NBA Draft 2011: 5 Best Point Guards Not Named Kyrie Irving
Point guards run the team, and it is tough to find a good one in the draft.
This year, Kyrie Irving seems to be head and shoulders above the rest.
So, who are the other point guards in the draft? Do they have a chance of being successful in the NBA?
It's very possible a different franchise might find a point guard, which is why I am ranking the top five point guards in this year's draft not named Kyrie Irving.
Honorable Mentions
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Norris Cole: Doug Gottlieb has him ranked as his No. 3 point guard right now. I think that might be a stretch, but Cole has consistently improved his game and he proved his leadership abilities at Cleveland State.
Shelvin Mack: Even though he was more of a combo guard in college, Mack will probably be moved to full-time point guard in the NBA. He can score in bunches, and his leadership is unquestionable. He may not start right away, but with the right fit, he could become a very good NBA player.
Demetri McCamey: The Illinois guard has improved his game each year in the Big Ten. Last year, his three-point percentage skyrocketed and he justified what some people label as an erratic shot-taker. His body is NBA-ready (6-3, 204 lbs), and his size and work ethic could make him an All-Star some day.
5. Josh Selby
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Some players' stock plummets from one year to the next.
Josh Selby is one of those players.
He was regarded as one of the best players in the 2010 high school class, but he never truly came into his own under Bill Self.
Now, he is hoping to get on a team that will give him time to develop. He is a raw talent, but with the right teammates and coach, Selby has all the necessary tools to become an elite point guard in the league.
4. Jimmer Fredette
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Does anyone know how Jimmer Fredette will be in the NBA?
Obviously, he won't be as successful individually as he was in college, but where will his play fall off to?
It's an interesting debate, and no one can be sure.
Still, any player that can shoot from anywhere inside half-court usually has a leg up on his counterparts. If Jimmer can prove that he knows what defense is (which could or could not happen), then he could become one of the best players from this draft.
But will that happen?
I guess that's just another uncertainty when it comes to Jimmer.
3. Nolan Smith
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At the beginning of the season, who would have thought Nolan Smith would become "Kyrie Irving's teammate?"
Well, even though he had an outstanding senior season, a lot of people around the draft have forgotten about Smith.
As a senior, some may think his potential has nearly been reached, but I don't think that's a terrible thing. For a contender, he could be a confident option off the bench that can control the pace of the game and score when necessary.
I think Smith is the player we know most about. Consequently, I think he is the safest point guard to pick.
2. Brandon Knight
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Many people labeled him the "next John Wall" (or Tyreke Evans or Derrick Rose), but I guess that's the baggage that comes with playing point guard for John Calipari.
When he didn't explode out of the gate, many people thought he was overrated coming into college and his stock started to drop.
Then, in the NCAA tournament, he played extremely well and helped lead Kentucky to the Final Four.
Now, scouts are starting to see his upside again, and they realize that he is probably the best shooter out of the Calipari point guards. If he learns how to distribute, Knight could become a top-tier point guard.
1. Kemba Walker
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Kemba Walker is one of the most charismatic players in the draft, and that could help him become a success in the NBA.
A point guard needs his teammates to follow him, and Walker has proven that his teammates will follow him as he leads them to the promised land.
He may be undersized, but he is a hard-worker and he can score in bunches. In the right situation, Walker could become a leader and role player on an NBA title team.
