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Scouting the top five point guards
By Jay Bilas
Special to ESPN.com
Editor's note: ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas will be breaking down the top five prospects at each position leading up to the NBA draft.
Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State.
Mateen Cleaves is the strongest guard in the 2000 draft in terms of physical strength, and easily the strongest mentally. Cleaves showed his mental and physical toughness in the NCAA championship game against Florida -- he attacked the Gator pressure for easy scores and dishes, and was well on his way to a 30-plus point game until he injured his ankle.
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Cleaves' statistics
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PPG
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APG
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FG %
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3PT %
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1999-00
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12.1
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6.9
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42.1
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37.6
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Career
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12.5
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6.6
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40.6
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31.3
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A punishing point guard with a good handle, Cleaves has the ability to lead the break, penetrate the middle and find open people. Although he will be tested as a finisher at the basket in the NBA, Cleaves is strong enough to absorb a bump and finish a play. Cleaves is not lightning quick, but has decent quickness and speed.
Michigan State ran some set plays that allowed Cleaves to work a pick and roll, to turn the corner and lower his shoulder to get into the lane where he was at his best. Coach Tom Izzo sometimes had battles with Cleaves over his decisions, but it was mostly in his decisions to speed things up when it wasn't there. Cleaves is best in a full-court game, and has good court vision. As a defender, Cleaves will be able to survive in the NBA with his strength, and could turn into a very physical defender.
Cleaves' biggest issue remains his shooting ability. Countless college coaches, after scouting Cleaves, opted to lay off of him and make him shoot the ball. The results of that strategy were mixed. In the NCAA Tournament against Utah and Florida, Cleaves was able to hit shots and burn those who left him open. He spent last summer working on his shooting, and by most accounts, improved it greatly until he was injured prior to his senior season. Cleaves spent most of January and February trying to catch up and find his form, and his shooting progress was sometimes difficult to see. However, Cleaves does not have great range on his jumpshot, but he'll be the first to tell you that fellow Spartan alum Magic Johnson didn't either.
What is not in question is Cleaves' heart and his leadership. Cleaves directs traffic with the ball in his hands and inspires confidence in his teammates, and there is no question who is in charge when he's on the floor. Cleaves will bring that same leadership to the NBA, and with time and hard work will become a decent shooter.
Erick Barkley, St. John's
Erick Barkley is an intriguing NBA prospect. He has very good quickness and can get the ball up and down the court with relative ease. He is a good ballhandler, comfortable going either way with the ball. Barkley has very good instincts in the open court and is a good passer off the dribble. He can get by most defenders and make plays because of his good first step.
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Barkley's statistics
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PPG
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APG
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FG %
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3PT %
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1999-00
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16.0
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4.5
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39.8
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31.3
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Career
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14.6
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4.7
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39.6
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32.8
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Most scouting reports on Barkley indicated that he is better going to his left, where he is more comfortable pulling up for a jumpshot. Barkley is a good shooter, though not a great one. He is streaky, but can be very inconsistent with his shot. However, Barkley has the potential to be a very good shooter on the NBA level, because he shoots a good ball and has good hands.
Defensively, Barkley has good size, long arms and a good understanding of what is going on out on the floor. He needs upper body strength to keep from being bullied and knocked off the ball. He is not a great rebounder for a guard, but he is not afraid to stick his nose in there and go after the ball. Barkley is sometimes volatile and can let his emotions get the better of him, but he is a talent who could mature into an outstanding NBA point guard.
Craig Claxton, Hofstra
Perhaps the most athletic of the available point guards in the 2000 NBA Draft, Craig "Speedy" Claxton toiled in near obscurity in the America East Conference. He was heavily recruited out of high school, but kept his commitment to Hofstra, and took the Flying Dutchmen to the NCAA Tournament in his senior season. Claxton is very good off the dribble and is able to get to the basket and finish at the rim.
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Claxton's statistics
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PPG
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APG
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FG %
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3PT %
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1999-00
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22.8
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6.0
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47.0
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38.1
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Career
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16.9
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5.5
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46.8
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32.2
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In seasons past, Claxton would simply drive to the basket and try to jump over people, and either score or get fouled. This year, Claxton relied more on his pull-up jumper and his 3-point shot. Claxton is a decent shooter who is capable of getting better.
Because of his size, Claxton is vulnerable to being posted up by bigger guards, but he is very good on the ball. He anticipates very well and has active hands. Claxton is an exciting player who can fly up and down the floor, and he blows by defenders with ease. Because he did not play against great competition every night, there are still some questions about him. However, his performances in big games and his showings in postseason all-star events proved he is a player on the NBA level.
Keyon Dooling, Missouri
An athletic point guard, Keyon Dooling could have benefited from an additional year in school. It is not that he is not "ready" for the NBA, because he is a draftable prospect. Instead, it's because Dooling has not yet learned to control a college game on a consistent basis.
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Dooling's statistics
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PPG
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APG
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FG %
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3PT %
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1999-00
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15.3
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3.6
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38.9
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34.7
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Career
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12.1
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3.4
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41.1
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33.8
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Dooling is an exceptional athlete who can really run the court and attack the basket on the break. He is very good driving the ball and gets off the ground quickly and with good strength. Dooling is a capable passer and has good range as a shooter, with the ability to make deliveries and shoot off the dribble.
He can defend when the spirit moves him, but is inconsistent. When he gets down and digs in, he can really pressure the ball and key a team's defense. His decision-making is questionable at times, but he has the ability to be a very good NBA guard. Because of his athleticism and potential, Dooling will go somewhere in the middle of the first round, but would undoubtedly go higher with another year of college under his belt.
A.J. Guyton, Indiana
A.J. Guyton is capable of playing both the point and the off guard positions, keying on his ability to score from the perimeter. A jump shooter, Guyton is capable of working off of the ball and getting himself open for a shot. He shot surprisingly few free throws in college considering how much he had the ball in his hands. Guyton does not attack the basket off the dribble, rather he often puts it down to get to a position to pull up and shoot.
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Guyton's statistics
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PPG
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APG
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FG %
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3PT %
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1999-00
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19.7
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2.3
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45.9
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41.9
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Career
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16.4
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3.1
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45.5
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41.4
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Guyton has NBA range and is capable of getting his own shot, but he does not possess great quickness or speed. In college, Guyton was a big-game player capable of hitting big shots.
Although he played the point at times at Indiana, Guyton is not a natural point guard and doesn't have a distributor's instincts. It should be noted that Guyton's assist numbers decreased in each of his four seasons at Indiana -- as a freshman, he averaged 3.9 assists per game but that figure dropped to 2.3 by his senior season. He does not have the jets to blow by defenders -- as more of a walk-it-up guard, Guyton's lack of footspeed could be a real issue on the defensive end.
Guyton looked good throughout his senior season and at some postseason events. He is capable of playing in the NBA, but he has some significant questions marks. In some ways, he reminds you of Steve Alford, and has some of the same abilities and drawbacks.
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