As the Celtics and Lakers duke it out in the Finals for league supremacy, the 2010 NBA Draft is quickly approaching. Last year was a great year for the point guard position with player from Tyreke Evans to Ty Lawson hearing their names called in the first round of the draft. With so much talent at the lead guard position bolting the college ranks for the NBA a year ago, this year's draft won't likely yield the same productivity amongst primary ball handlers, at least not immediately, although there is still some value to be had for teams in search of a floor general.
As the June 24 Draft approaches, HOOPSWORLD will break down the incoming talent, position by position, starting with point guards. Without any further ado, here is a look at the top ten point guards in the 2010 NBA Draft.
John Wall, 6'4", 196 lbs.: Wall is far and away the best prospect in the draft at any position, let alone amongst point guards. Along with his freakish athleticism, there are very few weaknesses in his game and the weaknesses he does have things that should improve with continued work and experience. The one-and-done player from Kentucky lacks a consistent jump shot and is a bit turnover prone but outside of those two things, it is tough to find a glaring hole in Wall's game. Extremely unselfish, Wall didn't post the gaudiest of numbers during his one season under John Calipari (16.6 points and 6.5 assists per game while shooting better than 46 percent from the field) but showed that he was capable of running the offense, often deferring to the all-star cast (including certain first round picks Patrick Patterson, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton) that surrounded him and but showing the killer instinct and calmness under pressure required to lift, and sometimes will, his team to victory in the games waning moments. With the ability to play on or off the ball on both ends of the floor, Wall projects as a better point guard in the NBA than the several young point guards who have entered the draft over the last few years, including Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans, who played under Calipari in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Eric Bledsoe, 6'1", 192 lbs.: Wall got most of the attention, and rightfully so, coming into the season but Bledsoe would have been grabbing headlines and the national spotlight had he chosen to play his college basketball anywhere other than Kentucky. Considering the success that Calipari has had with developing point guards the last few years, it isn't too tough to imagine why Bledsoe agreed to join Wall for a run at a national championship. Bledsoe has shown the ability to play off the ball and alongside Wall but because of his limited size, he'll have to play the point guard position in the NBA. A remarkable physical specimen, Bledsoe has all the tools it takes to be a solid NBA point guard but, due to his role with Kentucky during his freshman, and only, season at the college ranks, his lack of experience and still developing decision-making skills (he averaged three turnovers and 2.9 assists per game this season) prove that he is something of a project for whatever team drafts him. He appears to be, however, already a capable defender at the NBA level with unlimited potential on that end of the floor. While he is a work in progress as a point guard, he can get into the paint almost at will with a blinding first step and tremendous quickness and will, therefore, be able to put pressure on opposing defenses from day one in the Association.
Mikhail Torrance, 6'4", 207 lbs.: Torrance certainly didn't come into his senior season as much more than a blip on the radar screen of NBA scouts, coaches and executives but finished out his career at Alabama with a solid campaign and was extremely impressive at the Portsmouth Invitational, sky-rocketing up draft boards and playing his way into first round consideration, although being the first point guard taken in the second round is the most likely scenario for Torrance. He has shown the ability to play both on and off the ball on both ends of the floor but, like most second round picks, Torrance has some flaws in his game, the most glaring of which is his outside shooting. He does, however, possess a fantastic handle which allows him to maneuver easily in and out of traffic and helped the senior average better than five assists per game in his final collegiate season. Because of his outstanding defensive potential and size, Torrance ranks as high as No.2 among point guards on some teams' draft boards. He could provide depth and versatility to just about any NBA back court and with combo guards becoming so popular in the NBA these days, his ability to defend either guard spots will make him especially valuable and could vault him into the bottom of the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft.
Jerome Randle, 5'10", 160 lbs.: Randle had a very productive four year career at Cal and established himself as one of the best shooters in the 2010 NBA Draft. Perhaps due to his ability to shoot and score the basketball, Randle's ability to pass the ball has been vastly underrated and the diminutive guard put his ability to distribute and create shots for others on full display at the Portsmouth Invitational. And don't forget the fact that his 524 career assists rank second all-time in school history. Randle reminds me a lot of another former Pac-10 point guard who has carved out his niche as a starting point guard in the NBA, Aaron Brooks of the Houston Rockets. Randle is extremely quick and has very good ball-handling skills, allowing him to beat defenders off the dribble and create high quality shots for himself and his teammates and, despite his size, he has proven himself to be a solid finisher around the basket. Randle's lack of height will keep him out of the first round, but his ability to stretch defenses with seemingly limitless range and ability to get into the paint can give the opposition headaches.
Armon Johnson, 6'3", 195 lbs.: Athletically speaking, Johnson is among the best available players at his position in the 2010 NBA Draft, showing a fantastic first step and the ability to create space for himself after blowing by defenders, with a knack for finishing around the basket. Johnson has some improving to do in the half court, sometimes being too aggressive and putting himself in bad spots. In the open court, however, Johnson thrives and looks like he could provide a tremendous change of pace for an NBA team off the bench who likes to get out and run. With great court vision and passing skills, he should continue to develop into a more solid decision-maker as he gains more experience. The former Nevada star has played well against other top pro prospects but is still developing his game and is definitely a project at the NBA level at this point, especially considering his lackluster performance on the defensive side of the ball throughout his college career, where he played too flat-footed and was often beat off the dribble by lesser players.
Greivis Vasquez, 6'5", 195 lbs.: IF you know anything about college basketball, you understand that Vasquez is one of the most decorated players in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference, perhaps the best basketball conference in the history of college basketball. Vasquez is the only player in ACC history to record at least 2,000 points, 700 assists and 600 rebounds and was the only player in college basketball to average more than 18 points and six assists per game last season as a senior. The Venezuelan point guard has developed into a tremendous scorer with the guts to take big shots and the ability to make them. Without being blessed with much athletically, it is difficult to predict how his tremendous all-around offensive game will translate to the NBA, where he will be defended by bigger, stronger, faster players. Defensively, Vasquez was a liability at the college level so, while he can score, it is hard to imagine him even being adequate as a defender in the NBA at either guard spot, where he will be asked to guard the likes of Kobe Bryant and Deron Williams. Tough and gritty on the offensive end, with a high basketball I.Q., Vasquez will be a good fit with a veteran team in need of some offensive firepower off the bench.
Alexey Shved, 6'5", 161 lbs.: Shved's name has been mentioned as one of the top European prospects over the past couple of years and, while he hasn't proven himself as a difference-maker at the highest level of European basketball as of yet, his skill set is clearly among the best at the point guard position in this draft. Shved is a smooth athlete with great vision and playmaking ability and his offensive talents are unmistakable. He hasn't shown much on the defensive end of the floor and almost seems indifferent towards the defensive end of the floor Because of his tremendous skill set, expect to hear Shved's name to be called in the second round.
Sherron Collins, 5'11", 217 lbs.: Collins is one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2010 NBA Draft because, despite his small stature, the former Kansas point guard has put together quite the resume during his four-year college career. Collins has shown the ability to do a little bit of everything and won more games than any player in school history. While he hasn't consistently been a threat on the defensive side of the ball, Collins has athleticism to be a serviceable defender in the NBA, should he decide to make defense a greater priority at the next level, something he'll have to do in order to last for long in the NBA. While his dedication to maximizing his own potential has been questioned throughout his career, there is no denying the skills that Collins possesses, particularly on the offensive end of the floor.
Matt Bouldin, 6'5", 214 lbs.: Bouldin's name started to pop up on draft boards during his freshman season at Gonzaga and the versatile point guard has developed into a smart, savvy player who has shown the ability to impact the game in a variety of different ways. He is a very good shooter, both with his feet set and off the dribble, and his mid-range game is among the best at his position in this draft. Not particularly gifted athletically, Bouldin has proven to be extremely heady and was clearly the leader of the Gonzaga program the last couple of seasons despite playing alongside lottery talent in Austin Daye and Elias Harris. The former Colorado High School Player of the Year is the best rebounding point guard in this draft and can play the one, two and three spots. Although he will be something of a defensive liability at the NBA level because of limited athletic ability and lateral quickness, his understanding of the game allows him to position himself well enough to at least be a serviceable defender as a professional.
A.J. Slaughter, 6'3", 175 lbs.: Slaughter is an accomplished shooter whose skills as such might just be enough to get him consideration late in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft. A solid athlete, he is an absolute assassin in the pick and roll, where he seems most comfortable and can beat a defense in a variety of ways. The former Western Kentucky star is truly a combo guard, without the size to defend the shooting guard or the quickness to stay in front of NBA point guards. He was a solid and willing defender at the collegiate level and, because so much of defensive ability is based on fundamentals and effort, could surprise some people should he hear his name called on draft night. Slaughter will need some time to develop as lead guard and might spend some time in the D-League but, in the right system, he has the skills to be rotation player in the NBA.
Honorable Mention: Devan Downey, South Carolina; Scottie Reynolds, Villanova; Courtney Fortson, Arkansas; Ben Uzoh, Tulsa
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As the June 24 Draft approaches, HOOPSWORLD will break down the incoming talent, position by position, starting with point guards. Without any further ado, here is a look at the top ten point guards in the 2010 NBA Draft.
John Wall, 6'4", 196 lbs.: Wall is far and away the best prospect in the draft at any position, let alone amongst point guards. Along with his freakish athleticism, there are very few weaknesses in his game and the weaknesses he does have things that should improve with continued work and experience. The one-and-done player from Kentucky lacks a consistent jump shot and is a bit turnover prone but outside of those two things, it is tough to find a glaring hole in Wall's game. Extremely unselfish, Wall didn't post the gaudiest of numbers during his one season under John Calipari (16.6 points and 6.5 assists per game while shooting better than 46 percent from the field) but showed that he was capable of running the offense, often deferring to the all-star cast (including certain first round picks Patrick Patterson, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton) that surrounded him and but showing the killer instinct and calmness under pressure required to lift, and sometimes will, his team to victory in the games waning moments. With the ability to play on or off the ball on both ends of the floor, Wall projects as a better point guard in the NBA than the several young point guards who have entered the draft over the last few years, including Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans, who played under Calipari in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Eric Bledsoe, 6'1", 192 lbs.: Wall got most of the attention, and rightfully so, coming into the season but Bledsoe would have been grabbing headlines and the national spotlight had he chosen to play his college basketball anywhere other than Kentucky. Considering the success that Calipari has had with developing point guards the last few years, it isn't too tough to imagine why Bledsoe agreed to join Wall for a run at a national championship. Bledsoe has shown the ability to play off the ball and alongside Wall but because of his limited size, he'll have to play the point guard position in the NBA. A remarkable physical specimen, Bledsoe has all the tools it takes to be a solid NBA point guard but, due to his role with Kentucky during his freshman, and only, season at the college ranks, his lack of experience and still developing decision-making skills (he averaged three turnovers and 2.9 assists per game this season) prove that he is something of a project for whatever team drafts him. He appears to be, however, already a capable defender at the NBA level with unlimited potential on that end of the floor. While he is a work in progress as a point guard, he can get into the paint almost at will with a blinding first step and tremendous quickness and will, therefore, be able to put pressure on opposing defenses from day one in the Association.
Mikhail Torrance, 6'4", 207 lbs.: Torrance certainly didn't come into his senior season as much more than a blip on the radar screen of NBA scouts, coaches and executives but finished out his career at Alabama with a solid campaign and was extremely impressive at the Portsmouth Invitational, sky-rocketing up draft boards and playing his way into first round consideration, although being the first point guard taken in the second round is the most likely scenario for Torrance. He has shown the ability to play both on and off the ball on both ends of the floor but, like most second round picks, Torrance has some flaws in his game, the most glaring of which is his outside shooting. He does, however, possess a fantastic handle which allows him to maneuver easily in and out of traffic and helped the senior average better than five assists per game in his final collegiate season. Because of his outstanding defensive potential and size, Torrance ranks as high as No.2 among point guards on some teams' draft boards. He could provide depth and versatility to just about any NBA back court and with combo guards becoming so popular in the NBA these days, his ability to defend either guard spots will make him especially valuable and could vault him into the bottom of the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft.
Jerome Randle, 5'10", 160 lbs.: Randle had a very productive four year career at Cal and established himself as one of the best shooters in the 2010 NBA Draft. Perhaps due to his ability to shoot and score the basketball, Randle's ability to pass the ball has been vastly underrated and the diminutive guard put his ability to distribute and create shots for others on full display at the Portsmouth Invitational. And don't forget the fact that his 524 career assists rank second all-time in school history. Randle reminds me a lot of another former Pac-10 point guard who has carved out his niche as a starting point guard in the NBA, Aaron Brooks of the Houston Rockets. Randle is extremely quick and has very good ball-handling skills, allowing him to beat defenders off the dribble and create high quality shots for himself and his teammates and, despite his size, he has proven himself to be a solid finisher around the basket. Randle's lack of height will keep him out of the first round, but his ability to stretch defenses with seemingly limitless range and ability to get into the paint can give the opposition headaches.
Armon Johnson, 6'3", 195 lbs.: Athletically speaking, Johnson is among the best available players at his position in the 2010 NBA Draft, showing a fantastic first step and the ability to create space for himself after blowing by defenders, with a knack for finishing around the basket. Johnson has some improving to do in the half court, sometimes being too aggressive and putting himself in bad spots. In the open court, however, Johnson thrives and looks like he could provide a tremendous change of pace for an NBA team off the bench who likes to get out and run. With great court vision and passing skills, he should continue to develop into a more solid decision-maker as he gains more experience. The former Nevada star has played well against other top pro prospects but is still developing his game and is definitely a project at the NBA level at this point, especially considering his lackluster performance on the defensive side of the ball throughout his college career, where he played too flat-footed and was often beat off the dribble by lesser players.
Greivis Vasquez, 6'5", 195 lbs.: IF you know anything about college basketball, you understand that Vasquez is one of the most decorated players in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference, perhaps the best basketball conference in the history of college basketball. Vasquez is the only player in ACC history to record at least 2,000 points, 700 assists and 600 rebounds and was the only player in college basketball to average more than 18 points and six assists per game last season as a senior. The Venezuelan point guard has developed into a tremendous scorer with the guts to take big shots and the ability to make them. Without being blessed with much athletically, it is difficult to predict how his tremendous all-around offensive game will translate to the NBA, where he will be defended by bigger, stronger, faster players. Defensively, Vasquez was a liability at the college level so, while he can score, it is hard to imagine him even being adequate as a defender in the NBA at either guard spot, where he will be asked to guard the likes of Kobe Bryant and Deron Williams. Tough and gritty on the offensive end, with a high basketball I.Q., Vasquez will be a good fit with a veteran team in need of some offensive firepower off the bench.
Alexey Shved, 6'5", 161 lbs.: Shved's name has been mentioned as one of the top European prospects over the past couple of years and, while he hasn't proven himself as a difference-maker at the highest level of European basketball as of yet, his skill set is clearly among the best at the point guard position in this draft. Shved is a smooth athlete with great vision and playmaking ability and his offensive talents are unmistakable. He hasn't shown much on the defensive end of the floor and almost seems indifferent towards the defensive end of the floor Because of his tremendous skill set, expect to hear Shved's name to be called in the second round.
Sherron Collins, 5'11", 217 lbs.: Collins is one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2010 NBA Draft because, despite his small stature, the former Kansas point guard has put together quite the resume during his four-year college career. Collins has shown the ability to do a little bit of everything and won more games than any player in school history. While he hasn't consistently been a threat on the defensive side of the ball, Collins has athleticism to be a serviceable defender in the NBA, should he decide to make defense a greater priority at the next level, something he'll have to do in order to last for long in the NBA. While his dedication to maximizing his own potential has been questioned throughout his career, there is no denying the skills that Collins possesses, particularly on the offensive end of the floor.
Matt Bouldin, 6'5", 214 lbs.: Bouldin's name started to pop up on draft boards during his freshman season at Gonzaga and the versatile point guard has developed into a smart, savvy player who has shown the ability to impact the game in a variety of different ways. He is a very good shooter, both with his feet set and off the dribble, and his mid-range game is among the best at his position in this draft. Not particularly gifted athletically, Bouldin has proven to be extremely heady and was clearly the leader of the Gonzaga program the last couple of seasons despite playing alongside lottery talent in Austin Daye and Elias Harris. The former Colorado High School Player of the Year is the best rebounding point guard in this draft and can play the one, two and three spots. Although he will be something of a defensive liability at the NBA level because of limited athletic ability and lateral quickness, his understanding of the game allows him to position himself well enough to at least be a serviceable defender as a professional.
A.J. Slaughter, 6'3", 175 lbs.: Slaughter is an accomplished shooter whose skills as such might just be enough to get him consideration late in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft. A solid athlete, he is an absolute assassin in the pick and roll, where he seems most comfortable and can beat a defense in a variety of ways. The former Western Kentucky star is truly a combo guard, without the size to defend the shooting guard or the quickness to stay in front of NBA point guards. He was a solid and willing defender at the collegiate level and, because so much of defensive ability is based on fundamentals and effort, could surprise some people should he hear his name called on draft night. Slaughter will need some time to develop as lead guard and might spend some time in the D-League but, in the right system, he has the skills to be rotation player in the NBA.
Honorable Mention: Devan Downey, South Carolina; Scottie Reynolds, Villanova; Courtney Fortson, Arkansas; Ben Uzoh, Tulsa
Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?...#ixzz0qTVz6WqA
Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?...#ixzz0qTVlAjEF