This next draft is heavy with big men from Centers to SF's with a sprinkling of SG's thrown in. However, there are some PG's that can play in the NBA, and possibly a few that will excell. Its early, but not to early to take a look at who might go in the first round, and who the sleepers might be.
1. Marquis Teague: Kentucky, PG, 6'2", 189 lbs. Teague came out as the highest rated PG in highschool. And after a shakey start, he's starting to settle down and look like what most scouts invisioned. He has a lot going for him. He's a terrific athlete with good leaping ability and great end to end floor speed. He has terrific handles, and a ankle breaking crossover. So he a perfect fit for Calapari's dribble drive offense. Unfortunately he started out by throwing the ball to everyone that wasn't a teammate.
He has since recovered from that start, and is looking like a legit PG. His shooting percentage is not what it should be, but its improving. He has a nice stroke, and has no trouble creating for himself. His turnovers are way down and he should have more assists than he does. He's also a very good defender with excellent lateral movement and quick hands. He may not have the stats of some of the others, but I have him rated number one on overall potential.
2. Kendall Marshall: North Carolina, PG, 6'3", 186 lbs. There are certain players you just love to watch, and Marshall is one of those guys. He has great passing skills and outstanding court vision. You take Marshall off of the North Carolina team, and they're championship hopes go out the window. He has that big an impact on the team. Harrison Barnes was struggling to find himself last season until Kendall became the starter. Suddenly Barnes looked like one of the top players at his position in college. While Marshall only averages around 6 pts a game, he's not a bad shooter when left open. So he'll keep you honest.
He's averaging around 11 assists a game against around 2.5 turnovers a game. So whats not to like. The big question mark, and where have you heard this before. Is can he defend at the NBA level. Maybe! He's an average athlete as far as foot speed and leaping ability go. But at the college level, he holds his own, and what he gives you on the other end far exceeds potential weakness on defense. I really like this kid, and I do think he'll be a first round pick. He's a skilled, creative passer who seems to have eyes in the back of his head at times. And he seldom makes mistakes. His ballhandling is average, but adequate for now.
3.Aaron Craft: Ohio St., PG, 6'2", 190 lbs. If there's one word to describe Craft, its efficient! He's just solid. He's one of those guys you put on the floor and he'll give 5 or 6 assists and only 1 or 2 turnovers. He'll score you 10 ppg, grab a few rebounds, and while he's doing all that, he'll shut down the other teams PG. He's just a terrific defender, and may be the best defensive PG in college.
Last season he shot a respectable 46% overall and 38% from the three. So he's not a liability offensively. He has a solid build and is very strong. He's blessed with terrific lateral mobility and very quick hands averaging just under 3 steals a game. He has good basketball IQ, and lets the game come to him. He's not flashy, but he gets the job done.
4. Shabazz Napier: UCONN, 6'1", 171 lbs. Shabazz will remind you somewhat of Kemba Walker. Maybe UCONN has a machine that turns them out. Out of Kemba's shadow, he's making a name for himself. He's averaging 15.5 PPG, and 7.8 APG along with 2.2 SPG. He's another of those very quick, he was here a moment ago, PG's. He's excellent at driving and dishing, and dangerous because he's equally good at taking it all the way to the basket. He has very good handles, and is a good passer who doesn't turn the ball over as much as one would think off his style of play. Like Kemba, he playes with an almost cocky attitude.
I don't know if he'll come out this year, but if he does, I have to think that someone will take a shot at him in the first round. He's too talented to pass up if you need a PG.
5. Tu Holloway: Xavior, PG, 6'0", 185 lbs. Tu is a very good shooter, and could be better with better shot selection. He's shooting around 39% from the three this season. Tu is more of a shoot first PG, but, he is a very good passer, and a good leader, putting aside the riot he helped start a couple of weeks ago. He playes with a chip on his shoulder and at the college level, he's a good defender. He's a good athlete, but not in the same mode with Teague or Napier. He's one of those guys that more quick than fast.
He's a tough little player with a very good mid-range game. I see him going in the second round.
6. Myck Kabongo: Texas, PG, 6'1", 170 lbs. I really liked this kid coming out of highschool, and although I have him at number 6, he could be much higher by draft time. He's an outstanding athlete, who is lightning quick with great instincts on both sides of the ball. He reminds me a great deal of Rondo, and thats the kind of potential I see in him, except with better offensive skills at the same age. He struggled in his first few games, but is starting to find his way.
His shooting needs some work, especially from beyond the arc where he's shooting around 30%. He's averaging around 5.5 assists a game while turning the ball over 3 times a game. He has the potential to be a lockdown defender. But at the moment thats all it is, potential. He's definitely fits the mode of a pass first PG, and has good instincts in that area. He's very young, and obviously he has some work to do.
7. Scott Machado: Iona, PG, 6'1", 180 lbs. He's a player I'm sure a few of you have never heard of. He has great court vision, and terrific passing ability to go along with very good handles. He's averaging around 10 assists a game and only 3.5 turnovers. He's also averaging around 14 PPG, and is shooting lights out. 47.7% overall, and 41.5% from the three. He's shooting much better this season than last. Part is the work he put in, and part is better shot selection.
His critics Question his defense, but in the games I've watched, which are few compared to the more well known teams, he's played well defensively. He needs to get stronger, but I see no reason why he can't play defense in the NBA. He's a good athlete, but not an exceptional one. Iona has a very good team this season, and could be a very dangerous team in the tourney. March maddness could be a springboard for Machado if he plays well, and helps carry Iona deep into the tourney.
Jordan Taylor: Wisconson, PG, 6'3", 195 lbs. Jordan is an efficient player at the point. He seldom turns the ball over. He's averaging 4.5 assists to 1.7 turnovers this season. Although his shooting is a little down so far this season, he can light it up when he gets hot. last season he averaged over 40% from the three. He's a solidly built player, and uses his strength when attacking the basket.
Athleticly he's average to slightly above average. As a result I'm sure there will be the usual questions about his ability to defend at the next level. I've seen him play quite a bit and I have no problem with his defensive effort. I like Taylor, who can be a lot of fun to watch when he gets on a roll.
1. Marquis Teague: Kentucky, PG, 6'2", 189 lbs. Teague came out as the highest rated PG in highschool. And after a shakey start, he's starting to settle down and look like what most scouts invisioned. He has a lot going for him. He's a terrific athlete with good leaping ability and great end to end floor speed. He has terrific handles, and a ankle breaking crossover. So he a perfect fit for Calapari's dribble drive offense. Unfortunately he started out by throwing the ball to everyone that wasn't a teammate.
He has since recovered from that start, and is looking like a legit PG. His shooting percentage is not what it should be, but its improving. He has a nice stroke, and has no trouble creating for himself. His turnovers are way down and he should have more assists than he does. He's also a very good defender with excellent lateral movement and quick hands. He may not have the stats of some of the others, but I have him rated number one on overall potential.
2. Kendall Marshall: North Carolina, PG, 6'3", 186 lbs. There are certain players you just love to watch, and Marshall is one of those guys. He has great passing skills and outstanding court vision. You take Marshall off of the North Carolina team, and they're championship hopes go out the window. He has that big an impact on the team. Harrison Barnes was struggling to find himself last season until Kendall became the starter. Suddenly Barnes looked like one of the top players at his position in college. While Marshall only averages around 6 pts a game, he's not a bad shooter when left open. So he'll keep you honest.
He's averaging around 11 assists a game against around 2.5 turnovers a game. So whats not to like. The big question mark, and where have you heard this before. Is can he defend at the NBA level. Maybe! He's an average athlete as far as foot speed and leaping ability go. But at the college level, he holds his own, and what he gives you on the other end far exceeds potential weakness on defense. I really like this kid, and I do think he'll be a first round pick. He's a skilled, creative passer who seems to have eyes in the back of his head at times. And he seldom makes mistakes. His ballhandling is average, but adequate for now.
3.Aaron Craft: Ohio St., PG, 6'2", 190 lbs. If there's one word to describe Craft, its efficient! He's just solid. He's one of those guys you put on the floor and he'll give 5 or 6 assists and only 1 or 2 turnovers. He'll score you 10 ppg, grab a few rebounds, and while he's doing all that, he'll shut down the other teams PG. He's just a terrific defender, and may be the best defensive PG in college.
Last season he shot a respectable 46% overall and 38% from the three. So he's not a liability offensively. He has a solid build and is very strong. He's blessed with terrific lateral mobility and very quick hands averaging just under 3 steals a game. He has good basketball IQ, and lets the game come to him. He's not flashy, but he gets the job done.
4. Shabazz Napier: UCONN, 6'1", 171 lbs. Shabazz will remind you somewhat of Kemba Walker. Maybe UCONN has a machine that turns them out. Out of Kemba's shadow, he's making a name for himself. He's averaging 15.5 PPG, and 7.8 APG along with 2.2 SPG. He's another of those very quick, he was here a moment ago, PG's. He's excellent at driving and dishing, and dangerous because he's equally good at taking it all the way to the basket. He has very good handles, and is a good passer who doesn't turn the ball over as much as one would think off his style of play. Like Kemba, he playes with an almost cocky attitude.
I don't know if he'll come out this year, but if he does, I have to think that someone will take a shot at him in the first round. He's too talented to pass up if you need a PG.
5. Tu Holloway: Xavior, PG, 6'0", 185 lbs. Tu is a very good shooter, and could be better with better shot selection. He's shooting around 39% from the three this season. Tu is more of a shoot first PG, but, he is a very good passer, and a good leader, putting aside the riot he helped start a couple of weeks ago. He playes with a chip on his shoulder and at the college level, he's a good defender. He's a good athlete, but not in the same mode with Teague or Napier. He's one of those guys that more quick than fast.
He's a tough little player with a very good mid-range game. I see him going in the second round.
6. Myck Kabongo: Texas, PG, 6'1", 170 lbs. I really liked this kid coming out of highschool, and although I have him at number 6, he could be much higher by draft time. He's an outstanding athlete, who is lightning quick with great instincts on both sides of the ball. He reminds me a great deal of Rondo, and thats the kind of potential I see in him, except with better offensive skills at the same age. He struggled in his first few games, but is starting to find his way.
His shooting needs some work, especially from beyond the arc where he's shooting around 30%. He's averaging around 5.5 assists a game while turning the ball over 3 times a game. He has the potential to be a lockdown defender. But at the moment thats all it is, potential. He's definitely fits the mode of a pass first PG, and has good instincts in that area. He's very young, and obviously he has some work to do.
7. Scott Machado: Iona, PG, 6'1", 180 lbs. He's a player I'm sure a few of you have never heard of. He has great court vision, and terrific passing ability to go along with very good handles. He's averaging around 10 assists a game and only 3.5 turnovers. He's also averaging around 14 PPG, and is shooting lights out. 47.7% overall, and 41.5% from the three. He's shooting much better this season than last. Part is the work he put in, and part is better shot selection.
His critics Question his defense, but in the games I've watched, which are few compared to the more well known teams, he's played well defensively. He needs to get stronger, but I see no reason why he can't play defense in the NBA. He's a good athlete, but not an exceptional one. Iona has a very good team this season, and could be a very dangerous team in the tourney. March maddness could be a springboard for Machado if he plays well, and helps carry Iona deep into the tourney.
Jordan Taylor: Wisconson, PG, 6'3", 195 lbs. Jordan is an efficient player at the point. He seldom turns the ball over. He's averaging 4.5 assists to 1.7 turnovers this season. Although his shooting is a little down so far this season, he can light it up when he gets hot. last season he averaged over 40% from the three. He's a solidly built player, and uses his strength when attacking the basket.
Athleticly he's average to slightly above average. As a result I'm sure there will be the usual questions about his ability to defend at the next level. I've seen him play quite a bit and I have no problem with his defensive effort. I like Taylor, who can be a lot of fun to watch when he gets on a roll.
