Throughout the month of October, CollegeBasketballTalk will be rolling out our previews for the 2012-2013 season. Check back at 9 a.m. and just after lunch every day, Monday-Friday, for a new preview item.
To browse through the preview posts we’ve already published, click here. To look at the rest of the Top 25, click here. For a schedule of our previews for the month, click here.
This is when it gets fun. Teams aside, who are the best players at each position? Not only is it difficult to confine some of these athletes to just one position, but so much depends on a team’s style, chemistry, and game plan as to where each should be ranked.
Take a look below at NBCSports.com’s Top 20 Point Guards:
The Top 10
1. Isaiah Canaan (Murray State)
Canaan is a Preseason All-American for a reason. Murray State’s fate rests in his hands, especially with supporting cast member Zay Jackson now suspended for the season.
2. Phil Pressey (Missouri)
Pressey leads the Tigers into the SEC after averaging 10.3 points and 6.4 assists per game last season. He is undoubtedly Missouri’s leader offensively and will keep his team toward the top of the conference with Florida and Kentucky.
3. Trey Burke (Michigan)
No one is happier than head coach John Beilein that Burke bypassed the NBA draft and decided to return to Ann Arbor. With the recruiting class the Wolverines are bringing in, Burke could be the point guard on a team that makes a run in March.
4. Lorenzo Brown (NC State)
Brown is coming off of knee surgery, but now plays point guard for a team whose expectations are high after a run to the NCAA tournament last season. He is now a legitimate top-5 PG in the country.
5. Aaron Craft (Ohio State)
Craft is a relentless defender and orchestrator of the Buckeye offense. His 4.6 assists per game last season made that offense go.
6. Kyle Anderson (UCLA)
If we call Anderson a point guard, he is the most unique point guard in the country. He changes the way an offense runs because of his court vision and ability to see over the defense. He’s certainly not the fastest, but his length creates problems.
7. Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State)
He has size for the point guard spot, which makes him dangerous, but he can play either position in the backcourt. Big-time athlete will make a difference in his freshman season at Oklahoma State.
8. Pierre Jackson (Baylor)
The athletic Jackson averaged 13.8 points and 5.9 assists per game last season. Some pieces have left Waco, but a new recruiting class full of weapons comes in.
9. Peyton Siva (Louisville)
If for the majority of the year we see the late-season Siva who led Louisville to the Final Four, things are good. If the mid-season doldrums strike again, the Cardinals could run into some trouble. Siva is the Preseason Big Eat Player of the Year.
10. Matthew Dellavedova (St. Mary’s)
The Aussie doesn’t always get as much recognition as he should because he comes from a smaller conference, but 15.5 points and 6.4 assists per game ain’t too shabby.
The Best of the Rest
11. Mark Lyons (Arizona)
12. Ray McCallum Jr. (Detroit)
13. Tim Frazier (Penn State)
14. Myck Kabongo (Texas)
15. Shabazz Napier (Connecticut)
16. Elijah Johnson (Kansas)
17. Vincent Council (Providence)
18. DJ Cooper (Ohio)
19. Ryan Harrow (Kentucky)
20. Nate Wolters (South Dakota State)
Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_
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Report: Rutgers AD inflicted “mental cruelty” in her own coaching days
May 26, 2013, 12:19 AM EDT
AP
A couple of words the board at Rutgers might want to re-acquaint themselves with: “due” and “diligence”. Just weeks ago, Scarlet Knights men’s head basketball coach Mike Rice was fired for verbally and physically abusing his players during practice, in a scandal that also took down the school’s AD. Rutgers alum Eddie Jordan was hired…
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AP
We know the road to the 2014 national championship will end in Dallas (Arlington, whatevs) next season. Now we also know that the title chase will begin there as well. ESPN’s Jason King is reporting that eight teams will meet at American Airlines Center on November 8, headlined by a potential Top 25 matchup between…
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Reuters
Former Virginia guard Paul Jesperson has made his transfer decision today, and he’ll be joining the Northern Iowa Panthers. Jesperson, a former Wisconsin Mr. Basketball, got off to a slow start in Charlottesville, seeing little playing time as a freshman. As a sophomore, his defensive prowess earned him more minutes, but his offensive skills still…
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AP
Jesse Morgan had a rough season at UMass last season, to say the least. Morgan, along with teammates Cady Lalanne and Trey Davis, was suspended from a preseason exhibition game for undisclosed disciplinary reasons. Then he went down with a season-ending ACL injury on January 10, in the midst of his strongest season to date.…
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AP
We just found out that Mike Krzyzewski will continue to shepherd America’s elite international basketball squad. Amid a tacit assertion of predictability in the coaching ranks, Coach K paid lip service to the notion that it’s time for USA Basketball to physically move out of its current offices in Colorado Springs. “I think in the near future…
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NBC Bay Area
Former Texas Tech and Santa Clara guard Decensae White was arrested on murder charges stemming from the death of a rapper from Georgia named Lil’ Phat. White played at Texas Tech from 2006-2008 and was a member of the Santa Clara program during the 2008-2009 season. After a hiatus from the sport, White returned this…
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The key to recruiting Myles Turner: a good psychology department?
May 25, 2013, 1:48 PM EDT
Kelly Kline/Under Armour
Myles Turner is one of the hottest names on the AAU circuit this spring. The 6-foot-11 center Euless, TX, has the kind of length and athleticism that makes scouts drool, and he just so happens to have a face-up game and the ability to knock down a jump shot in pick-and-pop actions. That’s why he’s…
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Elite 2014 shooting guard Devin Booker draws significant attention
May 25, 2013, 12:10 PM EDT
Scott Phillips/NBC Sports
EAGAN, Mn. — As the EYBL nears the end of its regular season over Memorial Day weekend near Minneapolis, many of the top uncommitted players in the 2014 class are seeing their recruitments pick up before the summer months begin. One player drawing tons of attention is Alabama Challenge shooting guard Devin Booker. The 6-5…
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AP
Lamar and head coach Pat Knight announced on Friday the signing of three junior college players to add to Lamar’s latest recruiting class. The Cardinals will add a pair of forwards in Octavius Green and Tyran de Lattibeaudiere, and also add potential All-Name Team member and point guard Nimrod Hilliard. Lamar had previously signed junior…
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Oregon State’s Joe Burton eyes potential motivational speaking career
May 25, 2013, 10:34 AM EDT
AP
Oregon State senior forward Joe Burton will graduate from the school in June after a four-year career and over 1,000 points scored. But although many college players with such a pedigree look to play professional basketball after their careers end — as Burton will also do — Burton’s mother said that he could also go…
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Former Marshall forward Jamir Hanner transferring to Buffalo
May 24, 2013, 8:55 PM EDT
AP
With Javon McCrea and Cameron Downing entering their senior campaign at Buffalo, first-year head coach Bobby Hurley can use some additional front court depth that will benefit the Bulls in 2014. Hurley’s numbers received a boost on Friday afternoon, as it was reported by Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com that former Marshall forward Jamir Hanner has…
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AP
According to the Idaho Statesman, Boise State freshman forward Vukasin Vujovic has decided to leave the program. In his one season at Boise State, the native of Serbia saw action in just nine of the Broncos’ 32 games. In those nine games the 6-9 Vujovic averaged just 4.0 minutes and 1.4 points per game. Vujovic’s…
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Kyle Vinales won’t leave Central Connecticut State after all
May 24, 2013, 6:00 PM EDT
AP
When it was announced just over a month ago that Central Connecticut State leading scorer Kyle Vinales would look to transfer, the biggest factor in his decision was a desire to reach postseason play. Vinales, who averaged nearly 22 points per game as a sophomore, at one point tweeted his decision to transfer to Toledo only…
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DePaul grants forward Donnavan Kirk permission to pursue transfer opportunities
May 24, 2013, 4:38 PM EDT
AP
With the recent news that former Purdue forward Sandi Marcius would transfer to DePaul, it was only a matter of time before the other shoe dropped in this scenario. That would be Donnavan Kirk looking to finish his collegiate career at another institution. On Friday the school announced that it has granted Kirk permission to…
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Northeastern becomes final piece of 2013 Puerto Rico Tip-Off puzzle
May 24, 2013, 2:37 PM EDT
Last November the organizers of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off announced its completed eight-team field, with programs such as Florida State, Georgetown and Michigan being confirmed participants. Also among the eight teams: Auburn. But apparently something changed with the Tigers’ schedule, leading to a report from Andy Katz of ESPN.com that Northeastern would be the eighth…
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AP
During the spring multiple allegations surfaced regarding Green Bay head coach Brian Wardle’s treatment of some of his players, and some of the charges went well beyond the use of profane language. In one instance former center Ryan Bross alleged that he was forced to run sprints until ultimately soiling his shorts, despite stating the…
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Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski appears on ‘The Dan Patrick Show’ (VIDEO)
May 24, 2013, 12:45 PM EDT
Getty Images
In an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show” this morning, Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski discusses topics such as his decision to return as head coach of the US men’s national team for the 2016 Summer Olympics and his future at Duke. Also of note were Krzyzewski’s comments on incoming freshman Jabari Parker, stating that…
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Getty Images
Earlier this week an advertisement for Calhoun’s BBQ done by former Tennessee basketball player Steven Pearl hit the airwaves, and it included a reference to current Ohio State point guard Aaron Craft. But that reference has led to the compliance department at Ohio State getting involved, looking to make sure it’s clear that there was…
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Is Sheldon Jeter’s transfer ‘issue’ because of a lack of communication?
May 24, 2013, 10:20 AM EDT
Getty Images
In the aftermath of Sheldon Jeter’s decision to transfer from Vanderbilt it was reported that Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings was blocking Pittsburgh as a possible destination. Some assumed that tampering was the reason for the move, but according to a report by Andy Katz of ESPN.com that may not be the case. Regardless of…
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Illinois forward Myke Henry requests release from scholarship
May 24, 2013, 8:52 AM EDT
AP
With the graduation of leading scorers Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson, there was a chance that 6-6 forward Myke Henry would see more opportunities to produce for Illinois in 2013-14. However it seems as if the Chicago native won’t be around to realize such possibilities, as it was reported by the Champaign News-Gazette that Henry…
