These are your floor generals, the extension of the coach on the floor, and the player where it all usually begins.  The primary role of a point guard is to set the offense up, whether it’s a half-court set or handling the ball on the fast break and finding the open man.  Here’s a look at the top five point guard prospects in this year’s draft.

1. Marcus Williams, University of Connecticut, 6’2”, 200 lbs.
Williams comes from great programs, both in high school (Oak Hill Academy) and college (UConn).  He has very good court vision able to find the open man, prototype physicality, and is able to stay cool in tight situations.  He has excellent ball-handling skills and being a lefty brings a different dimension to the court.  Unfortunately there are some off-the-court issues with Williams and his defense isn’t the greatest.

2. Sergio Rodriguez, Spain, 6’3”, 170 lbs.
Rodriguez is only 19-years-old, a dynamo with the ball who is able to find teammates to finish and get to the hoop.  Unfortunately, with that youth, Rodriguez can get too caught up in trying to look flashy, he causes turnovers.  He hasn’t shown the ability to play well on defense and can be burned from the perimeter or off the dribble.  However, he has a huge upside and because of his age, will probably be one of the point guards taken first within the position.

3. Rajon Rondo, University of Kentucky, 6’1”, 171 lbs.
Unlike the aforementioned players, Rondo can play defense.  Not only that, the boy can rebound as well (6.1), actually leading Kentucky in that category last season… as a point guard!  He has great physical skills, able to sky, great lateral quickness, and a long wingspan.  Rondo’s drawbacks are that he’s thin and doesn’t quite have great perimeter shooting skills.  For example a 57.7 career FT% is not a good thing. 

4. Jordan Farmar, UCLA, 6’2”, 170 lbs.
Farmar is a great playmaker, heady, and makes his teammates better.  He sounds like another Cali point guard that has since become one of the best point guards to ever play in the NBA - Jason Kidd.  I’m not saying Farmar is the next Kidd, but he does have those intangibles.  Farmar can score and pass with the best of them, but has only average athleticism and needs to create space, or have it created for him by a screen, to be effective.

5. Kyle Lowry, Villanova University, 6’0”, 185 lbs.
Lowry is a tough player on both ends of the court - attacking the basket and playing defense up in his man’s face.  Of the two, Lowry’s defense is his better quality.  He doesn’t have a polished offensive game and his perimeter shooting is questionable.  Also, Lowry is shorter than the ideal point guard height.

Others to consider:

Dee Brown, University of Illinois; Mardy Collins, Temple University; Jose Juan Barea, Northeastern University; Darius Washington, Jr., University of Memphis; Gerry McNamara, Syracuse University