Top 100 Point Guards in the Modern Era

How would UT’s Daniel Gibson match-up with B.J. Armstrong? Or, for that matter, B.J. Tyler? Is Derek Raivio another Matt Santangelo or Blake Stepp or Dan Dickau? Ohio’s Jeremy Fears is a small school guy with some big school pub. Does that mean he’ll be the next Speedy Claxton?  With these questions in mind, Adam Stanco ranks the Top 100 Point Guards of the Modern Era.

Each day this week, CHN is releasing 20 players on the list.  On Monday, Adam set out the guidelines, and players #81 to 100.  Yesterday was #'s 61 to 80.

TOP 100 POINT GUARDS IN THE MODERN ERA (1990 – 2005)

(all statistics are from the player’s final season)

60. Frank Williams (Illinois, 2002) 16.2 ppg, 4.4 apg (2.7 tpg), 4.7 rpg, 2.0 spg, 39% FG, 54 3-FG

Strong, crafty playmaker. Two-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection. Earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors. One-time Third-Team All-American selection and one-time Honorable Mention All-American selection. Finalist for Wooden and Naismith awards. Inconsistent play during junior season. Led team to one Sweet Sixteen appearance.

59. Travis Best (Georgia Tech, 1995) 20.2 ppg, 5.0 apg (2.3 tpg), 3.2 rpg, 2.0 spg, 45% FG, 73 3-FG

Darting, sweet-shooting lefty. Finished career as second player in ACC history with over 2,000 points and 600 assists. Honorable Mention All-American selection. Two-time Second-Team All-ACC selection and one-time Third-Team All-American selection. Did not take team to NCAA Tournament after sophomore year.

58. Chris Smith (Connecticut, 1992) 21.2 ppg, 3.7 apg (2.8 tpg) 3.3 rpg, 1.2 spg, 41% FG, 81 3-FG

Gutsy, high-scoring leader who revitalized Husky program. One-time First-Team All-Big East selection and two-time Second-Team All-Big East selection. Big East Tournament MVP. Finished as school’s all-time leading scorer and the Big East’s all-time leader in 3-pt field goals made.

57. Steve Henson (Kansas State, 1990) 17.4 ppg, 4.4 apg (2.3 tpg), 2.7 rpg, 1.9 spg, 45% FG, 93 3-FG

Phenomenal shooter with solid playmaking skills. NCAA-leader in free throw shooting percentage. Led the Wildcats to one Elite Eight appearance and four NCAA Tournament appearances. One-time First-Team All-Big Eight selection and two-time Honorable Mention All-American. Finished as school’s career leader in steals, assists, free throw percentage, and 3-pt field goals made.

56. Bobby Jackson (Minnesota, 1997) 15.3 ppg, 4.0 apg (2.3 tpg), 6.1 rpg, 2.1 spg, 44% FG, 31 3-FG

Defensive standout and gutsy leader. Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Led Golden Gophers to one Final Four appearance, earning MVP of Midwest Region and All-Final Four team honors. Wooden Award finalist was a one-time Second-Team All-American selection.

55. Andre Woolridge (Iowa, 1997) 20.2 ppg, 6.0 apg (3.9 tpg), 2.7 rpg, 1.4 spg, 46% FG, 58 3-FG

Quick scorer and playmaker. Nebraska-transfer holds Hawkeye records for assists in a season (193) and a career (575). First player to ever lead the Big Ten in scoring and assists. Two-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection and one-time Third-Team All-Big Ten selection. One-time Third-Team All-American selection.

54. Chauncey Billups (Colorado, 1997) 19.1 ppg, 4.8 apg (2.9 tpg), 4.9 rpg, 2.1 spg, 41% FG, 75 3-FG

Strong, intelligent well-rounded performer. Led Buffaloes to first NCAA Tournament appearance in 28 years. Recorded only triple-double in school history. Second-Team All-American selection and First-Team All-Big 12 selection.

53. Melvin Booker (Missouri, 1994) 18.1 ppg, 4.5 apg (2.7 tpg), 3.8 rpg, 1.3 spg, 50% FG, 66 3-FG

Fundamentally sound shooter and ball-handler, but lacked serious quickness. Led Tigers to the Elite Eight. Second-Team All-American selection and Big Eight Player of the Year. Two-time All-Big Eight selection.

52. Steve Blake (Maryland, 2003) 11.6 ppg, 7.1 apg (3.2 tpg), 3.7 rpg, 1.6 spg, 41% FG, 64 3-FG

Fine defender and superb passer. One-time First-Team All-ACC selection and one-time Third-Team selection. Led Terrapins to three Sweet Sixteen appearances, two Final Four appearances, and one NCAA Championship. Honorable Mention All-American selection. Led ACC in assists for three straight seasons. First player in ACC history with 1,000 points, 800 assists, 400 rebounds, and 200 steals.

51. DeJuan Wheat (Louisville, 1997) 17.3 ppg, 4.3 apg (2.6 tpg), 2.2 rpg, 1.9 spg, 43% FG, 97 3-FG

Sweet-shooting leader with strong defensive ability. One-time First-Team All-Metro Conference selection and one-time Second-Team All-Metro Conference selection. Metro Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Two-time First-Team All-Conference USA. First player in NCAA history with 2,000 points, 450 assists, 300 3-pt field goals made, and 200 steals. Started a school-record 136 games for the Cardinals and led the team in scoring for three straight seasons. 

50. Jason Gardner (Arizona, 2003) 14.8 ppg, 4.9 apg (2.8 tpg), 4.0 rpg, 1.8 spg, 39% FG, 66 3-FG

True leader with good distribution skills and excellent range. Left school as highest scoring guard in Wildcat history. Led team to a 107-29 record, one NCAA Tournament finals appearance, two Pac-10 Championships, and one Pac-10 Tournament title. School’s career leader in games played, games started, and 3-pt field goals made. Named Second-Team All-American and Wooden Award finalist. Winner of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award.

49. James “Scoonie” Penn (Ohio State, 2000) 15.6 ppg, 4.3 apg (2.6 tpg), 4.4 rpg, 2.2 spg, 39% FG, 65 3-FG

Strong-willed warrior with quick feet and a soft touch. Boston College transfer was a two-time Third-Team All-American selection. Big Ten Player of the Year and two-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection. Led Buckeyes to Final Four, earning NCAA South Region Most Outstanding Player honors. Winner of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award.

48. Elliot Perry (Memphis, 1991) 20.8 ppg, 4.6 apg (3.4 tpg), 3.5 rpg, 2.7 spg, 46% FG, 49 3-FG

Super-quick, rail-thin playmaker who excelled at pushing tempo. Only player in Metro Conference history with over 2,000 points and 500 assists. Led conference in scoring, assists, and steals. Led team in scoring, assists, and steals for three seasons in a row. Two-time First-Team All-Metro Conference selection.

47. Baron Davis (UCLA, 1999) 15.9 ppg, 5.1 apg (3.3 tpg), 3.6 rpg, 2.5 spg, 48% FG, 35 3-FG

Tough penetrator, sensational athlete, and special passer. In just two seasons, he missed a chance to be among elite because of an ACL tear. Third-Team All-American, despite sitting out four games due to an ACL tear.

46. Terrell Brandon (Oregon, 1991) 26.6 ppg, 5.0 apg (3.6 tpg), 3.6 rpg, 2.3 spg, 49% FG, 40 3-FG

Quietly dominated while rarely playing in front of television audiences. Played just two seasons, but amassed big-time statistics. Pac-10 Player of the Year, led the conference in scoring and steals.

45. Devin Harris (Wisconsin, 2004) 19.5 ppg, 4.4 apg (2.1 tpg), 4.3 rpg, 1.8 spg, 46% FG, 75 3-FG

Tremendous one-on-one defender and an efficient scorer. Big Ten Player of the Year and Second-Team All-American selection. Wooden Award finalist. Started every game of three-year career. Remarkable statistics considering the controlled, deliberate offense he played in.

44. Lee Mayberry (Arkansas, 1992) 15.2 ppg, 5.9 apg (1.6 tpg), 2.3 rpg, 2.2 spg, 49% FG, 63 3-FG

Quick, intelligent player who scored and distributed proficiently. Career record of 115-24. Led Razorbacks to three consecutive SWC regular season and Tournament titles, one Final Four appearance and one Elite Eight appearance. First-Team All-SEC selection and Third-Team All-American selection.

43. Tyus Edney (UCLA, 1995) 14.3 ppg, 6.8 apg (2.9 tpg), 3.1 rpg, 2.3 spg, 50% FG, 25 3-FG

Tiny speeding bullet was an excellent decision-maker. First player in Bruin history to amass 600 assists and 200 steals. Three-time First-Team All-Pac-10 selection. NCAA Tournament West Regional Most Outstanding Player. Winner of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award. Made game-winning shot in NCAA Tournament.

42. A.J. Guyton (Indiana, 2000) 19.7 ppg, 2.3 apg (2.4 tpg), 2.8 rpg, 1.0 spg, 46% FG, 72 3-FG

Clutch shooter and rugged defender who lacked major quickness. Wooden Award finalist, one-time First-Team All-American honoree and one-time Honorable Mention All-American honoree. Big Ten Player of the Year, two-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection and two-time Second-Team All-Big Ten selection.

41. Randolph Childress (Wake Forest, 1995) 20.1 ppg, 5.2 apg (3.9 tpg), 3.6 rpg, 1.5 spg, 44% FG, 94 3-FG

Deadly shooter with a killer instinct. ACC Tournament MVP after historic 3-game stretch (35.7 ppg, 6.3 apg, and 23 3-pt field goals). Three-time All-ACC selection. Second-Team All-American selection and Wooden Award finalist.

Return to Monday's Top 100 Point Guards Introduction and players #81 to 100 or yesterday's #61 to 80.  Continue on to player's #21 to 40.