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.  Tuesday was #'s 61 to 80, and yesterday was #'s 41 to 60.

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

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

40. Steve Francis (Maryland, 1999) 17.0 ppg, 4.5 apg (3.0 tpg), 4.5 rpg, 2.8 spg, 52% FG, 45 3-FG

Dynamic talent who played three college seasons, but just one in Division I. Second-Team All-American selection. First-Team All-ACC and ACC All-Defensive Team. Led conference in steals.

39. Khalid El-Amin (Connecticut, 2000) 16.0 ppg, 5.2 apg (2.7 tpg), 3.1 rpg, 1.7 spg, 41% FG, 63 3-FG

Stocky, shifty penetrator with solid shooting stroke. Led Huskies to the National Championship, earning Final Four All-Tournament Team honors. Honorable Mention All-American selection in all three seasons at school. Named First-Team All-Big East, Second-Team All-Big East, and Third-Team All-Big East.

38. Tony Bennett (Wisonsin-GB) 20.2 ppg, 5.1 apg (2.6 tpg), 2.9 rpg, 1.2 spg, 53% FG, 95 3-FG

One of the finest shooters ever to play point guard in college, he also passed the ball extremely well. NCAA’s all-time leader in 3-pt field goal percentage (.497). Two-time Mid-Continent Player of the Year, finished as conference’s all-time leader in points and assists. Winner of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award. Career record 87-34 at the school.

37. Brevin Knight (Stanford, 1997) 16.3 ppg, 7.8 apg (3.4 tpg), 3.7 rpg, 2.8 spg, 41% FG, 45 3-FG

Tiny, swift playmaker. First-Team All-Pac-10 selection for three straight seasons. Set single-season school records in assists and steals. Second-Team All-American selection and Wooden Award finalist. Winner of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award.

36. Ed Cota (North Carolina, 2000) 10.1 ppg, 8.1 apg (3.0 tpg), 4.4 rpg, 1.1 spg,               44.3% FG, 33 3-FG

Excellent passer who drove Tar Heel offense for four years. Often struggled to score, but wasn’t asked to. Third all-time on NCAA career assists list. Led ACC in assists for four straight seasons. First player in NCAA history to amass 1,000 points, 1,000 assists, and 500 rebounds. Three-time NCAA Tournament All-Regional selection.

35. Deron Williams (Illinois, 2005) 12.5 ppg, 6.8 apg (2.8 tpg), 3.6 rpg, 1.0 spg, 43% FG, 68 3-FG

Strong, intelligent leader with remarkable vision and rare passing ability. Twice eaned First-Team All-Big Ten honors. First player in Big Ten history to lead conference in assists for three consecutive seasons. Led Illini to NCAA Tournament final, picking up Most Outstanding Player Award of the Chicago Regional and Final Four All-Tournament Team accolades. Second-Team All-American and Wooden Award finalist.  

34. Bryce Drew (Valparaiso, 1998) 19.8 ppg, 5.0 apg (2.4 tpg), 4.2 rpg, 1.7 spg, 45% FG, 94 3-FG

Sweet shooter shouldered full offensive responsibilities and blossomed. Took fairytale team into Sweet 16 through now-famous buzzer-beater. Four straight Mid-Continent titles and Mid-Continent Tournament titles. Two-time Mid-Continent Player of the Year. Three-time All-Mid-Continent First-Team selection and three-time Mid-Continent Tournament MVP. Conference’s all-time leader in 3-pt made and steals.

33. Jamaal Tinsley (Iowa State, 2001) 14.3 ppg, 6.0 apg (3.8 tpg), 3.8 rpg, 2.5 spg, 40% FG, 37 3-FG

Strong, creative distributor who was great defensively. Mount San Jacinto CC transfer who made outstanding contributions in just two years with Cyclones. AP National Player of the Year runner-up. Second-Team All-American selection. Big 12 Player of the Year. Two-time First-Team All-Big 12 honoree and two-time All-Big 12 Defensive Team honoree.

32. Nick Van Exel (Cincinnati, 1993) 18.3 ppg, 4.5 apg (2.6 tpg), 2.4 rpg, 1.8 spg, 39% FG, 85 3-FG

Transfer from Trinity Valley CC exploded late into his college career. Great long-range shooter who played with a lot of heart. Third-Team All-American and Wooden Award finalist. Led Bearcats to one Final Four appearance and one Elite Eight appearance.

31. Dan Dickau (Gonzaga, 2002) 21.0 ppg, 4.7 apg (2.9 tpg), 3.0 rpg, 0.8 spg, 44% FG, 117 3-FG

Washington-tranfer utilized deep range and slick ball-handling skills to lead Bulldogs high in national rankings. Two-time First-Team All-WCC selection and two-time MVP of the WCC Tournament. Wooden and Naismith Award finalist. First-Team All-American, first selection in school history.

30. Raymond Felton (North Carolina, 2005) 12.9 ppg, 6.9 apg (3.6 tpg), 4.3 rpg, 2.0 spg, 46% FG, 70 3-FG

Speedy, athletic, and intelligent. Natural point guard skills and a tough competitor. Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year and Third-Team All-American selection. Led team to National Championship, earning Final Four All-Tournament Team honors. Garnered one First-Team All-ACC selection and two Third-Team All-ACC selections in three seasons.

29. Kirk Hinrich (Kansas, 2003) 17.3 ppg, 3.5 apg (2.2 tpg), 3.8 rpg, 1.9 spg, 48% FG, 89 3-FG

Aggressive performer, excellent shooter, and tough defensively. One Third-Team All-American selection and one Honorable Mention All-American selection. Wooden Award finalist. Final Four All-Tournament Team selection. Led Jayhawks to back-to-back Final Four appearances and started 118 games in his career.

28. Eric Murdock (Providence, 1991) 25.6 ppg, 4.6 apg (3.7 tpg), 5.3 rpg, 3.5 spg, 44% FG, 56 3-FG

Phenomenal defensive player and a prolific scorer. Left Friars as NCAA’s all-time career steals leader, also set Big East records for most points in conference games in a season (435) and most points in a conference game (48). One-time Second-Team All-American selection and two-time Honorable Mention All-American selection. Wooden Award finalist.

27. Jason Terry (Arizona, 1999) 21.9 ppg, 5.5 apg (4.1 tpg), 3.3 rpg, 2.8 spg, 44% FG, 76 3-FG

Skinny, ultra-quick scorer with a silky-smooth feel for the game. First-Team All-American selection. Pac-10 Player of the Year. Only player in school history with over 1,000 career points and 200 career steals. Honored as National Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated, Chevrolet, and Basketball Times. Wooden Award finalist.

26. Troy Bell (Boston College, 2003) 25.2 ppg, 3.7 apg (2.5 tpg), 4.6 rpg, 2.3 spg, 44% FG, 106 3-FG

Tremendous scorer and quick defensive player who put BC program back in the national spotlight. Two-time Second-Team All-American selection and one-time Honorable Mention All-American selection. Wooden Award finalist. Two-time Big East Player of the Year. Second-leading scorer in Big East history.

25. Rumeal Robinson (Michigan, 1990) 19.2 ppg, 6.1 apg (4.0 tpg), 4.2 rpg, 1.4 spg, 49% FG, 48 3-FG

Crafty, and very difficult to defend, but liked to score more than pass. Final Four All-Tournament team selection after nailing two clutch free throws to seal a National Championship. Second-Team All-American.

24. Steve Nash (Santa Clara, 1996) 17.0 ppg, 6.0 apg (3.6 tpg), 3.6 rpg, 1.3 spg, 43% FG, 63 3-FG

Fun penetrator who excelled in pressure situations. Burst onto spotlight as a frosh, winning MVP of WCC Tournament and hitting six straight free throws in last 31 seconds to stun Arizona in NCAA Tournament. Two-time WCC Player of the Year and two-time Wooden Award finalist. Honorable Mention All-American.

23. Jalen Rose (Michigan, 1994) 19.9 ppg, 3.9 apg (2.7 tpg), 5.7 rpg, 1.2 spg, 46% FG, 55 3-FG

Tall, lanky guard with extraordinary talent. Multi-dimensional scorer. Second-Team All-American selection and Wooden Award finalist. Led team in assists three times and scoring twice. Made two NCAA finals appearances. Scored 34 points off the bench in the only game he didn’t start.

22. Walt Williams (Maryland, 1992) 26.8 ppg, 3.6 apg (3.8 tpg), 5.6 rpg, 2.1 spg, 47% FG, 89 3-FG

Known for the high socks, “The Wizard” passed and handled the ball extremely well for his size. Scored at least 20 points in 19 straight games and at least 30 points in seven straight. Would have received more recognition nationally, but school was on probation. Second-Team All-American and Wooden Award finalist. Left school as Maryland’s all-time career leader in points and assists.

21. Steve Logan (Cincinnati, 2002) 22.0 ppg, 5.3 apg (2.5 tpg), 3.1 rpg, 0.9 spg, 46% FG, 86 3-FG

Tough, creative leader. Two-time Conference USA Player of the Year. Wooden Award finalist, National Player of the Year honoree from FoxSports.com and CNN/SI.com. One-time First-Team All-American selection and one-time Honorable Mention All-American selection. Winner of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award. Most victories (111) in Bearcat history.

Return to yesterday's ranking of player's #41 to 60 or check out players ranked from #1 to 20.