College basketball’s top 20 guards for the 2020-21 season

Jan 25, 2020; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) celebrates during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
By CJ Moore
Nov 19, 2020

When sharing this list with a college basketball coach this week to get his assessment on his league’s guards, he tacked on a P.S. to that scouting report: “So many good guards in college basketball.”

Yes, my friend, there are. 

As is typically the case, guard is the deepest position in college basketball and there will be plenty of floor leaders and scorers left off this list with a justifiable bone to pick with me. But my editors once again told me I can just pick 20, so I’ve been watching tape and checking in with basketball people I trust so I can present to you the very best of the best. 

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Past performance matters but is not everything. I’m trying to project here, and speculating what each will be this season as college basketball players. I do not care what they will be as pros, although talent certainly matters. 

20. Jacob Gilyard, 5-foot-9 senior, Richmond

If you’re a fan of beautiful basketball, I encourage you to tune in and watch Richmond run the Princeton offense. Mwah! It’s eye candy for the purists. And one big reason Richmond works so well is the smart and heady play of Gilyard. The little guard from Kansas City, Mo., plays close to perfect basketball. He takes smart shots, makes the right passes and then makes life hell for the opposing guards with his defense. (He’s the reigning defensive player of the year in the Atlantic 10.) 

The A-10 is full of awesome guards this year, and let’s take this opportunity to mention those who just missed this list: Gilyard’s backcourt buddy Blake Francis is a fun lefty bucket-getter; St. Bonaventure’s Kyle Lofton, according to one A-10 coach, is the best pro prospect among the group; Kellan Grady has been consistently scoring buckets at Davidson for three seasons and is on pace to finish third on the school’s all-time scoring list. And one more name to watch as a breakout candidate: Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland, who can really shoot the rock and is a man with a backstory that will make you want to root for him.

19. Fatts Russell, 5-foot-10 senior, Rhode Island

They teach us in journalism school to use the last name on second reference, but screw that. He is Fatts and he is phenomenal. Fatts is a nifty little handler and passer who zig-zags through defenses with the kind of swagger you’d expect from a man named Fatts. He isn’t super efficient, which is the one knock against him, but part of that is his fearlessness attacking the tin, where he shoots a low percentage. But that’s a little deceiving considering the attention he draws often leads to easy put-back opportunities for teammates. He also gets to the line often, where he knocked down 82.4 percent of his freebies last year. Fatts is also a terrific defender and thief. Last year was the year of Obi Toppin in the A-10. This year it’s all about the guards. 

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18. Terrence Clarke, 6-foot-7 freshman, Kentucky

This is the obligatory Kentucky freshman guard inclusion, because the track record says the Cats most likely are going to have a really good and productive freshman in the backcourt. I’ll hand it over to my buddy and UK beat writer Kyle Tucker for the scout: “Plays way above the rim and John Calipari has said he feels comfortable putting the ball in his hands, a la LeBron James with the Lakers. Kentucky is going to spread the floor and let Clarke (and elite freshman wing mate Brandon Boston Jr.) attack. Reports out of Lexington this summer indicated that Clarke was doing some crazy, crazy athletic things and for a period when Boston was out with a finger injury, looked like the best player on a loaded roster. He’ll probably be inconsistent as a freshman, but here’s betting he has several games (and individual highlights) that make NBA scouts drool.”

Also, this from assistant coach Bruiser Flint seems relevant: “Cal, when I used to talk to him even before (Calipari hired Flint this summer), would talk about him in the same way to me as the John Walls and the Anthony Davises.” No pressure, Terrence. 

17. Caleb Love, 6-foot-4 freshman, North Carolina

Roy Williams has really let his freshman guards do their thing the last couple of years, and Coby White and Cole Anthony put up big numbers. Love, unlike Anthony, has the luxury of being surrounded by UNC-like talent as Williams stocked the cupboard again with a big-time recruiting class. Our UNC beat writer Brendan Marks, a big-time talent himself, tells me the staff says Love is a Joel Berry-type, except longer and a better shooter. Uh, yeah, that’ll play. 

16. Kihei Clark, 5-foot-9 junior, Virginia

When Tony Bennett’s guards get old, they get really good. Clark was starting to find his way last year, and this is betting on a breakout junior season. Clark is a good table-setter and he’ll benefit from more firepower around him, specifically the addition of Sam Hauser. Clark and center Jay Huff also work well together in the pick-and-roll, and that’s only going to get better with time. As for Clark, his combination of quickness and shooting makes him a tough cover, especially the way Bennett likes to run his guards off endless screens. 

15. Jalen Suggs, 6-foot-4 freshman, Gonzaga

Suggs might be the most talented guard that Mark Few has ever coached. The five-star guard was also a big-time prospect as a quarterback, one whom Urban Meyer once had this to say about: “He’s a bad boy.” Suggs does not look like a freshman and physically will be on another level in the WCC. He can fill up a box score, and what sets him apart from past Gonzaga star guards is the athleticism. He is going to make some posters. Here’s a sneak peek.


14. James Bouknight, 6-foot-5 sophomore, Connecticut 

Bouknight is a guy a lot of basketball people believe is in for a breakout season. A coach in the AAC had this to say about him: “Love him! So shifty and has such awesome change of pace.” Bouknight can run off screens and score from three levels, and the biggest reason he oozes potential is his ability to make plays off the bounce at 6-5. I’m not sure I’m a believer in his jump shot, which he needs to improve to take the next step, but he’s a guy NBA people will be watching closely this year, because he could be a really gifted scorer if he puts it all together. 

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13. McKinley Wright IV, 6-foot senior, Colorado

Wright is one of those guys who it feels like has been in college forever, because he has been starring for the Buffs from the jump. He’s one of the best two-way guards out west. He’s a whiz working out of ball screens, and he plays a lot bigger than his height. In fact, Tad Boyle sometimes like to invert the floor by posting up Wright, and last season he scored 17 points on 12 post-ups. The sample size is small, but that made him the 12th-most efficient player on post-ups in college basketball, according to Synergy. Give us more of this, Tad. Wright lost his sidekick in Tyler Bey, who left early for the NBA Draft, but expect the Buffs once again to compete for an NCAA Tournament spot with the 22-year-old senior running the show. 

Mills led Houston in scoring as a freshman (Greg Thompson / Icon Sportswire via Getty)

12. Caleb Mills, 6-foot-3 sophomore, Houston

Kelvin Sampson found his next Rob Gray in Mills, the unorthodox guard he stole out of North Carolina. He’s going to make the home-state schools regret letting him get out of state. Mills is one of those guys who just knows how to score and can do it from all kinds of angles — off balance and off the wrong foot if needed. He averaged 23.4 points per 40 minutes as a freshman and led the AAC champs in scoring. As he gets stronger and more confident with age, he could produce at the levels of Gray, who was one of the best shows in college hoops in his last couple years at Houston.

11. Mitch Ballock, 6-foot-5 senior, Creighton 

Someone in the sport told me I had Ballock too high. This individual argued Ballock is a shooter, and while “elite” in that category, that’s it. “Duncan Robinson v2,” he said. So you’re telling me college basketball has a clone to one of the best shooters in the world, a starter on a team that made the NBA Finals, and that guy isn’t worthy of ranking as the 12th-best guard in college hoops? Get out of here. Give me the Ballock Bomber! He has logo range and shoots some of the higher-degree-of-difficulty 3s that you’ll see, and the dude buried 3s at a 43.6 percent clip last year. My belief is the lefty is more than just a shooter too. With Ty-Shon Alexander gone, you’ll see more of it this season. There’s a little Manu Ginobili in there, and it’s time to unleash it. 

10. Davion Mitchell, 6-foot-2 junior, Baylor

They call him Off Night in Waco, because you’re going to have your off night when he checks you, and that nickname is earned. This is higher than you’ll probably see him elsewhere on any preseason lists like this, but defense matters, and Mitchell is one of the best two defensive guards in the country. (The other would be fellow Big 12er Marcus Garrett.) The numbers might not be huge because he’s on such a talented and balanced team, but expect Mitchell to bump up his production. He’s built like a running back and has some burst, plus his jumper is improving — he shot 35 percent from 3 over Baylor’s final 26 games. His teammate Jared Butler gets most of the attention, but Mitchell is just as valuable to the team I believe is the best in college basketball. 

9. A.J. Green, 6-foot-4 junior, Northern Iowa

Green reminds me of former Virginia guard Ty Jerome, who I absolutely loved. Neither player is a speedster, but both know how to change speeds, have that old-man-at-the-Y kind of trickery and carry themselves like no one can stop them. Jerome was a better passer but Green is the better scorer. He averaged 19.7 points per game last year and has the ability to go off — he scored 25-plus in nine games last season. He’s fun to watch when he gets in the paint because he can throw in scoops with either hand, and then he can really get cooking from deep. Defenders can be right in his grill but it doesn’t matter. He’ll shoot daggers in your eye, and there’s nothing you can do about it because his release is above his head and nearly unblockable, similar to the way Larry Legend used to do it. OK, I’ll stop. But make sure to check out the Panthers, especially when they match up with Loyola Chicago. The two Valley teams should be among the best mid-majors in college hoops. 

Gillespie has been at Villanova long enough to master how to run Jay Wright’s system. (Bill Streicher / USA Today)

8. Collin Gillespie, 6-foot-3 senior, Villanova

Jay Wright’s guards are always so well-schooled and Gillespie has his master’s in how to play the position. Wright uses Gillespie similar to how he employed Jalen Brunson, the point guard on his 2018 national title team and the national player of the year. Similar to Brunson, Gillespie knows how to use screens and his body to get where he wants and does a great job at keeping his dribble alive. He’s also one of the best spot-up shooters in the Big East. Another Brunson wrinkle that Wright has smartly utilized with Gillespie is throwing him the ball in the post. He’s not as good at getting buckets there like Brunson was, but he has a great feel for passing the ball in these situations. Wright and a veteran point guard are a dangerous mix, so expect Villanova to live up to the hype as one of the best teams in the country. 

7. Remy Martin, 6-foot senior, Arizona State

A blur with the basketball with a sweet name and a member of the all-hair team, Martin has always been a fun player. He became a really productive one last year, averaging 19.1 points per game and combining with Alonzo Verge to form one of the nation’s most underrated backcourts. Martin is perfect in a system like Bobby Hurley’s, where the guards are given the freedom to fire away. Any shot is a good shot to Martin and that gunner mentality can lead to some inefficient nights, but when he’s cooking, look out. Martin should be helped this year by a talent upgrade in Tempe that includes five-star guard Joshua Christopher and four-star forward Marcus Bagley in addition to transfer guard Holland Woods, who averaged 17.7 points and 5.2 assists last year at Portland State. The Sun Devils are deep and have a chance to win their first Pac-12 title. 

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6. Jalen Crutcher, 6-foot-1 senior, Dayton

It wasn’t just Obi Toppin who made Dayton go last year. Crutcher was one of the most efficient guards in the country, and his playmaking skills on the perimeter helped open it up and allow Toppin to be the best player in college basketball. Toppin is gone, but the Flyers should still have a really good offense with the return of Crutcher and Rodney Chapman. Anthony Grant does a great job of spreading the floor for his guards, and Crutcher is awesome in space with the ability to knock down the 3 at a high rate (42.4 percent last year) and also drive the ball. One thing that makes him extra special as a scorer is he’s one of the few college players who can make runners at a high rate. He’ll receive more attention without Toppin, but he’s talented enough to keep putting up numbers. 

5. Marcus Garrett, 6-foot-5 senior, Kansas

Savant is not a word that should be thrown around casually, so I say this realizing the power behind such a statement: Marcus Garrett is a defensive savant. It’s not just his quick hands and length that make him a special defender. He can dissect the game like a coach. Garrett slides over to point guard this year, although you could argue he was basically that a year ago. Devon Dotson brought the ball up the floor, but Garrett led the Big 12 in assists and was usually the setup man for Udoka Azubuike. And in the one game Dotson missed, Garrett put up 15 points and five assists in a win at Oklahoma. The Jayhawks are in capable hands at the point and Bill Self tends to get great production from the position — a Jayhawks PG has been an All-American in three of the last four seasons. 

4. Marcus Zegarowski, 6-foot-2 junior, Creighton 

Zegarowski is the engine to Creighton’s high-octane offense. The Bluejays finished third in adjusted offensive efficiency last year and should keep on rolling this season. The fast-tempo offense is the perfect system for Zegarowski, who is a quick decision-maker and hard to deal with in space because of his elite ballhandling and shooting. He keeps his defender off-balance with his starts and stops, and Greg McDermott floods the floor with shooters around him, so it’s tough to send help. It’s the most entertaining offense in college hoops, and with Ty-Shon Alexander leaving for the NBA, Zegarowski has a chance to blow up.  

3. Cade Cunningham, 6-foot-8 freshman, Oklahoma State

A 6-foot-8 point guard doesn’t come around often. Cunningham looks the part of a star — he’s huge and the word is he has great feel, can pass, can shoot, can defend, and remember, he’s doing all this at that height. Oklahoma State is not going to put a ton of talent around him. Isaac Likekele is solid and the Boone twins, Kalib and Keylan, have some potential, but there’s going to be a lot of pressure on Cunningham to carry that team. That formula of a big-time prospect joining a losing team hasn’t always worked out great — Anthony Edwards at Georgia is the latest example. It sounds as if Cunningham might be on another level, but he’s also in a juggernaut of a league. Even if Cunningham rocks and the Cowboys win, one of the biggest bummers of this season is that we’re not going to get to see him do his thing in the NCAA Tournament, as the program is ineligible for the postseason. But props to Cunningham for sticking with Oklahoma State when he could have bailed. The good news is the league is so good we’ll get plenty of chances to see him perform on a big stage. 

Butler is the lead guard on the No. 2 team in the country. (Ben Queen / USA Today)

2. Jared Butler, 6-foot-3 junior, Baylor

Butler is the smoothest scorer in college hoops. He’s a magician with the dribble and defenders have to try to stay in front all the while knowing at any point he can rise up and drain a jumper from anywhere. Scott Drew wisely made a call midway through Butler’s freshman year to spread the floor and let his guards go, and Butler has been killing it ever since. He considered leaving for the NBA in the offseason but decided to return to chase a national title. His scoring average may be similar to last year (16 points per game) because Baylor has so many options with Mitchell, MaCio Teague and Presbyterian transfer Adam Flagler, but everyone in the Big 12 knows Butler is the toughest guard to check in America. 

1. Ayo Dosunmu, 6-foot-5 junior, Illinois 

Dosunmu looks like a pro playing with college kids on both ends of the floor. He’s too big, too fast and too powerful. The one thing holding him back from being a truly elite scorer is his catch-and-shoot jumper. He’s a much better shooter off the bounce, because his mechanics are more sound. When he catches and shoots, he releases the ball over his left eye and the motion isn’t as fluid. But that’s nitpicking. He finished last season on a tear, averaging 19.7 points per game over his final six, a stretch during which the Illini went 5-1. He probably has the highest ceiling of any guard in college this year outside of Cunningham. If he can clean up his catch-and-shoot jumper and become a respectable 3-point shooter, then there’s going to be no stopping him and he has the potential to be the national player of the year. 

(Top photo of Illinois’ Ayo Dosunmu: Rick Osentoski / USA Today)

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CJ Moore

C.J. Moore, a staff writer for The Athletic, has been on the college basketball beat since 2011. He has worked at Bleacher Report as the site’s national college basketball writer and also covered the sport for CBSSports.com and Basketball Prospectus. He is the coauthor of "Beyond the Streak," a behind-the-scenes look at Kansas basketball's record-setting Big 12 title run. Follow CJ on Twitter @cjmoorehoops