With the NBA Draft fast approaching, it is time to look at the top prospects at each position heading into draft night.
First, we break down the top five point guards who expect to hear their names called on June 25.
1.) D’Angelo Russell
Not only does Russell have tremendous skill, evidenced by his ridiculous freshman season statistics at Ohio State, but he has excellent size for the position at nearly 6 ft. 5 in. Now, some consider him to be a bit of a combo guard, but that has become so much the norm for PG prospects these days that it is no longer the knock it once was. Russell can make plays for others while hitting shots from every spot on the floor, and getting involved defensively or on the boards. He’s the type of guy who may never average more than 22 points per game, but will be contributing in many, many other areas.
2.) Emmanuel Mudiay
Mudiay has ideal size, strength, and moxy for the position, but he hasn’t played much organized, highly competitive basketball since he graduated high school, so there’s not a ton of useful film on him. While his shot was spotty when we last watched him, he can get to his spot at will off the bounce, and finish through contact or over defenders at the rim. Mudiay also projects as a high-level defender in the NBA.
3.) Tyus Jones
Jones doesn’t have great size, length, or athletic ability. What he does have is tremendous feel and skill for the position, as well as the clutch-gene that he flashed late in the NCAA Tournament at Duke. Perhaps that means something, and perhaps it doesn’t. All we know is that Jones got it done at the highest level available to him, and that counts here.
4.) Cameron Payne
Payne is a bouncy, rangey, skilled lefty who has continued to rise up the draft boards of many NBA teams. He’s got solid measurables for the PG spot, but nothing there blows you away. What does blow you away on film is his ability to make the difficult, but not impossible, play look routine, en route to knocking down shots, getting to the rim, or finding teammates in tight spaces.
5.) Delon Wright
Few players in college basketball meant more to their team’s success, and found more ways to affect the game. Wright’s shot will need to improve quite a bit, but he’s one of the best on and off ball defenders we’ve scouted in the last few years.
