John Thompson's Top 25 Shooting Guards

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Top 25 Off Guards
By: John Thompson
Date: 06/15/2000

There is a decent crop of shooting guards this year, but after the 10-15, it 
gets very weak. Courtney Alexander and DerMarr Johnson are both vying for the 
top spot for shooting guards, but right now the experience of Alexander is 
winning out. 

1. Courtney Alexander, 6-6, 200, Fresno State, Senior
A very mature player that rises just by talking to people. He is a heady guy 
that understands what he needs to do and isn't frightened at all. He is 
probably the front-runner for rookie of the year, even though no one knows 
what team he will play with. Not likely to fall further than 8.

2. DerMarr Johnson, 6-9, 200, SG/SF, Cincinnati, Freshman
Johnson's stock is rising because how often can you get an athletic 
highflying shooting guard at 6'9". Not that often, they know he has a good 
shooting touch, he needs to show he can handle the rest of the game, like 
defense.

3. Quentin Richardson, 6-5, 215, SG/SF, DePaul, Sophomore
His stock is on the rise again. He has teams talking about him again and some 
teams are talking of getting him in the late lottery and as low as around 
early 20's, but a lock for the first round. It helps that he is a good 
athlete and even if he doesn't shoot the ball that great in the workouts, he 
is one of the better rebounders in the draft and only 6-5. HE also moves very 
well without the ball.

4. Morris Peterson, 6-6, 215, SG/SF, Michigan State, Senior
Peterson is slowly dropping, but is still almost a lock for the first round. 
He is a good shooter, especially his pull up jumper in transition. The 
ability to play either shooting guard or small forward may help him as well. 
Winning the National Title helps as well.

5. Deshawn Stevenson, 6-5, 200, SG, Fresno, Cal., High School
Stevenson is being helped because a number of shooting guards performed 
poorly in Chicago and it actually helped him for nto going. He is a great 
leaper and athlete, but not a great shooter and sometimes can get hurt on 
defense, but he was a high schooler too. He is looking more like a first 
rounder now than before, but could fall to the second round.

6. Cory Hightower, 6-6, SG, Indian Hills C.C., Sophomore
Cory showed in Chicago he is one the best athletes in the draft and could one 
day be a top player, but he didn't make a lot of great decisions as the camp 
went on. His stock dropped slightly due his lack of defense at the camp and 
how thin he is, but still a decent chance to be a first rounder.

7. Michael Redd, 6-5, 205, SG, Ohio State, Junior
Redd can get very hot and make anything from anywhere, but at times he has 
been too inconsistent, especially at shooting the ball beyond 15 feet and 
that has hurt him. 

8. Marko Jaric, 6-7, PG/SG, Italy (1978)
Jaric was one of the better all around players in Chicago and he is almost a 
lock to be drafted now and can play right away in the NBA. He can pass, 
shoot, handle the ball, defend a bit, and run the fast break. He may play the 
point in the NBA similar to Brent Barry can, but he has good scoring ability 
too.

9. Jaron Rush, 6-6, 210, SG, UCLA, Sophomore
Rush is a great athlete and has a decent shot outside, but doesn't put 
together a lot of great games back-to-back. Rush is starting to drop, but due 
to rumors of poor workouts and that fact that he skipped the Chicago camp. 

10. Chris Carrawell, 6-5, 220, Duke, Senior
Carrawell is one of the players that has dropped for not attending the 
pre-draft camps. He just doesn't remind many teams of an NBA caliber player, 
but he can shoot well in streaks and is a winner that knows how to play the 
game. He isn't the fastest player or the most athletic, but he works hard at 
his game.

11. Jeryl Sasser, 6-5, 190, PG/SG, SMU, Junior
The athlete can play two guard spots and has the skills to go with them, but 
isn't a great outside shooter. Good passer, quick, and likes to run. There 
are big rumors he could go back to school.

12. Mark Karcher, 6-5, 218, SG, Temple, Junior
Has a nice turnout shooter and mid-range jumper. Karcher plays more like a 
small forward at times, but in the NBA, he may be able to get away with it. 
He isn't a great three-point shooter, but is slowly getting better. Good 
defender. Don't look for him in the first round, but has a good chance to be 
a second rounder because it is obvious he needs more time.

13. Lavor Postell, 6-5, 205, SG, St. John's, Senior
Postell plays very well in transition and gets in position to score. Not a 
great shooter and that is what is keeping him from being a lock for the first 
round. Likely to be a high-to-mid second rounder because he can't shoot that 
well and often takes silly shots. 

14. Schea Cotton, 6-5, 220, SG, Alabama, Sophomore
Cotton has potential to be a better player and needed the extra years in 
college. He has a knack for scoring, but mostly on the inside. Strong player, 
but doesn't shoot well and isn't the best on defense either. 

15. Alex Scales, 6-3, 185, PG/SG, Oregon, Senior
Scales is likely to play the point in the NBA, but has the ability to score 
and run well in transition and finish with the dunk. Good leaper, passer and 
defender.

16. Josip Sesar, 6-6, 210, SG/PG, Croatia (1978)
Sesar is a great scorer and also a good passer and may actually find himself 
as a first rounder as the biggest surprise pick in the draft, but many teams 
haven't scouted him yet, but by the draft, he could stand out more. He plays 
like an American shooting guard, driving to the hoop and shooting the pull up 
jumper or go for the dunk. He isn't a super leaper, but good athlete. 

17. Richie Frahm, 6-5, 203, SG, Gonzaga, Senior
Probably the best shooter in the draft, but he didn't perform well in 
Portsmouth, but teams still know he can shoot. He also isn't that poor of a 
defender and actually has decent leaping ability.

18. Bootsy Thornton, 6-4, 195, PG/SG, St. John's, Senior
Bootsy is great in the open floor and has a quick first step and a good 
leaper. He still has problems with his shot at times, but some teams are 
working him out at the point spot and that is helping his stock.

19. Sani Becirovic, 6-4, 200, SG/PG, Slovenia (1981)
A very young combo guard that has loads of potential. Some think he will be 
one of the best shooting guards in Europe in a few years.

20. Lamont Long, 6-4, 190, PG/SG, New Mexico, Senior
Long is a good mid-range shooter, but in Phoenix didn't really show it that 
much. He has the ability to play the point, but not being in Chicago for the 
pre-draft camp hurt him. 

21. Eric Coley, 6-5, 205, SG, Tulsa, Senior
Coley is a great defender, but offensively, he just can't compete in the NBA, 
but some team may take him as a Michael Curry defensive type player. 

22. Johnny Hemsley, 6-4, 200, SG, Miami, Fl., Senior
Johnny was considered a shooter and scorer, but hasn't shown it much and his 
he really hasn't even looked to shoot much in the camps. Eh also measured 
much shorter than originally thought of. 6-4 may be generous and teams are 
hoping he can play the point. 

23. Harold Arceneaux, 6-5, 219, SG, Weber State, Senior
Harold dropped a lot. He is an average shooter with decent athleticism, but 
just doesn't bring it often and isn't as skilled as most thought he was. 

24. Jason Perez, 6-4, 205, PG/SG, Wichita State, Senior
Virtually no chance of being drafted. He is a good all around player that can 
play the point or shooting guard and a good defender. 

25. Gordon Scott, 6-5, 205, SG, Idaho State, Senior 
He isn't likely to be drafted, but he is a good strong shooting guards tat if 
he had a couple of years he may be able to enter the league as a shooter.