Best Draft Prospects: Shooting Guards

Ben McLemore

In a draft loaded with uncertainties and projects, McLemore is considered a surefire starter, possibly as a rookie. With prototypical size, strength and shooting mechanics for a shooting guard, McLemore is being referred to by more than one executive as "can't miss."

Victor Oladipo

The mature, defensive-minded guard developed into a consistent shooter last season (59.9 percent from the field and 44.1 percent from three-point range). Oladipo is a dynamic athlete, though he's a bit undersized for the shooting guard position.

C.J. McCollum

McCollum's college career ended in January, when he broke his left foot, but he showed enough scoring skills, shooting range and pick-and-roll ability in three-and-a-half years at Lehigh to make several teams believe he will be a lottery pick. McCollum has been compared favorably to Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard, though he isn't as comfortable at the point-guard position as Lillard was coming out of Weber State. In fact, many personnel evaluators question whether he can be a full-time point guard.

Jamaal Franklin

Franklin can do a little bit of everything: He led San Diego State in points (17.0), rebounds (9.5), assists (3.3) and steals (1.6) last season. He shot only 28 percent from three-point range as a junior, but he plays with energy and is a solid defender.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

The SEC Player of the Year is an efficient scorer and an excellent rebounder (7.1 per game) for his position. Caldwell-Pope has impressed with his work ethic, defensive instincts and the fact that he has significantly improved his game in all areas since coming to Georgia.

Allen Crabbe

Crabbe's three-point percentage last season was his lowest in three years at Cal, but he shot well at the combine, has good size for his position and has shown an ability to use screens well.

Tony Snell

Snell is a rangy player with decent offensive skills and the physical tools to be a solid defender. His three-point shooting steadily improved over three years at New Mexico, topping out at 39 percent last season.

Archie Goodwin

He struggled with the NBA three-pointer and didn't distinguish himself in any of the drills at the draft combine, looking every bit like a player forced to come out of college because of the vaunted recruiting class coming in behind him. Still, the lanky Goodwin showed flashes of Jamal Crawford-like potential at Kentucky, and executives see good defensive skills.

Ricky Ledo

Ledo bounced around several high schools and was academically ineligible in his only year at Providence, so teams have obvious questions about his maturity. But Ledo looked terrific on the first day of the draft combine, knocking down jump shots that had scouts and executives fascinated with the 20-year-old. Ledo struggled on Day 2, though, appearing to lose confidence when his first few shots didn't fall.

Alex Abrines

Abrines played limited minutes for Barcelona this season, but he has NBA-type shooting range and is athletic enough to finish at the rim off the dribble.