Top 25 Point Guards

[Thndrblt31@aol.com]

Top 25 Point Guards
By: John Thompson
Date: 06/15/2000
All of the other positions this year have two players that top the spot well 
above everyone and the point guards are similar, but more. It starts with 
Barkley and Dooling, but with Jamal Crawford now and Cleaves, Penn, and the 
exciting Claxton there is a good group of point guards. 

1. Keyon Dooling, 6-3, 185, PG, Missouri, Sophomore
Some think a poor man's Steve Francis, but a better shooter. He isn't a pure 
point, much like in the way they said Francis. He is quick and a high riser 
and has a number of ways to score inside and out.

2. Erick Barkley, 6-0, 180, PG, St. John's, Sophomore
A good team leader that does a little bit of everything well. He can score in 
a variety of ways, but also runs the team well and is a good passer. 

3. Jamal Crawford, 6-5, 175, PG/SG, Michigan, Freshman
Crawford has moved up, mostly because he showed he can play the point. E 
still can score from the shooting guard or point guard spot. HE is smooth and 
moves around well with the balls in his hands. He could be drafted as high as 
low-lottery to low-first round. 

4. Craig "Speedy" Claxton, 5-11, 166, PG, Hofstra, Senior
Just like his name, is extremely fast. He is as quick as they come and has a 
number of moves. He is also a tremendous leaper and playmaker.

5. Mateen Cleaves, 6-1, 195, PG, Michigan State, Senior
A winner that is fast and uses his teammates well. He has many questions 
about his shooting and scoring ability, but is a good defender and often 
makes the right play at the right time. Understand the game very well. 

6. James "Scoonie" Penn, 5-10, 185, PG, Ohio State, Junior
Scoonie is a good shooter that is a very quick and a great ball handling. 
Penn has some problems setting up his teammates, especially at crunch time, 
he usually takes the game on his hands. 

7. Khalid El-Amin, 5-9, 200, PG, Connecticut, Junior
A player that does everything to win and normally does. He has many questions 
about his size, both weight and height, but is still a quick player that 
makes good plays and loves the ball in his hands.

8. Jason Hart, 6-2, 181, PG, Syracuse, Senior
Hart is a good tall point guard that uses a lot of moves on the perimeter to 
get in the lane for the key pass. He isn't a great shooter, but is a great 
ball handler, passer, and great defender. 

9. A.J. Guyton, 6-1, 175, PG, Indiana, Senior
Guyton is another one of the point guards in the draft that can score and 
shoot, but isn't much of a team leader or passer. He doesn't set up his 
teammates well and often doesn't eve look for them and when he does, it takes 
away from his shooting and scoring game drastically.

10. Jimmie "Snap" Hunter, 6-3, 179, PG/SG, Life College, Sophomore
Snap is thin, but fast and has good moves for his size. He is an average 
shooter, but still has problems leading a team from the point. 

11. Justin Love, 6-2, 206, PG, St. Louis, Senior
An explosive player that can score easily from anywhere. He needs to work on 
his outside shot more, but he has a quick first step and is always moving 
with or without the ball. 

12. Eddie Gill, 6-0, 176, PG, Weber State, Senior
A good all around point guard that can score and defend, but also pass. He 
led the Chicago camp in assists, but it was his good use of his teammates 
that did it. He can also rebound well for a guard.

13. Ed Cota, 6-0, 189, PG, Senior
A passer first, a defender first. He doesn't score and doesn't seem to have a 
huge fire to really play hard all of the time. He is fast, quick, and skilled 
though. 

14. Teemu Rannikko, 6-2, 180, PG, Finland, (1980)
One of the best young players in Europe. He is one of the better passers and 
scorers for his age and works hard. He is quick and has good moves with the 
ball in his hands. He drives the lane well. Average outside shooter.

15. Aubrey Reese, 5-11, 189, PG, Murray State, Senior
Reese is a tough, rugged point guard that isn't as fast as some, but he gets 
in good position to make plays and scores well off the dribble. 

16. Igor Rakocevic, 6-3, 184, PG/SG, Yugoslavia (1980)
A scorer first, then a point guard. He has problems in both Euro leagues and 
the American game with playing the point. He wants to make the big play and 
score, score, score. He can too. He is very quick, great leaper, and good 
ball handler.

17. Eddie House, 6-0, 177, Arizona State, Senior
He has the quickest shot in the draft and get his shot off against anyone. 
Nice form and touch as well. He hasn't shown he can lead a team from the 
point guard position yet, but may need a year or two. 

18. Doc Robinson, 6-1, 184, PG, Auburn, Senior
A quick player that has good ball handling moves and a decent defender as 
well. He has a really nice floating jump shot and mid-range pull up jumper. 

19. Matt Santangelo, 6-0, 177, Gonzaga, Senior
Another good team player that plays to win only. He has a nice shot and can 
get hot at times, but isn't as fast as many of the other point guards in the 
draft, but like another Gonzaga player before him, John Stockton, he does 
many of the little things. 

20. Kerem Tunceri, 6-2, 178, Turkey (1978)
A goof team player that makes good passes and does everything he can to win. 
Isn't a great scorer either, but gets into the right places at the right time 
and is athletic.

21. Pepe Sanchez, 6-4, 184, PG, Temple, Senior
A good team leader that makes the great pass when needed and sets up 
teammates as well as anyone else in the draft. A decent defender as well. Not 
a good scorer at all and not a shooter either. 

22. Shaheen Holloway, 5-10, 174, PG, Seton Hall, Senior
Super fast, but isn't much of a scorer and often gets hurt by his size, 
especially at shooting. Another streaky point guard that sometimes is 
inconsistent. 

23. Jaquay Walls, 6-2, 166, PG, Colorado, Senior
Walls is a good streaky player. He has a nice shot and is quick and moves 
well with or without the ball. 

24. Michael Hermon, 6-3, 195, PG/SG, Magic City (IBA)
Experience helps him out. He isn't as fast as some of the other point guards, 
but gets the job done. He is a hard worker and knows a lot of the tricks of 
the trade. 

25. Damon Stringer, 5-11, 190, PG, Cleveland State, Senior
Was once considered a great point guard at Ohio State. He and Jermaine Tate 
formed a heck of a freshman tandem, before leaving. Quick, good decisions.