You can already see them coming over the horizon, from Charlotte and Cleveland and Houston, and for everyone. The point guards of the future, reminding of the past.

	Francis shared rookie of the year honors with Elton Brand -- and he's getting better.

It's going to be the best draft class, in terms of depth, at that position in the last 20 years, after all. There's a lot of projecting of what may happen make that statement, seeing as this is only the second season. But there's even more credible evidence.

"That might be a fair assessment," said Frank Johnson, who spent 10 years as an NBA point and three more in Europe and the last four-plus years as an assistant coach with Jason Kidd's Phoenix Suns.

Charlotte has Baron Davis, who has shed the baby fat of his college days, recovered from a serious knee injury, and exploded on the scene, and not just at that position and not just among second-year pros. Cleveland has Andre Miller, the benefits obvious of having stayed in college all four years, especially since they were under the tutelage of Rick Majerus at Utah. Houston has Steve Francis, the reigning co-rookie of the year and the player who, after a summer of salary-cap flexibility there, will lead the Rockets back to the playoffs. We all have something to look forward to for the next eight or 10 years.

	Steve

	Andre

	Baron

No one has been able to say that about a point guard draft class in a while, and that doesn't even consider Jason Terry, who was drafted to assume that role in Atlanta but emerged after being moved to shooting guard. The closest any can come in the last 10 years in 1996, and only now can an argument be made for that collection since Steve Nash is finally having his breakout season and Stephon Marbury has also harnessed his considerable talents. Allen Iverson, No. 1 on the draft board that night and now, is also better than ever, but he also is the only all-star of the group so far, a fact Marbury will change and Nash may also.

But 1999 will be better, and should have all-star representation next month, maybe times two. Davis and Miller will both get serious consideration. Both could make it, in recognition of their own play and the success in Charlotte and Cleveland, albeit not in recent weeks. Francis is more like a longshot because there is greater backcourt depth in the West, but he'll join the party soon. A spot should open when John Stockton -- who could be in the top 10 in the league in assists, shooting and steals when conference coaches vote for the reserves -- gets old in 2019. Of course, there could also be enough contenders in the East that it would come down to Davis or Miller.

	“	He's as good as any young player I've seen in the league. He's Jason Kidd reincarnated. I really believe that. ”
		— Sixers coach Larry Brown on Miller

Nothing could be more fitting, seeing as they have already been living connected existences. Both are from Los Angeles, though Miller is three years older. Both attended college in the West, Miller for four years at Utah and Davis for two at UCLA, one of which was spent coming back from reconstructive knee surgery. Both became top-10 picks for Central Division teams. Of such beginnings are natural rivalries born.

Davis has captured more attention this season, but only because he came from farther away. He didn't start a game as a rookie after being picked third, following Elton Brand and Francis. He played behind David Wesley, never broke double digits in assists and had to face frustration of fans who saw Lamar Odom, the No. 4 pick, blossoming with the Clippers. Undaunted, he hit the weight room, replaced weight with muscle weight, and looked from preseason like a candidate for Most Improved Player. Wesley still starts, but now it's alongside Davis as the Hornets go with two point guards, Davis getting the first call for ballhandling responsibilities.

"I had hoped to be playing this well," he said.

Twenty-eight other teams hope he'll stop soon. (But know it won't happen).

"He's as good as any young player I've seen in the league," 76ers coach Larry Brown said. "He's Jason Kidd reincarnated. I really believe that."

Miller went eighth and became an immediate factor, getting his chance for big minutes when Brevin Knight missed 14 consecutive games just after the all-star break because of tendinitis in his right leg, and never relinquishing the starting job. Miller became a first-team all-rookie selection, a team picked by coaches, and Knight became expendable, eventually traded to the Hawks -- to be the point guard in the backcourt alongside Terry.

Miller goes inside "as well as anyone," Johnson said. "He distributes the ball. The one thing he doesn't do as well right now is shoot. But he makes basketball plays. And he's tough as hell. All those guys are tough; I don't want to single him out. But he could have played even before I played. Back then, you had the hand checking where you could actually control guys. He's strong enough and clever enough with the ball that he can maneuver himself."

In five years, we'll all be asking where the Class of '99 compares to the best drafts at the position, because of the three standouts. Here are the contenders -- beyond Iverson, Marbury and Nash -- from the 1990s and 80s: