3 College Guards That Could Land In Philly
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- The Sixers need a wing-guard. A shooter. A pure scorer. We've been saying it for years now.
Last year, the Sixers had picks No. 3 and No. 10 in the draft and did not address this need. They drafted center Joel Embiid and Turkish forward Dario Saric, both of whom can, and I think will, turn into very valuable NBA players and pieces (and I'm certainly not questioning Sam The Man Hinkie)---but now the need is even more pressing heading into the 2015 draft.
Listen to Andrew Porter and Scott Kret discuss the Sixers on the Pulse Of Philly:
Here are three guards we can watch as the college basketball season heats up, in hopes of one of them landing in Philly on Draft Day.
3. Justise Winslow - SF - freshman (18) - 6'6", 222-pounds - Duke
Winslow, according to ESPN.com's Chad Form, is the current favorite to be the first wing-guard off the board. Winslow has NBA athleticism, but his offensive game still has kinks. His mid-range game is rather non-existent and his jump shots needs work.
However, in the open floor, Winslow might be the best prospect on the board. And you know the Sixers love to run.
2. Stanley Johnson - SF - freshman (18) - 6'7", 237 pounds - Arizona
Johnson is currently projected to be any where between pick No. 5 and pick No. 12, but he is certainly one of the best wing-guards on the board. His size, age, and upside is incredibly alluring.
Johnson, who entered college with some questions marks shooting the ball, has been impressive offensively in his first season at Arizona shooting 46.9% from the field and 39.3% from downtown, averaging 14.6 points per game. Defensively, NBADraft.net calls him an "absolutely a beast, who could immediate play in the NBA."
The Wildcats are 2o-3, ranked 7th in the nation, and Johnson is their alpha dog.
1. D'Angelo Russell - PG - freshman (18) - 6'5", 176 pounds - Ohio State
I might have cheated here by picking Russell as a wing-guard when he is really a combo-guard, but what do they say? To-may-to, to-mah-to.
Russell is projected to be the No. 6 overall pick, according to Ford. Russell can really stroke it and is a pure scorer, something the Sixers crave. He can play the 1 or the 2, but assuming the Sixers keep Michael Carter-Williams, Russell would fit nicely as the shooting guard.
Russell is averaging 19.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 5.5 APG shooting 47.2% FG / 43.8% 3PFG / 78.8% FT.
