Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | June 15, 2006
Last year, point guard was a marquee position in the NBA Draft, with Rookie of the Year Chris Paul leading a group of strong college point guards including Utah's Deron Williams and Charlotte's Raymond Felton. This year features no marquee prospect along the lines of Paul or Williams, but Marcus Williams and Randy Foye could be top-ten picks and this group has depth, with several possible first-round picks.
RANDY FOYE
From: Villanova | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 210
Part of a four-guard attack at Villanova, Randy Foye had an outstanding senior season, averaging 20.5 points, 5.8 assists and 3.0 steals per game. Foye was dominant in the NCAA Tournament and earned AP First Team All-America honors. Foye could be a player who takes advantage of the NBA's limitations on perimeter contact to live at the free-throw line; he attempted better than five free-throws per game as a senior. Foye's shooting percentage (41.1%) was surprisingly low given his ability to drive. He's not a natural point guard, but brings good size defensively.
MARCUS WILLIAMS
From: UConn | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 205
Likely the best playmaker in the Draft, Marcus Williams averaged 8.6 assists per game as a junior at UConn, posting a 2.33 assist-to-turnover ratio that would have been impressive in the NBA, let alone the NCAA (where scorers are stingier with assists). Williams can shoot (40%+ from 3-point range the last two seasons), but struggles to finish around the basket. He's not exceptionally quick and doesn't get into the lane a ton. His fitness has also been an issue on defense. Still, Williams is a certain lottery pick.
RAJON RONDO
From: Kentucky | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 205
After Williams, Rajon Rondo is probably the next-best pure point guard available. Rondo averaged 4.9 assists per game with an assist-to-turnover ratio better than two. Rondo owns fast hands and averaged at least two steals per game in both of his seasons at Kentucky. The big question mark is whether Rondo can keep defenses honest with his perimeter shooting. He was 28-for-99 from 3-point range in his NCAA career. Rondo will have to significantly improve his shooting to be a star-caliber point guard, but can be a contributor anyway. Think Eric Snow.
SERGIO RODRIGUEZ
From: Spain | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 168 Sergio Rodriguez goes by the nickname Spanish Chocolate, and it's not because he has a taste for sweets (at 168 pounds, how would that be possible?) Rodriguez has drawn comparisons to Miami guard Jason Williams for his flashy play, and the comparison extends to the defensive end, where Rodriguez has been known to struggle. He played Euroleague ball two years ago, averaging 6.4 points and 2.7 assists, but his ACB squad played in the lower-level ULEB Cup last year, where Rodriguez posted 5.1 points and 3.7 assists per game. Potentially, Rodriguez could develop into one of the league's better scoring-passing combo point guards, but at 20 (as of Monday), that day remains a ways off.
JORDAN FARMAR
From: UCLA | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180
Familiar to Pac-10 fans from playing at UCLA, Jordan Farmar boosted his stock in leading UCLA to the NCAA title game. Farmar was considered the MVP of that team and is a possible first-round prospect - scouts felt he was the best player in Orlando. There's a chance Farmar returns to UCLA for his junior season after he failed to dominant the Pre-Draft Camp, but the LA Times reported Sunday that Farmar will stay in the Draft. Farmar is an aggressive player with good court vision, but turnovers and a low field-goal percentage were weaknesses for the Bruins.
KYLE LOWRY
From: Villanova | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185 Kyle Lowry was truly the point guard in Villanova's aforementioned four-guard attack, averaging 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Lowry provides a different look from some of the other top point guards in this Draft - he's small and quick. Lowry was not a big-time scorer for the Wildcats because of his depth, but that might be a good thing, because he won't have to change his role in the NBA. Lowry's size can be an issue defensively, but his quick hands and feet help make up for it, and he's a tremendous rebounder for his size. Lowry has to improve his 3-point shooting (just 40 attempts in two NCAA seasons); if he does, he could develop into an Earl Watson type.
MARDY COLLINS
From: Temple | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 220
Philly native Mardy Collins had a stellar career at Temple, finishing fourth in school history in scoring and second in steals. Collins brings an element of size at the point and could be a good fit for a team like the Lakers that favors bigger guards. Temple prospects are traditionally difficult to evaluate because of the team's deliberate style of play, and Collins is not an exception. Was it a lack of easy baskets that held down his field-goal percentage (43.2% as a senior, the best mark of his career)? Would he have gotten more assists on a team with more talent and an open offense?
QUINCY DOUBY
From: Rutgers | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 175
Early entrant Quincy Douby had a big junior year for a Rutgers team that made the NIT. Douby averaged 25.3 points per game, leading the Big East and ranking sixth in the nation. It wasn't just by throwing up shots; Douby had a solid 60.1% True Shooting Percentage and canned a cool 40.1% of his triples. A combo guard, Douby will have a hard time playing shooting guard in the NBA for more than spot minutes, so he'll have to pick up some point guard skills. Think Eddie House, though Douby was a more efficient college scorer.
GUILLERMO DIAZ
From: Miami | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185
A surprising number of point guards in this Draft fit a similar profile, playing on relatively weak college teams and being asked to shoulder a lot of the scoring load. Guillermo Diaz is another example, and his junior season with the 'Canes was further affected by patella tendinitis. He shot just 41.5% from the field. Diaz has only played basketball seriously for four years - before his senior year of high school, his focus was volleyball - so there's a lot of basketball development to come. That's particularly true of Diaz's point guard skills; he averaged just 2.9 assists per game last season.
DEE BROWN
From: Illinois | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185
Illinois guard Dee Brown literally suffered a tough break at last year's Pre-Draft Camp, breaking his foot. As a result, Brown pulled out of the Draft, and he's seen his stock slip significantly. Brown went from playing with first-round picks Williams and Luther Head to having to carry the Illini offense, and his field-goal percentage dropped all the way from 49.9% to a dismal 35.9%. Brown did average a career-best 5.8 assists per game and has significantly better skills as a playmaker than some of the other scoring-minded points available in the Draft, but he'll have to be more efficient to be useful in the NBA.
OTHER POINT GUARD PROSPECTS
Will Blalock, Iowa State - Averaged 15.4 points and 6.1 assists per game in strong Cyclones backcourt. Bobby Brown, Cal State Fullerton - Through three years, leading 3-point shooter in Cal State Fullerton history. Daniel Gibson, Texas - Bright, versatile guard led Texas in scoring as a freshman. Gerry McNamara, Syracuse - Highly-touted sharpshooter never had statistics to match hype. Darius Washington, Memphis - Considered top prospect in high school class of '04; had disappointing sophomore season.
