NBA Draft 2012: 12 Best Guard Prospects
With the college basketball season underway, it's time to take a first look at the 12 best guard prospects for the 2012 NBA Draft.
Some of these 12 players have already played one or more seasons at the collegiate level, while others are top recruits ready to make an immediate impact on the NCAA landscape. Regardless of how much experience they have, each one has the tools necessary to become a star at the next level.
It is also important to note that these might not be the 12 best guards in the country right now, but they are the 12 guards with the highest potential to be drafted at the top of the next NBA draft.
Read on to find out who they are.
Brad Beal
1 of 12Position: Shooting guard
School: Florida
Year: Freshman
2010-2011 Stats: Did not play
Even though he hasn't played a single minute at the college level quite yet, Brad Beal is almost a guaranteed lottery pick in the next NBA draft.
Beal is a stellar all-around player with a good nose for defense and an even better jump shot. He's drawn quite a few comparisons to Ray Allen already thanks to his shot and ability to move around without the ball.
Tim Hardaway, Jr.
2 of 12Position: Shooting guard
School: Michigan
Year: Sophomore
2010-2011 Stats: 13.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists
The son of former NBA star Tim Hardaway, this Michigan shooting guard may not have the UTEP Two-Step mastered yet, but he's working on his Michigan Mix-Up as we speak.
A bit of a streaky shooter, Hardaway, Jr. will light the scoreboard up on occasion, but he needs to add a bit more to his overall game if he's going to move up the ranks.
John Jenkins
3 of 12Position: Shooting guard
School: Vanderbilt
Year: Junior
2010-2011 Stats: 19.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists
I have to admit, despite my allegiances to Georgia basketball and my tendency to root against most of the other teams in the SEC, I kind of have a man-crush on John Jenkins.
All the evidence you need is right here.
Myck Kabongo
4 of 12Position: Point guard
School: Texas
Year: Freshman
2010-2011 Stats: Did not play
Myck Kabongo is one of the absolute top-notch recruits in the incoming freshman class. A likely one-and-done candidate from the University of Texas, Kabongo could easily work his way up into the lottery of what looks to be a very strong draft class.
As quick as they come at point guard, Kabongo needs to improve his ability to score, but he'd be hard-pressed to get much better as a distributing floor-general.
Jeremy Lamb
5 of 12Position: Shooting guard
School: Connecticut
Year: Sophomore
2010-2011 Stats: 10.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Jeremy Lamb had to take a backseat to Kemba Walker as a member of the UConn Huskies last season, but now he'll have almost complete control of what looks to be a very potent offense.
A big, lanky shooting guard, Lamb has the athleticism to get to the rim and by his defenders with ease. While his potential is through the roof, there could be a significant adjustment period with a now Kemba-less backcourt.
Kendall Marshall
6 of 12Position: Point guard
School: North Carolina
Year: Sophomore
2010-2011 Stats: 6.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists
Kendall Marshall floundered away on the bench for most of his freshman season, but once he got the starting roll, he developed incredible chemistry with Harrison Barnes and the rest was history.
Marshall was arguably the best pure point guard in the NCAA during the tail end of last year's regular season and now he'll look to pick back up where he left off: dishing out dimes left and right with his magical lefty abilities.
Ray McCallum
7 of 12Position: Point guard
School: Detroit
Year: Sophomore
2010-2011 Stats: 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists
Ray McCallum was a bit of an interesting case last season during recruiting because he had the talent to go to many big name schools around the country but instead chose to attend Detroit.
McCallum had a very impressive freshman campaign, as you can see from the above stats. He's a great all-around point guard, excelling in almost everything one could ask for from a backcourt member.
Austin Rivers
8 of 12Position: Point guard/Shooting guard
School: Duke
Year: Freshman
2010-2011 Stats: Did not play
Austin Rivers was one of the most hyped recruits going into this college basketball season and he'll get a chance to make an immediate impact for the Duke Blue Devils. Mike Krzyzewski doesn't generally recruit potential one-and-done players, but Rivers is talented enough to be the exception.
He's got the ability to score in every way, both inside and out. Right now, his focus needs to be on his knack for making plays for his teammates.
Terrence Ross
9 of 12Position: Shooting guard
School: Washington
Year: Sophomore
2010-2011 Stats: 7.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists
A certain 5'9" point guard stole a lot of Terrence Ross' potential statistical production from him last season, but the talented sophomore will get a chance to be the leader in a young backcourt out west. The Washington Huskies might not be ranked in the top 25 in the preseason polls, but I have a strong suspicion that they'll end up in them by the end of the season.
As unselfish as they come, Ross still is going to get his, thanks to his incredible athleticism and surprisingly good jump shot. With experience, Ross will become one of the top players in the next couple of draft classes.
Marquis Teague
10 of 12Position: Point guard
School: Kentucky
Year: Freshman
2010-2011 Stats: Did not play
Marquis Teague is the younger brother of Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague, which basically means that he absolutely has to be good. If Jeff hasn't convinced you of his skills in a Hawks uniform yet (which is understandable), just remember his collegiate days for Wake Forest.
Marquis is a great all-around point guard prospect, one who is currently much more of a playmaker than a scorer. With great athleticism and an improving jump shot, that could change soon.
Josiah Turner
11 of 12Position: Point guard
School: Arizona
Year: Freshman
2010-2011 Stats: Did not play
2011-2012 Stats: 7.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists (Through one game)
A player who thrives on finding open teammates instead of taking risky shots for himself, Josiah Turner just finished playing the first game of his collegiate career for the Arizona Wildcats (although it was admittedly a bit of an unimpressive debut).
Turner is as fast as they come with the ball and should speed through his one season at the collegiate level with ease en route to the NBA.
Tony Wroten
12 of 12Position: Point guard
School: Washington
Year: Freshman
2010-2011 Stats: Did not play
Joining Terrence Ross in the Washington Huskies backcourt is freshman supposed-to-be-sensation Tony Wroten.
At 6'5", Wroten is huge for a point guard and possesses the skill set to play as a shooting guard when necessary. He's a great athlete with every skill in the world, but it's unclear just how much he's going to grow as a collegiate athlete. After reaching superstar status in high school, Wroten's development kind of plateaued during his senior year.
Adam Fromal is a syndicated writer and Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
