Last season, a record five point guards were selected among
the first 14 picks in the NBA Draft. However, there were only two
other true point guards, Vonteego Cummings and Chris Herren,
selected in the following 44 selections. This year's group of
playmakers may not have the standout in last year's group like
Steve Francis and Andre Miller, but it is a much deeper group
and there could be as many as 15 point guards selected in the
June 28th Draft.
1. Eric Barkley 6-0 185 SO St. John's
Barkley has excellent quickness and can score as well as create for
his teammates. Barkley is a good ballhandler who has a good
assist-to-turnover ratio. He is a tough defender with good lateral
quickness. Barkley started the season slowly, making eight of his first
35 shots in the first two games of the season and missed two games
after undergoing minor knee surgery. However, he has bounced back
and played extremely well in the second half of the season. Barkley
shined this summer as a member of the U.S. World University Games
team. There is plenty of speculation that he will enter the NBA draft
after this season. He could be the first point guard selected, if he does
declare for the draft. Some observers feel that this could happen due to
his ongoing problems with the NCAA, which kept him out of two games
this season. Barkley is a potential lottery pick. He averaged 16.1 points
and 4.5 assists per game.
2. Scoonie Penn 5-10 185 SR Ohio State
Penn is a solid all-around player who does everything well. He is a good
penetrating playmaker who can score as well. A bit undersized, but he
has good leadership skills. However, this season, he has struggled a bit
as a shooter and he was left off the 30 Wooden Award finalists after a
so-so start. Penn is an excellent rebounder for his size, but his assist
numbers should be higher. However, he does have a good
assist-to-turnover ratio for the Buckeyes. Penn will play at the Desert
Classic, the biggest of the three pre-draft camps and he is a first-round
pick in the June NBA Draft. He averaged 15.6 points and 4.3 assists
per game.
3. Mateen Cleaves 6-2 195 SR Michigan State
Cleaves is a leader and winner. The Spartans played well without him
when he missed the start of the season with a stress fracture in his
right foot, but the team knew that if they hope to go far in the
tournament they needed him in the starting lineup. Cleaves is an
excellent passer and defender, but he needs to continue to work on his
outside shot. His mechanics are not textbook perfect and he tends to
shoot from his shoulder and does not get enough arc on his shot. He
uses screen well and can takes the ball to the hoop well. His strength
allows him to bounce off defenders. He has a great first step. Cleaves
has excellent court vision and makes sharp passes. Defensively,
Cleaves has quick hands, which leads to his high number of steals. He
has been a bit injury-prone throughout his career. Cleaves was a
standout high school quarterback, who was recruited by many of the
top football powers. Cleaves is a first round pick in the upcoming NBA
draft and will play in the Desert Classic. He is averaging 12.1 points and
7.5 assists per game.
4. Khalid El-Amin 5-10 203 JR Connecticut
El-Amin does not look like one of the top point guards in the country.
He is short and chunky. However, you cannot measure his heart.
El-Amin possesses great energy and is a true leader. He led
Minneapolis North to three consecutive state titles in high school and
helped the Huskies win their first-ever NCAA title last season. El-Amin
is an excellent leader who wants to have the ball in his hands in the
closing minutes of a game. El-Amin is an excellent free throw shooter,
which makes even tougher in crunch time. He uses his strength well
and has improved his outside shot. He has a good assist-to-turnover
ratio and finishes plays well. El-Amin sometimes has trouble defending
quicker guards, but can create matchup problems on his own, due to
his strength. The former McDonald's All-American toyed with the idea of
entering the NBA draft last season and many expect him to turn pro
after this year. The Huskies signed Taliek Brown, one of the top point
guards in the country, as an insurance policy in the early signing
period. He averaged 16.0 points and 5.2 assists per game.
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