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NBA prospects: Point Guard
By Tony Mejia
SportsLine.com staff
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As of May 22, 2001
SportsLine.com College Hoops Producer Tony Mejia ranks this year's crop of top NBA prospects at each position. Mejia ranks the players based on their potential NBA positions, not where they played in college. Look for modifications as underclassmen and foreign players declare.
PG | SG | SF | PF | C
| Point Guards |
| Rank |
Player |
Ht |
Wt |
School |
Class |
| 1 |
Jamaal Tinsley |
6-3 |
195 |
Iowa State |
Sr |
| Mejia: A playground legend who brings an air of stability to his team. Needs to improve his offense, but there are few better at distributing. |
| 2 |
Omar Cook |
6-1 |
190 |
St. John's |
Fr |
| Mejia: Great floor general whose passes are often bewildering. Does struggle with his temperament and streaky outside shot. Could use at least one more year in college. |
| 3 |
Kenny Satterfield |
6-2 |
185 |
Cincinnati |
So |
| Mejia: Has bouts with inconsistency, but he's a good defender and playmaker who should develop into a solid point; could go in the late teens to early 20s. |
| 4 |
Rashad Phillips |
5-10 |
162 |
Detroit |
Sr |
| Mejia: Even shorter than listed, but who cares? This mighty-mite can get any shot he desires and is fabulous at creating opportunities for teammates. |
| 5 |
Tony Parker |
6-1 |
180 |
Paris Basket Racing (France) |
Int'l |
| Mejia: Solid ballhandler who can penetrate well. Still learning the intricacies of the point but could develop into a top lead guard with some seasoning. |
| 6 |
Horace Jenkins |
6-1 |
180 |
William Patterson |
Sr |
| Mejia: His quickness and leaping ability is unmatched in this year's point guard crop. |
| 7 |
Cookie Belcher |
6-4 |
205 |
Nebraska |
Sr |
| Mejia: Recovered well from a broken wrist, learning how to adequately play the point. His point guard package is still evolving, but his tremendous defensive game will lure NBA overtures. |
| 8 |
Charlie Bell |
6-3 |
200 |
Michigan State |
Sr |
| Mejia: His suffocating defense may be his meal ticket, but this Flintstone has displayed the ability to do whatever is asked of him. |
| 9 |
Kyle Hill |
6-2 |
180 |
Eastern Illinois |
Sr |
| Mejia: Must improve defensively, but offensively, few can match this unheralded OVC star. Penetrates at will, and could eventually end up being a Chucky Atkins-type player. |
| 10 |
Earl Watson |
6-1 |
190 |
UCLA |
Sr |
| Mejia: A good athlete with solid speed. He runs an offense well, but isn't a great shooter or an overwhelming penetrator. |
| 11 |
Jason Gardner |
5-10 |
178 |
Arizona |
So |
| Mejia: Absolutely not ready for the NBA game. Must get stronger, quicker, defend better, gain consistency and mature. Likely just putting his name out to gain experience in the pre-draft camps. |
| 12 |
Darren Kelly |
6-3 |
200 |
Texas |
Sr |
| Mejia: Solid defender who isn't a true point guard, but needs to be due to his lack of size. Very quick and a solid shooter, so he may have an NBA future. |
| 13 |
Donald Hand |
5-11 |
193 |
Virginia |
Sr |
| Mejia: Poised point whose ability to handle pressure and play solid defense should land him an NBA tryout somewhere. |
| 14 |
Joe Crispin |
6-1 |
177 |
Penn State |
Sr |
| Mejia: Compares his game to former NBA star Mark Price, who thrived in the league as a jump shooting point guard. |
| 15 |
SirValiant Brown |
6-1 |
158 |
George Washington |
So |
| Mejia: Lightning-fast guard doesn't pass much and doesn't shoot well; can penetrate at will but is still worlds away from being a professional. |
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