NBA DRAFT 2012: POSITION BREAKDOWN: GUARDS

This years's guard class is filled with a lot of scorers but very few traditional point guards.  Kendall Marshall is really the only player that a NBA head coach would feel comfortable handing the keys to his offense too.  Despite this, as many as six top scoring guard could go in the lottery this year.  

HERE ARE THE TOP GUARDS: 

BRADLEY BEAL-SG-FLORIDA-FR. 6-5/202/6-8 
Last year's stats: 14.8ppg, 2.2apg, 6.7rpg
NBA comparison: Ray Allen/stronger Monta Ellis
Like both he has the skill set to be a lights out shooter and 20ppg scorer one day
Likely career role: Starting SG with star potential

DAMIAN LILLARD-PG/SG-WEBER ST.-JR. 6-3/189/6-8 
Last year's stats: 24.5ppg, 5.0apg, 4.1rpg
NBA comparison: George Hill/Steve Francis
Just like Hill, he's a small school scorer that will need time to develop his PG skills.  He's not quite the athlete Francis was but he's very explosive and like Francis can create his shot at will despite his size.
Likely career role:  Eventual starting PG, it would be good if he could start his career as a backup CG though

AUSTIN RIVERS-SG-DUKE-FR. 6-5/203/6-7
Last year's stats: 15.4ppg, 2.1apg, 3.4rpg
NBA comparison: OJ Mayo/Monta Ellis
Like both he's a combo guard that can create his shot at will, but he's a also a volume shooter.
Likely career role: Starting SG that at the very worse would be a second scoring option on a good team

JEREMY LAMB-SG-UCONN-SO. 6-5/179/6-11 
Last year's stats: 17.7ppg, 1.7apg, 4.9rpg
NBA comparison: Kevin Martin/Reggie Miller
Like both he's a long, slender sharpshooter that has good range, he may never reach the legendary status of Miller, but he has the potential to be great.
Likely career role: Starting SG, a good 2nd/3rd scoring option right away, may become a #1 option in time

DION WAITERS-SG-SYRACUSE-SO. 6-4/221/6-7 
Last year's stats: 12.6ppg, 2.6apg, 2.3rpg
NBA comparison: Marcus Thornton/Rashad McCants
He's strong like McCants was coming out of UNC but he hopes to have more of an impact as a scorer like Thornton.
Likely career role: Backup CG/instant offense type of guy

TERRENCE ROSS-SG-WASHINGTON-SO. 6-7/197/6-7 
Last year's stats: 15.3ppg, 1.4apg, 6.5rpg
NBA comparison: JR Smith/Nick Young
Like both, he's a long athletic sharpshooter that has an excellent mid range game
Likely career role: Starting SG or 6th man on a good team

KENDALL MARSHALL-PG-UNC-SO. 6-4/198/6-6 
Last year's stats: 7.8ppg, 9.7apg, 2.6rpg
NBA comparison: Andre Miller/Mark Jackson
Just like Miller and Jackson, what Marshall lacks in athletic ability he makes up for it with good size and excellent passing skills.  He's a better passer coming out of college that Rajon Rondo was when he came out as a Soph. in 2006.  He could be leading the NBA in assists within the next 3-5 years if he has he right scorers around him
Likely career role: Starting PG and ultimate floor general

MARQUIS TEAGUE-PG-UK-FR. 6-2/180/6-7 
Last year's stats: 9.4ppg, 4.8apg, 2.5rpg
NBA comparison: Darren Collison
Like Collison, he's exteremly quick, a little undersized and lacks play making skills
Likely career role: Eventual starting PG but needs at least 3-4 years to develop

EVAN FOURNIER-SG-FRANCE-INT. 6-7/204/6-8
Last year's stats: 14.0ppg, 2.2apg, 3.2rpg (French League)
NBA comparison: Marco Belineli
Like Marco, he's a solid Euro two guard with good skills and very good athletic ability for a Euro
Likely career role: Solid backup SG on a good team

TOMAS SATORANSKY-PG-CZECH REPUBLIC-INT. 6-7/201/6-7 
Last year's stats: 4.8ppg, 2.2apg (Liga ACB-Top Spanish league)
NBA comparison: Jose Calderson/Shawn Livingston
Like  both, he's a tall point with excellent passing skills but very limited athletically
Likely career role: Backup CG

JOHN JENKINS-SG-VANDY-JR. 6-4/212/6-9 
Last year's stats: 19.9ppg, 1.1apg, 2.8rpg
NBA comparison: Gary Neal
Like Neal, he will be in the game for one reason, to hit open shots and hit a lot of them
Likely career role: Role Playing sharp shooter

DORON LAMB-SG-UK-SO. 6-5/199/6-7 
Last year's stats: 13.2ppg, 1.6apg, 2.9rpg
NBA comparison: Daequan Cook
Like Cook he's  good shooter and will be a solid role player at the next level
Likely career role: Role Playing sharp shooter

TONY WROTEN-CG-WASHINGTON-FR. 6-6/203/6-9 
Last year's stats: 16.7ppg, 3.6apg, 5.0rpg
NBA comparison: Jamal Crawford/very poor man's Manu Ginobili
Likely career role: CG that has the potential to be a starter but he's much more of a slasher than a traditionl point right now

DARIUS JOHNSON-ODOM-CG-MARQUETTE-SR. 6-3/212/6-7 
Last year's stats: 18.5ppg, 2.8apg, 3.5rpg
NBA comparison: Nick Van Exel
Good lefty CG that can create his own shot despite lack of height
Likely career role: Backup CG/instant offense PG


First Round Bubble/Second Round Guys
SCOTT MACHADO-PG-IONA-SR. 6-2/206/6-4  
TYSHAWN TAYLOR-PG-KANSAS-SR. 6-4/177/6-6 
JORDAN TAYLOR-PG-WISCONSIN-SR. 6-2/193/6-2
MAALIK WAYNS-PG-VILLANOVA-JR. 6-2/195/6-3 
MARCUS DENMON-SG-MIZZOU-SR. 6-3/188/6-5 
TU HOLLOWAY-PG-XAVIER-SR. 6-0/187/6-5
JARED CUNNINGHAM-CG-OREGON ST.-JR. 6-5/188/6-6 
WILL BARTON-SG-MEMPHIS-SO. 6-6/174/6-10 
 WILLIAM BUFORD-SG--OHIO ST.-SR. 6-5/214/6-9