Who are the top point guards in the 2018 NBA draft?
This crop is a far cry from the most recent elite and unprecedented group. Five of the first 10 picks in the 2017 draft were point guards. When it's all said and done the 2017 NBA draft could eventually be viewed as one of the best point guard drafts the league has seen in recent history. With a balanced blend of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, this is a fluid group that could very well look different top to bottom come June.
Can Collin Sexton find a healthy balance between scoring and playmaking under Avery Johnson? Can Trevon Duval shoot it well enough to stay on the floor for Coach K? How will Aaron Holiday fare as the primary facilitator for the first time in his college career? There are a lot of questions to be answered about this year's group of point guards. Here's our top 10:
Note: You can find our updated list of the top 10 college PG prospects here throughout the year.
1. Collin Sexton
Alabama
Age: 18.8
PG
Height: 6-foot-1½ | Wingspan: 6-7
The brash 6-2 point guard has the fearless nature and explosive scoring ability to emerge as the top lead guard prospect in the 2018 draft. Playing for what's expected to be a very competitive Alabama team, Sexton will put constant pressure on the rim with his dynamic penetrating ability while providing relentless ball pressure on the other end of the floor when fully engaged. Somewhat of a late-riser from small-town Marietta, Georgia (population less than 60,000), Sexton plays with an aggressive mentality and life-sized chip on his shoulder, which could work for or against him under former floor general Avery Johnson.
He's a wild, score-first player who still has to prove himself as a shooter, and lacks discipline both offensively and defensively. With a physical and athletic profile that resembles a Kemba Walker-style guard (Sexton is longer), Sexton's toughness, quick-twitch athleticism and ability to break down defenses will be coveted by NBA decision if he's able to settle down, make shots and find a healthy balance between scoring and playmaking.
DraftExpress Database stat: Career 37.9 points per 40 minutes (27 GP)
2. Trevon Duval
Duke
Age: 19.2
PG
Height: 6-foot-3 | Wingspan: 6-9½
From a physical perspective, Duval looks like a lottery pick -- 6-3 with a chiseled frame, big hands, a 6-9½ wingspan, and illusive open-court speed. He can put pressure on the rim, has tremendous defensive potential, and shows flashes as a playmaker. While the 19-year-old's physical tools are impressive, his skill level and decision making still have to develop before he can maximize his potential. He's a non-shooter and average half-court playmaker at this stage.
Duval does add value as an on-ball defender, penetrator and open-court facilitator, but he'll likely have to either improve as a shooter or find ways to impact the game without making shots to live up to his No. 6 RSCI ranking. Duval was a touted high school prospect for a reason, and he could very well remain in the upper tier of this group if he plays a key role on a loaded Duke team that makes a deep run.
DraftExpress Database stat: Career 17.4 3P% (46 attempts) and 54.2 FT% (120 attempts)
3. Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Virginia Tech
Age: 19.1
PG/SG
Height: 6-foot-5½ | Wingspan: 6-9
The versatile Canadian guard is one of the most intriguing long-term prospects in this group given his combination of size, length and skill. At 6-5½ with a 6-9 wingspan and an upper body that should fill out in time, the Toronto product has the size to play either guard spot comfortably, and has physical dimensions similar to Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie. Although not an explosive athlete, the Virginia Tech player is ambidextrous, a creative finisher and passer, and a savvy pick-and-roll man with a strong feel who can make shots with time and space.
Given his lack of elite burst and leaping ability, Alexander-Walker will have to continue to prove he can make shots with consistency when contested, as his release is on the slow side. His defensive toughness remains a question mark as well. He'll be tested in that area by Buzz Williams, and how he responds to adversity will go a long way in determining his short-term draft stock. If Alexander-Walker shoots the ball well and gets tougher on both ends, it's not out of the question that he becomes one of the most sought after guards in this group.
DraftExpress Database stat: 43.2 3P% (95 attempts)
4. Aaron Holiday
UCLA
Age: 21.0
PG
Height: 6-foot-1 | Wingspan: 6-6
Playing second fiddle to Lonzo Ball last season, the 21-year-old Holiday gets his first crack at running the show for Steve Alford since arriving in Westwood in 2015. More of a scoring combo guard at the high school level, the youngest Holiday brother has to prove to NBA teams that he can find a healthy balance between scoring and playmaking while limiting turnovers. With that said, Holiday has the blend of toughness and confidence that you often see from players who overperform relative to draft slot.
Although 6-1 might be generous, Holiday's strong upper and lower body, 6-6 wingspan and relentless nature make him an elite on-ball defender who has proven willing to slide up and check some 2-guards as well. He's an aggressive straight-line driver and an outstanding spot-up shooter, an area where he has really improved over the years. Holiday doesn't carry the same RSCI clout as a Sexton or Duval, but it's not out of the question that he enters the conversation as one of the top point guards in this year's crop.
Synergy Sports stat: 1.5 points per possession on catch-and-shoot jumpers (99th percentile)
5. Devonte' Graham
Kansas
Age: 22.6
PG
Height: 6-foot-2 | Wingspan: N/A
The 22-year-old Graham is a legitimate Big 12 Player of the Year candidate and a high-floor NBA prospect given his shot-making ability and defensive activity. As he showed going 6-for-13 on 3-pointers in an exhibition game against Missouri, Graham is a big-time shooter who can catch fire off the catch and the dribble. The 6-2 guard made the second-most 3s of any player in the DraftExpress Top 100 at a 39-percent clip, and figures to at the very least carve out a role as a bench shot-maker in the NBA.
The key for Graham, who has so-so tools with a compact frame and average length, revolves around his playmaking ability. Playing next to Malik Newman, the Jayhawks need Graham to develop into more of a facilitator this season, which would go a long way in improving his long-term outlook as a prospect. Graham can also stand to add more to his game inside the paint, as he struggles to create much outside of jump shots and isn't the most dynamic finisher when he gets to the rim. What you see is what you get with Graham, and he should turn in a big senior season for the Jayhawks.
DraftExpress Database stat: 3.0 made 3s per 40 minutes at 38.8 percent
6. Lamar Peters
Mississippi State
Age: 19.3
PG
Height: 6-foot-1 | Wingspan: 6-4½
The 19-year-old Mississippi State guard followed up a solid freshman season with a monster showing at Adidas Nations in Houston, throwing his name into the hat as a legitimate NBA prospect to monitor. His dynamic slashing ability and tough shot-making acumen led to per-40 minute averages of 27.0 points and 9.2 assists on 60-percent shooting from 2 and 50 percent from 3 in five Nations college counselor games.
A fairly unheralded high school recruit out of New Orleans, Peters is a shifty change-of-pace guard with a compact frame at 6-1 with a 6-4½ wingspan. He's at his best when he can get downhill, using his unique ability to shift gears on a dime to put big-man defenders on skates in pick-and-roll. More scorer than playmaker, Peters still has to prove he can run a team in a half-court setting, which would go a long way in improving his long-term projection. If Peters ups his game management, shoots the ball consistently from 3 and improves as a finisher at the rim (44.4 percent last season) under Ben Howland, he could very well shoot up this already fluid list of point guard prospects.
DraftExpress Database stat: Lifetime 34.1 percent from 3 (378 attempts)
7. Andrew Jones
Texas
Age: 19.8
PG/SG
Height: 6-foot-4 | Wingspan: 6-6½
Jones is one of the more physically talented guards in this group, at 6-4 with a cut frame, a 6-6½ wingspan and above-average athleticism. The score-first guard turned in an up-and-down freshman season in Austin before testing the waters and eventually returning to school. His talent has rarely been the question, as he's explosive to the rim with scoring instincts, shooting potential and good feet defensively. The Texas native stood out during UT's Australian tour in August, leading the team in scoring on multiple occasions and finishing a game-winning layup against Cairns Paipans.
With a physical profile somewhat similar to Jordan Clarkson, Jones might be best as a scoring combo guard at the NBA level, allowing him to focus on bucket-getting rather than thinking the game as a primary facilitator, an area where he has struggled at times. He has played far too sped up in the past, and becoming a more advanced pick-and-roll player and a consistent shooter will go along way in bolstering his stock. Playing alongside potential No. 1 pick Mohamed Bamba, Jones will have plenty of opportunities to prove himself in front of NBA scouts.
DraftExpress Database Stat: 2 NBA Combine games: 6-for-16 from 2, 0-for-4 from 3
8. Landry Shamet
Wichita State
Age: 20.6
PG
Height: 6-foot-4 | Wingspan: 6-8
Arguably the best shooter on this list, the Missouri Valley Rookie of the Year offers an excellent blend of positional size at 6-4, shooting versatility and a strong feel for the game. Shamet looked every bit of a potential first-round pick against Kentucky in the NCAA tournament, and parlayed a strong redshirt freshman season into an Under Armour All-American Camp invite in late July. Unfortunately, Shamet suffered a fifth metatarsal stress fracture in his right foot and was forced to have surgery. Shamet redshirted his freshman season because of the same injury in his left foot, and will have to prove he can stay healthy through an entire calendar year before NBA teams will invest in him long term.
If he can stay on the floor this season, Shamet should have a big year as the Shockers' lead guard. He's smooth and slick with the ball, confident pulling up from distance and a heady playmaker who plays a mistake-free brand of basketball. With a slight frame, good not great athleticism, and a laundry list of foot injuries, Shamet starts the season toward the bottom of this list. But he could improve his stock quickly if he can stay healthy.
DraftExpress Database stat: 3.0 made 3s per 40 minutes at 43.8 percent
9. Jevon Carter
West Virginia
Age: 22.1
PG
Height: 6-foot-1½ | Wingspan: 6-3
The 22-year-old bulldog has improved incrementally every year under Bob Huggins and figures to have a big senior season on both ends of the floor. Carter isn't a consummate point guard, but he's a physical, scrappy on-ball defender who can go get a bucket in late-clock situations thanks to his quickness, footwork and tough shot-making ability. At 6-1½, 199 pounds with a 6-3 wingspan, Carter has some physical similarities to a Raymond Felton-style guard at the same age, and he used his physicality and intensity to earn Big 12 and NABC Defensive Player of the Year awards last season.
Offensively, Carter has a tendency to go into chucker mode, and will have to find more ways to make his teammates better as he relies on tough pull-ups to get himself going. Carter will contend for DPOY again this season and could eventually find himself on an NBA roster thanks to his scratch-and-claw defensive mentality and shot-creation abilities.
DraftExpress Database stat: 3.1 steals per 40 minutes, 2nd in the NCAA in defensive win shares
10. Bryant Crawford
Wake Forest
Age: 20.6
PG
Height: 6-foot-3 | Wingspan: 6-7
Crawford has flown a bit under the radar while posting impressive numbers in arguably the toughest conference in the country. Crawford was one of only two guards in the ACC last season to average at least 15 points and 5 assists per game while shooting at least 50 percent from 2 and 30 percent from 3. The other? Dallas Mavericks explosive rookie Dennis Smith Jr. Crawford's game and NBA upside haven't always matched his productivity, however.
He's not quite great in one area as he's a streaky shooter, a straight-line athlete with limited wiggle and isn't an extraordinary playmaker to boot. Crawford does check a few boxes as he can make pull-ups, straight-line drive, be a playmaker in space and defend when motivated. But he doesn't yet possess an elite NBA skill. Crawford does have the physical profile of an NBA guard at 6-3, 200 pounds with a 6-7 wingspan, which could make him an intriguing option if he continues to develop skill wise. Wake Forest has added some nice young pieces, but Crawford will have to adjust to life without John Collins, whose hard rim runs and explosive lob finishes were the source of the bulk of Crawford's assists.
DraftExpress Database stat: 20.4 points and 6.9 assists per 40 minutes