The point guard position in basketball is the leader on the court. He conducts the offense in a smooth and timely fashion, making sure every individual is on the same page. On the other side, the point guard heads the defensive set-up and must effectively communicate to his peers any types of switches that may occur. Instead of choosing the five best NBA point guards of all time, I'm going to choose the five best in college.
5. Kemba Walker
This maybe a little skewed because I am a huge UConn fan, but any point guard who accomplished what he did in the postseason of his senior year deserves to be on this list. Kemba ranked second in the Big East with 23.5 PPG, and averaged 23.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in the NCAA tournament. He was one of two players in the entire NCAA to average over 20 points, five rebounds and four assists. He simply put the team on his back. Walker ended his career with more clutch shots than 95 percent of college basketball players have in their entire career. I can vividly remember watching the Big East game against Pittsburgh, when Kemba intelligently planned the mismatch with center Gary McGhee, then proceeded to embarrass the big man. First, the nasty crossover to get Mcghee backing up, then the swift step back to nail the game winner at the buzzer. Man, I miss the Big East Tournament.
4. Bob Cousy
Although Cousy was way before my time, statistics don't lie. He played well ahead of his time and his
coaches at Holy Cross often criticized him for his "streetball" moves. Cousy was known for his behind the back passes from half-court and no look passes, before they became popular. Cousy and his crew at Holy Cross became the first school from New England to win the NCAA tournament in 1947. As a senior in 1950, the "Houdini of the Hardwood" orchestrated a magnificent season recording 26 straight wins and a #4 National ranking. One of the first iconic point guards of all-time was a three-time All American.
3. Pete Maravich
"Pistol Pete" was surely one of a kind on the court. His achievements and personal accomplishments could go on for pages and pages. Maravich is still the All-Time NCAA leader in Career points with 3,667 in just 83 games. Do the math. This LSU hero averaged an astonishing 44.2 points per game. On a cold February night against Alabama in 1970, Maravich lit up the gymnasium for 69 points. Although he played more than 40 years ago, he still holds NCAA records for highest points per game average (44.2), most field goals made (1,387), most free-throws made (893), and most 50 point games (28). Yes, on 28 different occasions Maravich torched the opposing defenses despite the fact they knew he would be taking most of the shots. With more and more college athletes leaving school early, it is going to be extremely difficult for anyone to topple Pistol Pete's unmatched records.
2. Oscar Robertson
Right behind Maravich in terms of scoring is this athletic freak of nature. Standing at 6'5 and 220 lbs., Oscar Robertson's stature wasn't ideal for a point guard back in the 1970s. But his athleticism and ball handling skills were too impactful to not have him handling the ball on every possession for the Cincinnati Bearcats. His physical abilities led the Bearcats to an amazing 79-9 overall record during his three seasons. Robertson's career featured an astonishing 10 triple-doubles including a 45 points, 23 rebounds, and 10 assists game against Indiana State. He did all of this despite the ongoing racism he dealt with throughout his entire collegiate career. The NCAA Division 1 Player of the Year was renamed in 1998 to honor him. (Oscar Robertson Trophy)
1. Magic Johnson
Last, but certainly not least. At 6'9", Earvin "Magic" Johnson created mismatches against players and headaches for opposing coaches. Johnson played merely two years of college basketball before declaring for the NBA draft, averaging 17.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. Although his statistics aren't as jaw dropping as some others on this list, he had the intangible and instinctive abilities that can't be coached. He truly imaged the ideal player and as a point guard and made everyone around him better. When he had to take over a game by scoring, he did. If he had to lock down the opposing team's best scorer, he did. In the 1979 National Championship game, Magic went head to head against Indiana State legend Larry Bird. To this day it is still the most watched college basketball game of all time. Magic outplayed Bird to a 75-64 victory and would create an intense rivalry that would continue into the NBA.
Honorable Mention List: Gary Payton (Oregon State), Allen Iverson (Georgetown), Steph Curry (Davidson), Jay Williams (Duke), Phil Ford (North Carolina),
