Friday, January 8th, 2010 at 12:21 pm  |  46 responses

2010 NBA Draft – Point Guards

John Wall or bust!

by Jeff Fox

What a difference a year can make. Last year’s draft was one for the ages in terms of point guard talent. This year’s draft, to use an annoying and overused expression, “not so much.”

This year, if you are in need of a point guard, you better start losing games real quick and get yourself the No. 1 overall pick, because the 2010 NBA Draft is JOHN WALL OR BUST!

Wall is the only real standout point guard talent for 2010, with the prospect pool filled with a bunch of undersized point men and combo guards. In fact, instead of coming up with the top five point guard prospects as per usual, we could only come up with four that could possibly get drafted this year (unless some unexpected point guard underclassmen declare).

1) John Wall | Kentucky | Freshman
We’ve already written about how much we love John Wall here, and here. Our opinion has not changed in the least, as Wall continues to impress in his first (and last) season in college. He’s shooting over 50 percent from the field while putting up a stat line of 17/7/4 and is even hitting three’s more frequently as the season wears on. Mark him down (in indelible ink) as the first name out of David Stern’s mouth at this year’s draft.

2) Kalin Lucas | Michigan State | Junior

This is where things really drop off, but that is by no means meant to be an insult to Kalin Lucas. Lucas should have a long NBA career, he’s just not projected to be more than a serviceable player. Lightning quick and battle-tested, Lucas is enjoying a strong junior season in East Lansing and has improved his field goal percent by almost 100 points from last year. As of now he looks to be a late first round pick.

3) Sherron Collins | Kansas | Senior
Speaking of battle-tested players, none come with more experience under their belt than Sherron Collins. Incredibly quick, yet also extremely strong, Collins has the Jayhawks on course to earn him a second NCAA championship ring. The fact that he measures in at under six feet hurts his draft stock though, as he is projected as a late first round or early second round pick.

4) Alexey Shved | Russia | 1988
It’s hard to get a real good feel for how good Alexey Shved is (or will be) because he rarely sees the court for Dynamo Moscow. What we do know is he is long for a point guard (6-5), has a good handle and a nice stroke from outside. He’ll probably hear his name called in the early to middle portions of the second round.

Next up: The Shooting Guards

Read more of Jeff Fox at The Hoops Manifesto.

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  • http://slamonline.com/ Ryne Nelson

    It’ll be interesting to follow Shved’s stock as the Draft rolls around. Scottie Reynolds is another big domestic name that come to mind. He’s a possibility as a solid backup in the L, yeah?

  • http://slamonline.com/ niQ

    John Wall. Which team will be lucky enough to get him?

  • Royal

    @niQ:Wizards!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • http://www.hoopsmanifesto.com Jeff Fox

    Ryne, I think Reynolds is more of a dreaded “combo guard”!

  • http://slamonline.com/ Ryne Nelson

    Gotcha. Jerome Randle’s another name, but his height probably will be the big difference maker (once again)…

  • Ken

    Ouch… no love at all for Greivis Vasquez? I know the Terps aren’t great, but dude puts up video game numbers in the ACC, and has the size and court vision to play in the NBA. He needs to tone down the flash and pass more (but when you’re the best player on your team in college, that can be forgiven), but I can’t believe he’s not even on the draft radar. I saw him get a triple double against UNC last year and win that game himself!

  • http://www.yahoo.com Logues

    do u think if the nets get #1 they will take wall even tho they already got harris?

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    I hope Detroit sucks enough to get Wall in the draft…they need a real PG. dump RIP and play Stuckey @ the 2 with BG as a backup. that’d be a heck of a gaurd rotation. Wall-Bynum and Stuckey-Gordon.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Ryne Nelson

    I don’t think Vasquez can be considered a true point, either…

  • Orlando Woolridge

    wayno, kinda small, no? Just thinking on the defensive end.

  • Orlando Woolridge

    Damn, is Wall really 6’4″?

  • http://www.slamonline.com B-zog

    I hope the wolves can get wall and Patrick Patterson they should just lose the rest of there games for the season

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  • Mike

    Shved has impressed in the pre-draft euro camp the last 2 years and I believe he is worthy of a higher projection than the one mr. Fox has provided – question for mr. Fox – what is your background? Scout?

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    @ Orlando, yeah, aside from Stuckey it’s a pretty small gaurd rotation, but they’d be able to score like crazy. They just need a PG who can really run the show. Stuckey can do it for short stretches, but as we saw earlier this season he’s a FAR better SG. When he played along side Chucky Atkins he was playing the best ball of his career.

  • http://www.hoopsmanifesto.com Jeff Fox

    I’m projecting what position a prospect would play in the NBA so I have Vasquez as a shooting guard. @Mike – I’m not a scout, I’m a writer that specializes in the NBA draft. I’ve been doing in depth draft prospect profiles for about 4-5 years now.

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  • Tyler Whitcomb

    If you put Willie Warren at the point he is the 2nd best by far. He is probably a 2 guard, but out of high school he was considered a point guard after leading his high school team to the state championship and dropping 11 dimes. Some scouts still see him as a potential pg, but if he plays the 2 guard spot in the league, your dead on with your top 4. Ryne was right on Scottie Reynolds and another 2 names would be Tyshawn Taylor with his upside and Nevada’s point guard Armon johnson.

  • http://slamonline.com/ niQ

    Logues, if they get Wall, they will most likely trade Devin Harris for either a better SG or SF.

  • Tyler Whitcomb

    Jeff, great job once again!

  • Anony Mous

    No love for Kemba Walker? Walker and Tyshawn Taylor deserve props. Wall will likely be the only one that becomes a starter out of all the PG’s in the draft though, so meh. Also, is Avery Bradley a SG?

  • DR01

    a twist of fate… wall is drafted by #1 nj then they won the lottery for lbj…damn… wall at 1 harris at 2 lbj at 3…

    another one…chicago w/ drose, got dwade, and made some dealing to get stat from the suns…damn again… plus drose signs w/ nike for better kicks…

  • JJay

    John wall has already stated in a recent interview that he will not declare to the NBA draft after his freshman year, due to a promise he made his father before he passed.

  • nora

    from your opening paragraph, i guess you’re assuming gaddy and bradley aren’t coming out this year. i know gaddy is strugglin a bit and bradley isn’t taring things up, but i see them both as stronger prospects then lucas and collins. notwithstanding, collins is gona be a player in this league – he’ll want it bad enough

  • DMC14

    STAT aint going no where!!! (I hope and pray).

  • http://www.hoopsmanifesto.com Jeff Fox

    Nora – I doubt Gaddy is coming out after the way he has been playing. As for Bradley, perhaps, but I’m not sure if I’d consider him a NBA point guard or a shooting guard or a “combo guard” at this point.

  • asdfghjkl

    Gaddy isnt even eligible to come out this year ’cause he’s a year younger than his class. He has to wait till he’s done two seasons.

  • http://www.hoopsmanifesto.com Jeff Fox

    You’re right about Gaddy – I didn’t realize that myself. Thanks for pointing it out.

  • http://www.need4sheed.com Tarzan Cooper

    despite being 5 11, sherrons speed and strength will make him a very good nba players. larger points will have trouble trying to post him because he is like a mini baron davis, also a better distance shooter than baron. if he goes to the right situation, he will have an excellent immediate impact.

  • http://www.euroleagueadventures.com Nick Gibson

    No love for Jon Scheyer ’round these parts. 57th pick on NBADraft.net, not present on DraftExpress. If Kirk Hinrich can go 7th in ’03 (not a bad draft either), why not take a shot on Scheyer? If nothing else, he won’t be a negative. 5:1 assist:turnover with 20 pts, 6 assists and 90% from the line. Maybe he’s considered an NBA 2? Or maybe he just doesn’t wow scouts with the (overrated) vertical or wingspan. We’ll see come June I guess.

  • http://www.in-n-outnba.blogspot.com In-N-Out Lucas

    Eric Bledsoe maybe?

  • nora

    thanks for the info a gaddy, i didn’t know either. bradley at 6’3″ with his basketball iq may not have the quickness at this point to be a high quality one in the league right now but i think when he gets their his tools will allow him to play the position. he’s a smart and aggressive enough defender that his lack of elite speed will stop him from defending points and he knows how to pick his own spots offensively while letting others find their groove – he’s got adult skills, to say the least. with all that said, you are probably accessing the situation as a gm would be now, so i def feel what you’re saying

  • http://www.hoopsmanifesto.com Jeff Fox

    I’m not sold on Scheyer being able to play the point in the NBA, so yes, I’m considering him a 2-guard at this point.

  • http://www.luketynan.blogspot.com litetitan

    Can this year PLEASE PLEASE be the year where an awesome point guard (in Sherron Collins) with the true ability to lead a team NOT be let fall all the way into the 2nd round just because he is near if not below 6 foot? PLEASE. I am yet to see where a short PG that can actually play their position well does ANY damage to their teams, particularly rookie PG’s… look currently at the likes of Darren Collison or back to Chris Paul as a rookie…if not back even further to Damon Stoudemire?? The guy is professional and educated. Tell you what…
    ___
    If Washington get a chance to get this guy, he would look great alongside Randy Foye and/or Caron Butler in the backcourt (when Arena’s is let go of course…).

  • http://myspace.com/weezyleezy337 GametimeWeezy

    good job Jeff. definately a weak pg class. where does Rubio fit into all of this?

  • al

    Ricky is the deal

  • http://www.luketynan.blogspot.com litetitan

    umm gametime….? rubio was drafted last year. why would he get a look in now – just because he didn’t come to the NBA? nah…he’s the class of 2009 all the way.

  • dw24

    I’d have to say Sherron right now is the most developed point so I put him at the 2 only because Wall has a crazy amount of potential and at 6’4 you have to like that. Sherron though posesses good defense, very nice range, leadership qualities, and playmaking ability. He makes players better. I don’t see that from Kalin Lucas. I see him as a late 1st round early second rounder who ends up lost in Free Agency after his rookie contract.

  • http://myspace.com/weezyleezy337 GametimeWeezy

    umm littletitan…? he was drafted last year? nooooooooo….really????????????????

  • NOVA

    SCOTTIE REYNOLDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!c’mon!

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  • Tyler Whitcomb

    If you throw Eric Bledsoe in this class of Point guard with Evan Turner who I think would make a great NBA point guard and list Willie Warren as a point, this class went from weak to really good. Just a thought!

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  • http://www.fantasticfansite.com Fontaine

    Yeah, I’d definitely have Scottie on the list as well… and what about USC’s Devan Downey?

  • http://www.pickingpros.com Britt

    good point on Hinrich vs. Scheyer Nick. Scheyer I think is actually very underrated. I think he’ll have the impact JJ Redick has thus far in the NBA. Maybe not worth a 1st round pick with all the talent in the draft. But early 2nd round he provides good value.

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