Around 8 PM last night one of my friends texted me, and said "Markus Howard (Marquette's freshman point guard) is really good." While Markus Howard isn't one of them (although he will be at some point), this got me thinking about who the best point guards in the country are, and I rattled off ten names of who I thought to be the best. I'm not going to explain to you how I ranked these players because I don't even know what I did to do so. The best way to describe it is to say that I went off who I thought most contributes to the team's success, mixed in with NBA potential.
1. Frank Mason III (Kansas, senior)- Probably the most intimidating presence in college basketball, Mason III has a knack for taking over big games when the Jayhawks need it the most. He gets to the basket with ease and can finish extremely well with contact, making him one the most unstoppable players in the country.
2. Markelle Fultz (Washington, freshman)- Fultz is the best point guard prospect since Kyrie Irving. He is projected to be the first overall pick in the draft by many sources, he doesn't have any weaknesses offensively. It's rare to see a freshman guard shoot the ball from distance as proficiently as he is doing (43.5%), while also being able to get to the rack at will.
3. Lonzo Ball (UCLA, freshman)- Lonzo Ball is a lanky 6'6 with a great feel for the game. He is currently averaging 8 assists per game and has taken UCLA from an NIT team to a national contender in a span of two months. He has an awkward shot form, but still hits 43.2% of his triples, which is remarkable.
4. De'Aaron Fox (Kentucky, freshman)- Fox takes over games with his absurd speed and defensive prowess. He averages 16.7 PPG despite shooting 12.5% from 3. Fox is at his best when he can get out in transition and create opportunities for his teammates.
5. Dennis Smith Jr (North Carolina State, freshman)- Smith is a great lead guard and can carry his team in scoring every night. Currently averaging 18.8 PPG, he knows when to be in attack mode, as that's usually most of the time. He has also shown that he can dish the rock too, getting 6.2 assists per game as well.
6. Joel Berry II (North Carolina, junior)- Berry's assault on college basketball began in last year's national championship game where he went off for 20 points with 4 threes. Since then, there has been no doubt about Berry's place among the elite. He is averaging 15.6 PPG, knocking down 50% of his shots.
7. Nigel Williams-Goss (Gonzaga, junior)- Williams-Goss was a standout at Washington for two seasons, but this has been his best season in his first for the Zags. He is averaging 15.3 PPG while knocking down 42% of his threes. Along with his on-court abilities, he is also an unquestioned leader for one of the best teams in the country.
8. Jalen Brunson (Villanova, sophomore)- Brunson is often overshadowed by NPOY candidate Josh Hart, but his contributions are certainly worthy of 8th on the list. Brunson is the floor general for the Wildcats, and he averages 14.4 PPG and 4.1 APG, but he also hits 44.6% of his triples. He was Ryan Arcidiacono's apprentice last year, and now he has come into his own.
9. Bronson Koenig (Wisconsin, senior)- Some people might object to Koenig being ranked so high, but this kid is invaluable to the Badgers. He is most known for hitting the shot that beat Xavier in last year's round of 32, but his game is so much more than that. His assist numbers are strangely low (1.9 per game), but Koenig is a guy whose value goes outside the box score.
10. Maurice Watson Jr (Creighton, senior)- There were many people who could've had this last spot, but I ultimately decided to go with Watson Jr because of his playmaking ability. He is currently averaging 13.6 PPG, but it's his passing that is most commendable. His 9 assists per game lead Division I, and he is the engine behind a Creighton offense that has been nothing short of brilliant this season.
Honorable Mention:
Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State, sophomore)
Matt Farrell (Notre Dame, junior)
Monté Morris (Iowa State, senior)
London Perrantes (Virginia, senior)
Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Florida State, junior)
Edmond Sumner (Xavier, sophomore)
Melo Trimble (Maryland, junior)
No comments:
Post a Comment