Top Ten Mid-Major Point Guards to Watch in 2013-14
A great point guard can take you a long way in college basketball and the mid-major ranks have a slew of talented guards to keep an eye on in the 2013-14 season.
By Parks Smith Jun 6, 2013, 7:37am PDT
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There is nothing better than watching a great point guard operate and lead his team. We all know as mid-major fans that there are plenty of great guards and how valuable they can be in leading your team to a conference championship or on a deep postseason run. With that being said, who are the top point guards from around the mid-major scene to keep an eye on in the 2013-14 season?
Jason Brickman, Long Island: Brickman has been the field general for the Blackbirds over their successful NEC runs over the past couple of years. He'll now bring three years of experience to the table to a conference where Robert Morris and Mount St. Mary's seem to be catching up to LIU. Brickman finished last year averaging nearly 10 points and 9 assists while averaging over 36 minutes per game. His numbers have grown in almost every statistical category in his 101 games in Brooklyn.
Brett Comer, Florida Gulf Coast: Lets be honest... this time last year none of us knew who Brett Comer was. A year later the 6'3 point guard is a household name as the guy who orchestrated "Dunk City". Comer lost some of his running mates but after averaging over 6 assists per game and 8 points expect the junior to continue to thrive in the Atlantic Sun conference. First year head coach Joe Dooley has to have some piece of mind knowing that he has a veteran point guard running his offense from day one.
Chaz Williams, UMass: Simply put, Chaz Williams is the most exciting player to watch in the Atlantic 10. Despite only standing 5'9 the Hofstra transfer has a tenacious appetite for scoring averaging nearly 16 points per game and also lead the A10 in assists a year ago averaging just over 7 per game. Can Williams get the Minutemen back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998?
Siyani Chambers, Harvard: Chaz Williams isn't the only mid-major star at the point guard position in the state of Massachusetts. Harvard's Syani Chambers is a budding superstar for the Crimson after averaging over 12 points per game and leading the Ivy League in assists averaging nearly 6 per game in his freshman year. Chambers has the ability to turn Tommy Amaker's recent run in the Ivy League into a dominant dynasty.
Briante Weber, VCU: Weber flies a bit under the radar when you first think of great guards because he is not offensively minded, but the 6'3 spark-plug was named the Atlantic 10's top defensive player this past year. Basically, Weber is a one man press and couldn't be a more perfect fit for coach Shaka Smart and his "Havoc" system. With the departure of Darius Theus, look for Weber's ball handling duty and offensive production to shoot up in the 2013-14 season.
Kendrick Perry, Youngstown State: Perry will enter his senior year with the Penguins next season and you may start to hear his name more and more outside of the Horizon League. He has become one the nation's most efficient guard over the past couple of years averaging over 17 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds per game this past season. He helped lead the Penguins to the CIT this past year, which was the first postseason basketball appearance in school history.
Keifer Sykes, Green Bay: Speaking of the Horizon League, how about Keifer Sykes from Green Bay. In his sophomore campaign for the Phoenix he put up 16 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds per game in route to being named to the All-Conference First Team. Sykes will add some stability to a program that has seen its fair share of instability this offseason.
Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga: Don't expect the Zags production to fall off too much without Elias Harris and Kelly Olynyk this year, and the primary reason for that is Kevin Pangos. Pangos runs a smooth offense in Spokane and look for his line of 11 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds to grow in 2013-14.
Elfrid Payton, Louisiana-Lafayette: Payton may be another guy you've never heard of, but this guy is growing into a star for the Ragin Cajuns. Payton lead the Sun Belt Conference in assists last year with 5.5 per game and also added nearly 16 points and 6 rebounds. Payton will be a junior this year and his name is one that you're going to hear more and more.
Billy Baron, Canisius: Yes, it's finally Billy Baron's senior year. After beginning his career at Virginia and then transferring to Rhode Island to play for his dad, Baron transferred once again last year to Canisius (following his father). The NCAA gave him a special waiver to play for pops and he was a key part in helping to turnaround the MAAC program last year. Baron finished the year for the Golden Griffins leading the conference in assists, averaging 5 per game, while adding 17 points and 4 rebounds. Canisius is now a contender in the MAAC and a big part of that is Billy Baron.