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The top 15 players at each position in the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - By Bobby Gerould - March 17, 2008
Each year we look at the top 15 players at each position from our own NBA scouting perspective. Keep in mind that the positions listed for each player are based on what we feel will be their most likely NBA position. Obviously - some of that is subjective as several prospects are true 'tweeners'.
Since most experts agree that great guards win college basketball games - let's check out the list of the best 15 Shooting Guards in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.
1. Danny Green - North Carolina. - 6'5" 202. Jr. ...Has an all around game. Sees the floor well. …Takes a back seat to the rest of the great talent that he plays with. Effective player who can do a lot of things well. ...He was Carolina's leading shot blocker as a freshman, an unprecedented feat for a perimeter player. Tar Hill web site says, "Coaches like his shot-making ability from three-point range and the free throw line". ...Can rebound on both ends of the floor. "Coaches want him to be more explosive with the ball, both in driving to the basket and getting off his outside shot". ...Was co-MVP of the 2004 ABCD Camp.
2. Stephen Curry - Davidson - 6'0" 180. Soph. ...Southern Conference Player of the Year (2007-08). A great shooter, Curry has the athletic skills to get his shot against good college defenders, and he's fearless in taking the ball to the basket. The son of Dell Curry - a sweet shooting NBA guard. ...Stephen is a shooting guard with a tremendous basketball IQ. That said, he needs to turn the ball over less to be a NBA point guard. ...Scored 30 points, grabbed eleven boards, dished six assists, and had three steals in a road win at UT-Chattanooga.
3. Bill Walker - Kansas State - 6'6" 225. Frosh. ...Athletic and explosive. Averages 16 points, six boards, and two assists playing second fiddle to Michael Beasley at K-State. Not a great perimeter shooter. Walker gets by more on his strength and slashing ability.
4. Eric Gordon - Indiana - 6'2" 190. Frosh. ...Strong guard with good hands. Composed. Good deep shooter. Has the ability to get into the lane and either draw a foul or convert. 85% FT shooter. Gets to the free throw line with regularity. …Can hurt his team by taking bad shots.
5. O.J. Mayo - USC - 6'4" 190. Frosh. ...Mayo has special speed combined with strength and an accurate jump shot. He settles for the jump shot too much in my opinion. He does have the ability to create his own shot. ...Statistics for Mayo reflect the slow-down game of Coach Tim Floyd. ...Born 11/05/1987 - He is a 20 year-old freshman. A scorer. Great shooter that can stroke it with range and consistency. Confident. Quick hands. Dunks with explosion and power. …Won three state titles in high school.
6. Chris Douglas-Roberts - Memphis - 6'6" 190. Jr. ...2007-08 Conference USA Player of the Year. ...Douglas-Roberts is the leading scorer for Memphis. He can make difficult shots look easy. Right handed. ...Has a mixture of finesse and speed. Seems to really understand the game (as it is played at a fast pace). ...Likes to drive to the left to set up his own shot. …Had the game-winning basket in a win at Gonzaga. …Hit game-clinching free throws at SMU. ...Named to 2006 Conference USA All-Freshman Team.
7. Sam Young - Pittsburgh - 6'6" 210. Jr. ...Great athlete. Explodes off the ground. 2008 Big East Conference Tournament MVP. Gritty scorer and rebounder who displays outstanding competitiveness. Young has a good understanding of the game. Finisher of spectacular dunks. Young can score inside or outside. ...Plays more forward at the collegiate level and can certainly guard THREES in the NBA. His inconsistent deep shooting makes me think he will be more of TWO offensively.
8. Wayne Ellington - North Carolina - 6'4" 190. Soph. ...Sweet shooting guard. Covers lots of ground in a hurry. Has NBA speed. Exploded for 36 points in a tight two point win for the Tar Heels at Clemson (01/06/08). ...Played in McDonald's All-Star Game, Jordan Classic and Nike Hoop Summit. McDonald's and Parade All-America selection. ...Won three-point contest at McDonald's Game. Tied event record with 31 points to lead United States to a win in 2006 Nike Hoop Summit.
9. Russell Westbrook - UCLA - 6'3" 187. Soph. ...2007-08 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. ...Every time I watch this kid - I like him. He has that special burst of explosion that makes him incredibly hard to guard. He can create his own shot easily. …He does take some bad shots. …Super on-ball defender.
10. DeMarcus Nelson - Duke - 6'4" 200. SR. ...Long armed defender is tough to get by. He is versatile with the ability to defend Point Guards, and Shooting Guards - while having the speed, and athleticism to take the ball coast-to-coast and finish offensively. He is mature. He competes. ...Great strength and size for a guard. McDonald's All-American. Struggles with his jumper. He is an excellent rebounder for a guard. …His career free throw numbers are a scary 59%. …More turnovers than assists.
11. Lazar Hayward - Marquette - 6'6" 225. Soph. Hayward can really shoot! Great size. As a sophomore his numbers are 47% FG, 78% FT, and 47% 3 pt. ...Posted five (point, rebound) double-doubles this season.
12. C.J. Anderson - Xavier - 6'6" 220. Jr. ...Really active. Involved in seemingly every play. He is more of a forward at the collegiate level but I see him locking up TWO's in the Association. He rebounds like a demon for his size and position. Right handed. Has an NBA body. …Career 51% FG shooter. …More assists than turnovers. …Flaw in his game is his free throw shooting (59%)
13. Courtney Lee - W. Kentucky - 6'5" 190. SR. ...Lee can score in an efficient way. He is the smaller-school guard that could play for any big program. ...A defensive gambler that gets lots of steals.
14. Malik Hairston - Oregon - 6'6" 200. SR. ...A guy with about as many three point attempts as free throws. A mature player that can score. …Scored 23 points in a win over Arizona Jan. 14, 2006. …Does have the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the hoop.
15. Shan Foster - Vanderbilt - 6'6" 200. SR. ...2007-08 SEC Player of the Year. Sports gaudy averages this season of 20.5 PPG, 4.5 RpG, while shooting 52% from the field, and an insane 47% from deep. ...First name is pronounced "Shane". …Scorer that likes to bury three point shots. Seldom gets to the free throw line. Scored 32 points to help lead Vandy to upset win against #1 ranked Tennessee on 02/26/08.
15-A. Reggie Larry - Boise State - 6'6" 225. SR. ...If he can make the transition from college forward to NBA guard - Reggie Larry has a shot. ...Larry averages 19.6 points per game this season. Played two seasons at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, Idaho ...Averaged 15.2 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore, while making 50.5 percent of his field goals ...Named to the 2006 Junior College All-National Tournament Team in Hutchinson, Kan., after averaging 21.0 points and 11.7 rebounds in CSI’s three games. See Larry dunk.