(H/T Baltimore Sun)

Gone is Nik Stauskas;  gone is Gary Harris; gone is Lenzelle Smith Jr. The Big Ten has been a guard haven these past couple of seasons with the amount of players they’ve produced (Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., etc), but that appears to be coming to a standstill as a new class of players arrive. Out with the old, in with the new; BSL breaks down the top guards in the Big Ten and where Maryland’s own Dez Wells fits in.

(What do you guys think? Any snubs? You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

1.)  Rayvonte Rice, Illinois (SR)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4RFx9IgZtQ

It’s really a toss up between Rice and the second guy on this list, but here we are. With a lot of departures at the guard position, Rice has a chance to dominate opponents this year. Because of how poor Illinois was, Rice was overlooked by other big name guards, but he was a great scorer (15.9 PPG) and rebounder (6.0 RPG) for a team that needed him every game.

The transfer from Drake is going to have every opportunity to do it again against opposing Big Ten teams that field more youthful and heralded talents with less experience. Rice is a gamer through and through, and while he may be a bit large for a shooting guard at almost 240 lbs, you’d be hard pressed to find a better player.

2.)  Dez Wells, Maryland (SR)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu_-vev5MMw

With Dez Wells, you have almost the exact opposite going on that you had with Rice; he’s a freak athlete, incredibly strong, and has decent size for his position. Wells opted to head back to College Park for his senior year to finish off his degree and help the Terps make it back to the tournament. Wells put up solid numbers last season in the ACC (14.9 PPG) and displayed an uncanny knack for taking over in the second half for an underachieving Maryland team.

The best part about Wells is that he isn’t done growing; he’s steadily refined his game in most categories, and continues to develop as a scorer. There are few players in the nation who execute the fastbreak better than Wells (think Bull in a Porcelain Shop) when he maneuvers around everyone from one end of the floor to the next. Given the youth in the Big Ten at the shooting guard spot, Wells could produce some stellar numbers this year.

3.)  DJ Newbill, Penn State (JR)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIg9aobE4HA

Newbill is the only player who can give those top two guys a run for their money statistically, as weird as it is to rank anything related to Penn State basketball this high. Newbill, the transfer from Southern Mississippi, arguably looked like the best player in the Big Ten at times last season. At 6’4, 205 lbs he may not look like the prototypical shooting guard (and indeed he played point at times last year), but he gets the job done against everyone. 17.8 points per game last season and nearly 5 rebounds and two assists made him a well rounded player, though he could stand to shoot a little better from deep (32%).

Newbill will likely not be asked to play point guard again, and allowing a guy who can hit from all over to play off the ball is a much better look for him. He’s a Philly guard through and through, and if he works on his handle a bit (it’s very loose), he could actually make Penn State…a good team?

4.)  Shavon Shields, Nebraska (JR)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTe3CQvGVhk

Shavon Shields is a great package at shooting guard. He’s got prototypical stature (6’7, 220 lbs), pedigree (son of an offensive lineman), and after last year, stats (12.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game). Shields has grown man game, to be sure, in that he’ll use pump fakes to get around players rather than athleticism, but those fakes were a big reason why Nebraska was so good last season.

Is he a guard? Is he a small forward? Who knows, but he’s a matchup problem at the two, so Nebraska will employ him there this season and he’s going to be a huge reason why the Huskers contend for the Big Ten championship.

5.)  Caris LeVert, Michigan (JR)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7BEpWpFR2w

After Michigan lost Tim Hardaway to the NBA, there was a big void at the shooting guard position for the Wolverines. Enter Caris LeVert, the 6’6 lanky guard who was perhaps the biggest question mark in 2013 for Michigan. Well any potential worry about a drop off from Hardaway to LeVert was quickly forgotten, as he averaged 12.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists for the Wolverines last season.

Levert doesn’t do one singular thing amazingly well, but he’s a Jack-of-all-trades kind of guy for his team. He’s a willing defender, passer, and has no problem filling it up when need be. A lot of folks like to compare him to Jordan Crawford, and that isn’t terribly far off. But think more E’Twaun Moore.

6.)  Ben Brust/John Gasser, Wisconsin (SR/JR)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19xG2ixSf38

It’s hard to say which one of these two is actually the point guard and shooting guard for the Badgers, but then it really doesn’t matter. Brust, at 6’1, 200 lbs is definitely sized like one, but he’s much better off the ball as evidenced by his 12.8 points per game last season. He’s also a great rebounder for his size at 4.5 a contest (5.1 the season prior), and is a rock on a team that made the Final Four last year.

Gasser, though, has a ton of potential –when he’s healthy. That’s the unfortunate part about Gasser and his surgically repaired left knee; if he’s healthy, he’s the best in the backcourt. Gasser played on and off last year, averaging 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds while dealing with his finicky knee, but he is a deadeye shooter (41.9% from deep, 47.5% overall, and 85% from the line). If Gasser is 100%, Wisconsin should end up in the Final Four again.

7.)  D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State (FR)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRxDk7rTw-k

Russell is the only freshman in the top half of the league because his impact is going to be felt greatly given the circumstance he falls into. The 6’4ish combo guard is going to get the chance to be the alpha dog for a Thad Matta team that needs a go-to scorer. Russell can be that guy as well as fill in as a point guard with great height for the Buckeyes. Aaron Craft needs replacing and Russell was brought in to do it. He’s one of the best shooters in the entire class from everywhere, but he’s also one of the best playmaking freshman you can find.

The graduation of Lenzelle Smith Jr. and Craft leaves the backcourt wide open for Russell to pair up with LaQuinton Ross in the frontcourt and continue Ohio State’s streak of tournament runs.

Michael Willis
Michael Willis

D.C. resident. Graduated from Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia (four year letterman in hockey) and University of Maryland, College Park. Played three years of ice hockey at Maryland. Former writer for Washington Wizards blog (TheDCDime.com), current hockey coach at Gonzaga College Preparatory School. Terrapin nut. Editor of Terrapin Station.

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