Finding a quality point guard is an arduous task for NBA scouts and executive, yet a team’s fate often depends on who they select as their floor general. Fortunately, while the 2009 NBA Draft may not be as deep as in recent years, there are plenty of quality lead guards available.

Here is a breakdown of the elite point guards in this year’s draft class*, complete with measurements, draft projections, video, and what you need to know about each prospect.

* - Players are listed in alphabetical order.

RODRIGUE BEAUBOIS
Club Team: Cholet Basket (France)
Official Height: 6’1.25” (without shoes); 6’2.25” (with shoes)
Official Weight: 182 pounds
Current Draft Projection: Mid 2nd
What you need to know:
Probably the most intriguing point guard prospect in this draft, Beaubois certainly has talent. He’s an outstanding leaper (39” vertical), very quick, has great range on his jumper, and his wingspan (6’9.75”) is remarkable for a player his size. This is the first time most people are hearing about him, but he’s been on the NBA radar for two years. There are questions about whether he has the basic point guard skills in terms of breaking down opponents off the dribble and finding teammates in traffic, but there is a lot of potential. Don’t be surprised if someone takes a flyer on him in the second round.

Click for video of Rodrigue Beaubois

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DARREN COLLISON
School: UCLA
Official Height: 6’0.25” (without shoes); 6’1.5” (with shoes)
Official Weight: 166 pounds
Current Draft Projection: Late 1st to Early 2nd
What you need to know:
Collison’s draft stock has been sliding ever since Derrick Rose decimated him in the 2008 Final Four. Rose had 25 points and a handful of unimpeded routes to the hoop, while Collison scored just two points on 1-of-9 shooting. But the UCLA lead guard still had a strong senior season and boasts a bevy of NBA-ready skills. He’s extremely quick and has great leadership qualities. He’s also an outstanding shooter, despite having an awkward – and somewhat slow – release. During his time with the Bruins, Collison was a member of three Final Four teams. His game has been picked apart because of the time he spent in school, but he played alongside NBA starters Jordan Farmar and Russell Westbrook and was just as good as they were. There is no doubt that Collison can play in the league.

Click for video of Darren Collison

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STEPHEN CURRY
School: Davidson
Official Height: 6’2” (without shoes); 6’3.25” (with shoes)
Official Weight: 181 pounds
Current Draft Projection: Lottery
What you need to know:
The son of former NBA sharpshooter, Dell Curry, Stephen burst onto the national scene when he scored 30 points in a first round NCAA Tournament loss to Maryland, capping off a freshman campaign during which he was one of the nation’s leading scorers. As a sophomore, he averaged 32 points a game in the 2008 NCAA Tournament and, in the process, helped Davidson pull off stunning upsets over higher seeds Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Wisconsin before falling just short against eventual champion Kansas. But he really blew NBA scouts away this season as he shifted over to play point guard and proved to be an excellent distributor. Bobby Knight’s praise was of the highest order, saying Curry was “as good a passer as has ever played college basketball.” While those comments are debatable, Curry’s talent is not. He is a remarkable shooter and his basketball instincts are phenomenal. He is somewhat slight, but he will get stronger and his lithe frame hasn’t hindered his ability to penetrate, score, or distribute up to this point in his career. Curry will likely be the second or third point guard taken in this draft, but he might just possess the most potential.

Click for video of Stephen Curry

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TONEY DOUGLAS
School: Florida State
Official Height: 6’1” (without shoes); 6’2” (with shoes)
Official Weight: 183 pounds
What you need to know:
Douglas is more of an undersized shooting guard than a point guard, but there’s still a lot to like about his game. He can score in a multitude of ways and he defends with tenacity. He received the highest of compliments as Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski called Douglas his favorite non-Duke player in the country, stating, “I love that guy. I talk about him a lot to our guys.” The former Florida State star is a wonderful athlete (he ran the fastest sprint at the combine), rugged, and smart, yet he also lacks a position. He’s not a good enough decision maker or passer to consistently play the point in the pros and he isn’t big enough to play shooting guard. Douglas could find a home as a back-up combo guard early in his career as he works on developing lead guard skills.

Click for video of Toney Douglas

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TYREKE EVANS
School: Memphis
Official Height: 6’4” (without shoes); 6’5.25” (with shoes)
Official Weight: 221 pounds
Currently Draft Projection: Lottery
What you need to know:
Evans was the NaismithLives.com Freshman of the Year and for good reason. He averaged 17.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game and capped off his only season on campus with a 33-point outburst in a loss to Missouri in the NCAA Tournament. He has a very good handle, great size at the point guard position, tremendous range, and a wingspan that is practically incomprehensible (6’11.25”). However, he’s also a shoot-first lead guard who plays better with the ball in his hands, yet struggles to find his teammates consistently. Despite his tremendous potential, Evans has too many spurts of inconsistency, both offensively and defensively, to be a truly dominant force. If he can get more consistent and improve his ability to see the floor, he could become an excellent pro. If not, he could become this draft’s greatest disappointment.

Click for video of Tyreke Evans

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JONNY FLYNN
School: Syracuse
Official Height: 5’11.25” (without shoes); 6’0.75” (with shoes)
Official Weight: 196 pounds
Currently Draft Projection: Lottery to Mid 1st
What you need to know:
He’s one of the smallest players in this year’s draft, but he might also have the biggest heart. Flynn is a warrior and, though he plays with remarkable joy, there isn’t a tougher competitor anywhere. His tenacity – along with his 34 points and 11 assists – enabled Syracuse to pull out their stunning six-overtime upset of UConn in the Big East Tournament. Flynn is a dynamic ball-handler, nifty passer, and clutch shooter. He also had the highest vertical of any player at the pre-draft combine. Flynn is undersized, can play out of control at times, didn’t spend a lot of time playing man-to-man defense at Syracuse, and his shooting is somewhat inconsistent, but the positives surely outweigh the negatives. He may not start as a rookie, but he’ll be leading a team soon after he’s drafted.

Click for video of Jonny Flynn

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JRUE HOLIDAY
School: UCLA
Official Height: 6’3.25” (without shoes); 6’4.25” (with shoes)
Official Weight: 199 pounds
Currently Draft Projection: Lottery
What you need to know:
Holiday struggled with his productivity during his entire freshman campaign and the man to blame for that is Derrick Rose. Holiday was regarded as one of the nation’s elite high school talents and set to take the Pac-10 by storm. He was planning to go to Westwood and dominate at the point guard position. However, Rose embarrassed UCLA lead guard Darren Collison at the 2008 Final Four and forced Collison to return to school. Consequently, Holiday was forced to play off the ball and averaged merely 8.5 points and 3.5 assists, which might qualify as record lows should the former Bruin find himself in the lottery. Scouts aren’t supposed to attend high school events, yet they are quite familiar with Holiday’s potential and have made Dwyane Wade comparisons for a few years now. Holiday isn’t really a natural point guard, but many in the NBA think he will be a star. Still, considering he scored 20 points just once in college, he might just be the riskiest pick in the first round.

Click for video of Jrue Holiday

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LESTER HUDSON
School: Tennessee-Martin
Official Height: 5’11.75” (without shoes); 6’1” (with shoes)
Official Weight: 196 pounds
Currently Draft Projection: Mid 2nd to Late 2nd
What you need to know:
There might not be a stronger, tougher perimeter scorer in this draft. Hudson is on the shorter side, but his sturdiness, phenomenal wingspan (nearly 6’9”), and quick release make up for what he lacks in stature. During his junior season, he recorded the first quadruple-double in Division I history (25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals against Central Baptist College) and led the nation in scoring. He subsequently declared for the draft, but decided to return for his senior season. No one doubts his physical gifts, but scouts do question whether the 24-year old Hudson will ever become a true point guard considering his questionable decision making and his poor shot selection. If he gets the chance to face premier competition, expect Hudson to rise to the challenge and earn some minutes off the bench.

Click for video of Lester Hudson

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BRANDON JENNINGS
Country: Lottomatica Roma (Italy)
Unofficial Height: 6’1”
Unofficial Weight: 170 pounds
Currently Draft Projection: Lottery to Mid 1st
What you need to know:
Jennings was a basketball pioneer last year, opting to forego a year in college, instead taking his game overseas. Before heading to Italy, the southpaw broke the single-season scoring record at Oak Hill Academy (where former attendees include Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo, Josh Smith, Jerry Stackhouse, Ty Lawson, Stephen Jackson, and a bevy of others) and he scored 63 points in one game, another school record. But he’s probably a better passer than a scorer. Jennings has a flair about his game that makes the things he does on a basketball court look easier than they are. Playing under a one-year contract for Lottomatica Roma and an endorsement deal for Under Armour, Jennings had a tumultuous year in Europe. Playing time was limited and the competition was intense. He also shot extremely poorly from behind the international three-point line. He almost became a forgotten man amongst the U.S. basketball scene, yet scouts were still keenly aware of his still untapped potential. They don’t love his poor shooting percentages, defensive lapses, and some are turned off by his brashness (which popped up again when he recently made disparaging remarks about Ricky Rubio that can be found here), but his confidence is his greatest asset and many scouts claim he really matured while spending a year on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Jennings disappointed some NBA teams because he didn’t want to fly back overseas to play in the Reebok Eurocamp. It would’ve been another chance for him to increase his exposure after many teams only got a chance to watch him at practice. Jennings may be devoid of the hype associated with all the other elite American point guards, but he has immense talent and is certainly worthy of a very high pick.

Click for high school video of Brandon Jennings

Click for professional video of Brandon Jennings

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TY LAWSON
School: North Carolina
Official Height: 5’11.25” (without shoes); 6’0.5” (with shoes)
Official Weight: 197 pounds
Current Draft Projection: Mid 1st to Late 1st
What you need to know:
Lawson has a ton of positive qualities. He is incredibly fast, strong, and was the leader of UNC’s national championship team. In fact, no one on the team played better than Lawson, as he averaged 20.8 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.2 steals a game in the tournament. He’s an excellent outside shooter (53% from the field and 47% from 3-point land in ’08-’09) and a very good decision maker (an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.48-to-1). So why isn’t the former Tar Heel projected to go much higher than middle of the first round? Well, the numbers are somewhat misleading and he’s not quite a classic drive and dish point guard that seems to excel at the NBA level. While in Chapel Hill, he often became a spot-up shooter in the team’s halfcourt sets, rather than a penetrator and crafty distributor. He was a good enough shooter to be effective in that scenario at Carolina – especially considering the pro talent he was surrounded by on that team – yet his pick-and-roll ability is still a question mark. Also, Lawson’s skill set was almost perfectly suited for the fast break style Roy Williams’ teams play. His great end-to-end speed will still be an asset at the next level, but not nearly as much as it was in college. Lawson could end up being a starter in the NBA if he finds a team that can utilize his varied talents and, at the very least, his speed and shooting ability, should keep him employed in the league as a back-up for quite a long time.

Click for video of Ty Lawson

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ERIC MAYNOR
School: Virginia Commonwealth
Official Height: 6’2.25” (without shoes); 6’3.25” (with shoes)
Official Weight: 164 pounds
Current Draft Projection: Mid 1st to Late 1st
What you need to know:
Maynor is, quite simply, a gamer. Never was this more evident than in the first round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament when Maynor, then a sophomore, scored 22 points against Duke, including a dramatic, pull-up jumper to cap off the upset. He is not nearly as athletic as many of the point guards in this draft class and is remarkably light. His official weight of 164 pounds was the lowest at the combine for any player and, by comparison, was 17 pounds less than Stephen Curry. But Maynor has a high basketball IQ and he plays with tremendous passion. He was a two-time CAA Player of the Year and, despite constant double-teams as a senior, still managed to average 22.4 points and 6.2 assists a game. Also, his mid-range game, which is critical to pro success, is probably stronger than any other point guard in this draft other than Curry. Maynor’s lack of exposure may have kept him hidden from the casual fan, but NBA scouts are high on him. This savvy leader should be taken in the first round and will undoubtedly earn some playing time next season regardless of where he ends up.

Click for video of Eric Maynor

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PATTY MILLS
School: St. Mary’s
Official Height: 5’11.25” (without shoes); 6’0.5” (with shoes)
Official Weight: 175 pounds
Current Draft Projection: Late 1st to Early 2nd
What you need to know:
Mills first brought attention to himself as the only active college player to participate in the Olympics. As a member of Australia’s national team, Mills put up 20 points and didn’t turn the ball over in the quarterfinals against the United States and, in the process, he earned high praise from almost every member of Team USA. Chris Paul said, “Man, he’s fast. I read something that says he’s faster than me. They’re probably right. He can move.” And Mills doesn’t just play with speed, but also plays with poise and is strong fundamentally. He’s an excellent shooter and a good passer, but his numbers dipped during his sophomore season, which was his last in college. Mills averaged 18.4 points and 3.9 assists a game, yet shot just 40% from the field and had an unspectacular assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.35-to-1. Almost a shorter, better shooting Tony Parker, scouts aren’t necessarily sold on his ability to be a complete point guard at the next level. He’ll probably end up landing in the back half of the first round and will almost certainly perform well in summer league.

Click for video of Patty Mills

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A.J. PRICE
School: Connecticut
Official Height: 6’0.5” (without shoes); 6’2” (with shoes)
Official Weight: 193 pounds
Current Draft Projection: Late 2nd to Undrafted
What you need to know:
Price arrived in Storrs as a big-time prospect with big-time aspirations, but his career accomplishments went largely unfulfilled because of off-the-court issues, some of which were self-inflicted. As a 17-year old freshman, he suffered a brain hemorrhage. He recovered after surgery, but three months after being cleared to play again, he was caught (along with former Husky Marcus Williams) stealing laptops and was suspended for the season. He had a wonderful junior season, but he tore his ACL during the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Those close to him say he’s greatly matured as a person since the theft and he was the unquestionable leader of a team that advanced to Final Four, however there are still major question marks about his ability to play the point in the NBA. As a senior, Price’s productivity was solid: He averaged 14.7 points and 4.7 assists per game, yet shot just over 40% from the field. He isn’t an elite-level passer, his shot release could be quicker and the form on his shot is a bit awkward, yet somewhat effective. He never really dominated or completely controlled games like a first round NBA pick should and his age (he’ll be 23 in October) and injury history might scare off teams who would otherwise be interested.

Click for video of A.J. Price

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RICKY RUBIO
Club Team: DKV Joventut (Spain)
Unofficial Height: 6’4”
Unofficial Weight: 180 poundsCurrently projection:
Current Draft Projection: Lottery
What you need to know:
Rubio is only 18 years old and will probably be the first point guard selected in this year’s draft. But the major highlights in his career have come before they happen to most. He made his professional debut just a week before his 15th birthday, becoming the youngest player in the history of the Spanish ACB League. And at a mere 17 years old last summer, he became the youngest player ever to appear in an Olympic basketball final when Spain took on Team USA. Rubio was sensational in the Olympics and played remarkably carefree and with flair, which is his modus operandi. He’s also a wonderful defensive player. Rubio isn’t a ridiculous leaper, yet his ball handling ability is tremendous and he’s athletic enough to really wreak havoc as a penetrator. Rubio’s greatest strength is his intelligence; he sees the floor incredibly well and is a gifted passer. He isn’t a consistent outside shooter and really must improve in that area to excel at the NBA level. But the biggest drawbacks in regards to Rubio are off the court issues. First, since he is under contract in Europe, he has a costly buyout. The buyout is reportedly in the neighborhood of $7 million. Also, there are apparently stipulations on where he’s willing to play. This could scare off teams – especially Memphis – who sit near the top of the draft board. Whoever selects Rubio will be making a major investment in him and will push to make sure that he takes the floor very quickly. So, as has become commonplace during his career, he’ll be playing often at a ridiculously young age. Only time will tell how quickly he can develop the strength and shooting ability necessary to compete at a high level in the league.

Click for video of Ricky Rubio

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JEFF TEAGUE
School: Wake Forest
Official Height: 6’0.25” (without shoes); 6’1.5” (with shoes)
Official Weight: 175 pounds
Current Draft Projection: Mid 1st to Late 1st
What you need to know:
No player has bounced up and down draft boards more erratically than Teague. He started last season as a sophomore relatively unknown in basketball circles, even to NBA scouts. However, Wake Forest jumped out to a hot start and Teague was the catalyst. In January, Teague had 34 points, six rebounds, and four assists as the undefeated Demon Deacons knocked off North Carolina and he instantly became a hit with fans and with NBA scouts. Some were even debating whether he was more talented than Chris Paul, who was also a wonderfully talented two-year star at Wake Forest. Teague struggled during the second half of the season and, thus, so did the Demon Deacons as a team. Wake Forest won just eight of their last 15 games and Teague topped the 20-point mark just once in his last 10 games. Consequently, scouts fell out of love with him and certainly backed off on the formerly convenient comparisons to Paul. Now, with some solid workouts under his belt, Teague has risen once again. He is an excellent shooter (44% from three-point range in ’08-’09) and very explosive. He’s also a crafty scorer and understands how to slash and finish. The talent is evident , but Teague’s assist-to-turnover ratio (1.06-to-1) was underwhelming and scouts wonder whether he’ll be able to develop the point guard mindset necessary to be a starter at his height. Regardless, he is still worth taking on a chance on because even if he never picks up the skills required to lead a team, the league certainly has a role for athletic, sweet-shooting combo guards.

Click for video of Jeff Teague