has the shooting stroke to excel from the perimeter (43.4 3-pt. percentage). His abilities as a playmaker and distributor are relatively unproven, but he has done a nice job leading the explosive Longhorns offense this season.
10 Reggie Jackson
6 of 15
Reggie Jackson (Boston College)
6’3”, 210 lb. Junior
The Boston College guard is having an outstanding season, averaging 18.5 points, five assists, 4.4 rebounds, and shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc. He’s a great athlete with a lot of ability but is more of a combo guard, and questions surround him as to whether or not he can play point at the next level.
9 Malcolm Lee
7 of 15
6’5”, 200 lb. Junior
Lee is by far the most gifted in terms of height in the PG class and is a tenacious defender on the perimeter. However, he’s a "shoot first" point guard who struggles to set up his teammates and hit from three but has potential to be solid in the league.
8 Norris Cole
8 of 15
Norris Cole (Cleveland State)
6’2”, 170 lb. Senior
The veteran has willed his team to first place in the Horizon league, averaging more than 20 points, five assists, five rebounds, and two steals in the process. Cole has showed steady improvement year to year, but at his age and lacking outstanding skills, it’s questionable as to if he warrants a higher pick than his more gifted counterparts.
7 Jimmer Fredette
9 of 15
6’2”, 195 lb. Senior
Everyone knows that he can score, as he currently leads the NCAA with 27.6 points per game, but questions of if he can make it in the NBA still linger. While his draft stock has risen significantly, it’s doubtful that he will be able to hold down the PG position for a team in the NBA, as Jimmer is more of a natural SG.
6 Nolan Smith
10 of 15
6’2”, 185 lb. Senior
Nolan is an outstanding player who has a very underrated game, but his production doesn’t lie with 20.5 points, 5.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals while filling in at the PG position. Smith is a combo guard who has struggled on the perimeter this season but has proven he belongs with his playmaking, complete game, and high basketball IQ.
5 Josh Selby
11 of 15
6’2”, 185 lb. Freshman
While rated amongst the best prep players of the 2010 class, Selby is an outstanding athlete who can shoot the ball from 3 (43.1 3-pt. percent) and is loaded with upside. However, Josh is still a very raw player who has struggled to make plays for his teammates and had problems with turnovers.
4 Demetri McCamey
12 of 15
6’3”, 200 lb. Senior
The Illinois senior guard is a proven playmaker who has averaged seven assists per game over his past couple seasons. His shot selection is erratic, and he’s not the fastest player on the court, but he’s a very confident shooter from three (48.9 percent this season) with a great NBA build.
3 Brandon Knight
13 of 15
6’3”, 185 lb. Freshman
Knight entered the seasons with a lot of questions about his ability to play point and if he could ever be a true distributor. The best shooting point guard that Calipari has had in recent years is proving he can, but, though he has a ways to go, can still make an impact for a team as a backup and scorer off the bench right now.
2 Kemba Walker
14 of 15
6’1”, 175 lb. Junior
One of the most improved players in the nation has lit up the competition and is second in the NCAA in scoring with 24.2 points per game. While undersized, Walker has a great motor, as he manages to pull down over five rebounds and distribute 4.3 assists per game. Kemba’s a superb scoring guard who has proven he can work hard, play hard, and be a game changer.
1 Kyrie Irving
15 of 15
6’2”, 180 lb. Freshman
At the beginning of the season, Irving looked like the best true point guard in the nation. Even with an injury sidelining him since the beginning of December, scouts are confident that Kyrie has the game and innate ability to be a franchise point in the near future. He’s by far the best PG available in 2011 and should be a top three pick, if not first overall, in June, assuming he declares for the draft.
