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Each year we look at the top 15 players at each position in the NCAA tournament (from an 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'.
The top 15 players at each position in the 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, from an NBA scouting perspective. - By Bobby Gerould - March 18, 2009
There is a real chance for many college players at the Shooting Guard position to impact the NBA in the coming years. After the top seven or so pros (Wade, Kobe, Ginobili, Roy, Vince Carter, Joe Johnson, Caron Butler) - the rest of the NBA landscape is pretty average at this important postion. Let's look at our list of the best 15 Shooting Guards in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
1. James Harden - Arizona State. 6'5"" 210. Soph. ...2008-09 Pac 10 Player of the Year. ...Harden is a Scoring Guard that has managed to shoot 53% FG through two seasons at ASU. ...Can take contact and still hit the shot. Lefty. Mature beyond his years. A scorer that is not selfish. …75% FT. Does not overwhelm with athleticism. ... Named First-Team All-America by the United States Basketball Writers Association, the first time a Sun Devil has earned the honor from the organization.
2. Danny Green - North Carolina. - 6'5" 202. SR. ...Green has an all around game. Sees the floor well, and is improving with his decision making. The bonus with Green is his ability to guard perimeter players effectively. He has 146 blocked shots in his career - as a wing player! . …Takes a back seat to the rest of the great talent that he plays with. 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. ...Was Co-MVP of the 2004 ABCD Camp. Q&A with Green
3. Tyreke Evans -Memphis. 6'5" 195. Frosh. ... 2008-09 Sporting News Freshman of the Year has the combo of speed and power. Terrific finisher. ...Evans is averaging a 17 points per game, 5.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists this season. He is the biggest reason Memphis is 28-3. ...Evans is currently playing Point Guard but I believe his natural position in the NBA will be Shooting Guard. …Has good vision. …Perhaps the first in what is sure to be a long list of players who have incorporated Lebron James' style into their own game. …Evans is not as tall as Lebron but he plays with a similar combo of power, skill, and speed.
4. Paul Harris - Syracuse. 6'4" 220. Jr. ...Lb. for lb. maybe the strongest player in college hoops. …Harris is the best athlete on the Syracuse team. He looks like he could be a football player. …His skill set right now is more suited to being a Power Forward but at 6'4" he will be a defensive force at SG at the next level. ...Terrific offensive rebounder and hard nosed player that will not back down from a challenge. ...His perimeter shot has improved with time and his 72% FT numbers for his career suggest he is not as poor a shooter as his critics claim.
5. Tyler Smith - Tennessee . 6'7" 215. Jr. ...2008-09 First Team All SEC. ...Has the coveted combo of size and play making ability. …Smith has NBA athleticism and a diverse, unselfish game to match. He can play ONE, TWO or THREE offensively - although super quick guards would give him trouble defensively. This season he averaged 17 points, six boards, and three assists per game. …Started his college career at Iowa.
6. Devin Ebanks - West Virginia - 6'9" 205. Frosh. ...A cool customer. Ebanks - if he can improve his deep shooting - will be a SF at the next level. Right now he sticks out like a spotlight due to his NBA body and ability to rebound the ball. ...He can also run the floor, penetrate, create his own shot and pull up for a mid-range jumper with defenders in his face. ...Some players simply have a nose for the ball - and this kid fits that description. …Versatile. Can guard four positions. ...Long. ...Can slash. ...Nimble, and athletic. ...Has the ability to finish. ...Has the same body as a young Tracy McGrady. …Was an Indiana recruit that bounced to W. VA. When the Kelvin Sampson thing went down. Will Ebanks go pro?
7. Sam Young - Pittsburgh - 6'6" 210. SR. ...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. Jr. ...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. Jeff Teague - Wake Forest. 6'2"" 175. Soph. ...Teague leads Wake Forest in scoring (19.1), assists (3.5) and steals (1.9). ...A good athlete that gets himself to the free throw line with regularity. He converts at 82%. …Most observers have him pegged as an NBA Point Guard. I think his assist-to-turnover numbers are not strong enough. That said, he will be a fine SG due his ability to score. ...Speedy defender. ...High steals per minute. From Indianapolis. Teague says, "My strength is my ability to create." ...Good IndyStar.com artlicle on Teague
10. Manny Harris - Michigan . 6'5" 170. Soph. ...Harris is a scorer that can create his own shot. ...Athletic, and said to be coachable. ...Has lots of potential due to a nice touch but he needs to learn to turn down some shots in favor of assisting teammates. …84% FT number says he CAN shoot better than his current 32% from three point range. ...Can run and finish. ...Played an excellent game at Wisconsin (01/22/08) when he scored 26 points on 11-19 FG. Read a good story about Harris here.
11. Gerald Henderson - Duke . 6'4" 215 Jr. ... Henderson is one of the best athletes in college basketball. He has improved each season at Duke - this season averaging 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. …Mostly a slasher and finisher at this point. His outside shot is a work in progress and he is a poor free throw shooter. Turnover prone. ...Settles too often for the jumper. ...A former McDonald's All-American. ...Son of former NBA player Gerald Henderson Sr. ...Made a dirty play as a freshman when he flagrantly fouled Tyler Hansbrough.
12. Marcus Thronton - LSU - 6'4" 205. SR. ...2008-09 SEC Player of the Year (as selected by the SEC coaches). Thornton is a terrific scorer that put up 20.9 ppg this season. …A strong Shooting Guard that likes to score but also has a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. ...A good defender with a competitive attitude. …The SEC was down a bit this year so Thornton's GREAT numbers my be inflated a bit. That said, this dude can play. He shoots 37% from three point range.
13. Evan Turner - Ohio St. - 6'6" 175. Soph. ...Turner is one of those kids that just looks like a pro. He has the NBA body and athletic ability to compete at the next level but more importantly he plays with maturity and control. …A personal favorite of mine, Turner averaged 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists this season as a Buckeye sophomore. He can create his own shot in the same manner as Paul Pierce. ...Named 2008-09 First Team All Big Ten. Turner has said publicly that he is returning for his sophomore season.
14. K.C. Rivers - Clemson. 6'6" 200 SR. ... Lefty guard that takes care of the ball and also helps out as a rebounder. Shoots 40% from the college arc. Clemson's all-time leader in three-pointers made. ...Uses pump fake well. …Needs to get to the free throw line more often to have any chance as an NBA player. …Had a impressive game of 32 points in 29 minutes in a romp at Virginia (02/07/08). More of Rivers.
15. Jerel McNeal - Marquette. 6'3" 185. SR. ...McNeal has a John Salmons 'take-it-to-the-hoop' kind of offensive game. He is the leading scorer in the history of Marquette basketball. …Known as the big shot maker among a talented trio that includes Dominic James (now injured), and Wesley Matthews.
The after party...
Kevin Goffney - Chattanooga. 6'5" 210. SR. ...Started this season out with a fractured ankle - and his team was 1-7 without him. He comes back and they make a run all the way to the NCAA Tournament.
C.J. Anderson - Xavier - 6'6" 220. SR. ...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%)
Alex Ruoff - West Virginia. 6'6" 215. SR. ...His scoring average has improved every season. Now he gets 16 points per game.
Jrue Holiday - UCLA. 6'3" 180. Frosh. ...Holiday does a little bit of everything. He can finish at the rim or knock down a perimeter shot - although his deep shooting numbers (31% 3 pt.) are not very good at all. …Good defender that really gets after it. …Offensively - he has the ability to shift into another gear. ...May end up being a Point Guard but he is playing more TWO since Darren Collison is his teammate. …Touted as a great high school player from North Hollywood, CA.
Sources include: DraftExpress.com / USAToday / ESPN.com / The Daily Campus / Sporting News / SI.com