The guard position headlines the top of the 2020 NBA Draft, with LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards viewed by many as the two best prospects in this draft.
Here are the top five guard prospects in the 2020 NBA Draft.
5. Kira Lewis Jr.
One of the dark-horse prospects who is rising up NBA Draft boards is Alabama Crimson Tide point guard Kira Lewis Jr. Lewis averaged 13.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game as a young freshman and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2019.
Lewis bumped up his numbers in his sophomore campaign, averaging 18.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game en route to being selected First-Team All-SEC in the 2020 season. His shooting percentages were also applaudable, tallying 45.9% shooting overall along with a 36.6% clip from beyond the arc.
Lewis' quick first step and ability to shoot off the dribble will help him take his game to the next level, especially with the wider floor spacing in the NBA. Perhaps an unnoticed area of his game is when he uses his athleticism to contribute to the defensive side of the ball.
Lewis' style of play has drawn comparisons to another notable Crimson Tide product in Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton. Lewis is interesting pick for teams who are in search of a point guard who can contribute on both ends of the floor, and he has a very good chance of going in the lottery.
4. Killian Hayes
The young combo guard in Killian Hayes took an unconventional route to work his way into becoming one of the NBA Draft's more intriguing prospects. The French national has been matching up against older players ever since he starred for Cholet in the French League back in 2017 and later with ratiopharm Ulm of the Basketball Bundesliga in Germany in 2019.
In 10 EuroCup games with Ulm, Hayes recorded averages of 12.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 6.2 assists along with 45.5% shooting from the field and 39.0% from the 3-point range. Hayes' abundant international playing experience will surely benefit him as he aims to take his talent to the United States and ball out in the big leagues as a player who can run an offense and make an impact on the defensive end.
There are some concerns about Hayes' spot-up shooting, but he can shoot off the dribble and is a stellar free-throw shooter. If he improves as an off-ball player to match his on-ball skill, he would have the makings of an excellent lead guard.
3. Tyrese Haliburton
Iowa State product Tyrese Haliburton's main advantage is his noticeable length and physical tools at the point guard position, standing at 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot wingspan.
Despite his lanky frame, Haliburton knows how to utilize his excellent court vision in order to facilitate well for his teammates. In his sophomore season with the Cyclones, the 20-year-old nearly doubled his production from his first year in college and amassed 15.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists along with 2.5 steals per game in 22 appearances.
Despite his unorthodox shooting motion, his shooting percentages are surprisingly well beyond average after recording 50.4% from the field, 41.9% from 3, and an efficient 82.2% from the free-throw line to garner a Second-Team All-Big 12 spot last season.
Haliburton showcased his wares well enough to emerge as a lottery selection in this year's NBA Draft. Adding a bit more weight as he heads to the pros will help him live up to be a promising Swiss Army knife and do-it-all player in the NBA.
2. Anthony Edwards
Georgia's Anthony Edwards has all the makings of a future star, especially with his scoring abilities and athleticism, which makes him a candidate for the top pick in this NBA Draft. Despite lacking in height with him only standing at 6-foot-5 and primarily playing the shooting guard position, Edwards tends to utilize his heft to bulldoze smaller opponents as he drives toward the paint.
Edwards served as the main man of the Bulldogs in his freshman season, averaging 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists through 32 appearances in the 2019-2020 season. Despite his scoring abilities, Edwards will still need to improve as a shooter, as he only tallied 40.2% shooting from the field and 29.4% from 3-point land.
The Georgia native will be more dangerous once he develops a consistent and reliable jumper moving forward. He also needs to improve on defense and show a more consistent focus throughout games. Nonetheless, his physical tools can help him blossom into a two-way player as he matches up against tougher and more tenured veterans in the league.
1. LaMelo Ball
Still reigning supreme and sitting atop this NBA Draft list is the youngest Ball brother in LaMelo Ball. At 19 years old, he is already bigger than most point guards in the league with his 6-foot-7 frame, which will be an integral advantage for him once he gets stronger in the coming seasons.
Ball has abundant playing experience, having traveled all over the world to play against grown men overseas both in Lithuania and, most recently, in Australia's National Basketball League with the Illawarra Hawks. He tallied norms of 17.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in 12 games played, including two consecutive triple-double performances en route to being named the NBL Rookie of the Year last season.
Ball can score in bunches and can easily wax hot at any given moment in a game, but his accuracy, especially beyond the arc, remains a concern after tallying just 25.0% in his most recent stint in Australia. Being more disciplined and less impulsive in his decision-making on the floor will help Ball maximize his potential and live up to his high ceiling moving forward. A talent like LaMelo Ball should never be overlooked by any team and will certainly be an asset for anyone looking to secure his services.
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