Highly underrated/ potential steals 2nd round- undrafted smaller value guard options that'll provide a big impact:Part 2 of 5 part positional porospect list 1-
El Marko Jackson (Kansas)
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/elmarko-jackson-2.html At 6'3 195 lbs, El Marko is a high IQ supremely professional floor general archetype and defensive maestro that's also an elite POA defender with a non stop motor, strong frame, great ball security and very impressive court vision. And he is #1 on the list because he really does check all of the boxes to lead the bench and tableset the offense with maturity and poise. And although he's not yet a great shooter, overall he does all the little things for his team to win, and makes smart decisions with the ball in his hands.
2-
Reece Beekman (Virginia)
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/reece-beekman-1.html At 6'3 194 lbs with a solid frame (6'7 wingspan) Beekman is a very smart, fundamentally sound lockdown defensive guard that plays with poise and maturity beyond his years. Like Jackson, he's the ultimate professional that'll play hard every possession, make smart plays, and do whatever it takes to help his team win! He has underrated smooth athleticism and sneaky vertical burst that's not an exciting athlete but still a very efficient and reliable offensive player that knows how to get his own shots and is an elite defender especially POA. He's also a very underrated passer and ballhandler too. Reece is a cerebral guard with a vet mindset that makes the right plays, and keeps things simple, not trying to do too much outside of his role.
3-
Eric Gaines- (UAB)
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/eric-gaines-4.htmlAt 6'2 155 lbs, Gaines surely doesn't have great size for an ideal guard. But even so, he's still very fast, vertically explosive, and incredibly athletic overall. He's also a high motor versatile guard that plays at a nonstop pace is very crafty and tenacious scoring at the rim, and he'll occasionally make electrifying highlight plays and punish the opposition driving to the rim. He's also very dangerous playing downhill or in transition. He's also an encouraging playmaker even though his handle can be a bit loose at times. He's also an underrated disruptive defender that can put points up in a hurry. Think of a skinnier low end budget mix of DeAaron Fox and Darrell Armstrong motor, speed, and playing style going downhill and vertical athleticism.
4-
Mark Sears- (Alabama) **
Jalen Brunson 2.0 archetype!https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/mark-sears-1.html Even at 6'1 185 lbs, Sears is a strong, quick, athletic, very crafty high IQ offensively talented 6'1 guard with good but not great shooting efficiency, he's an impressive ballhandler, a strong rebounder, and a bouncy athlete too.Sears is a willing proactive defender that gives good effort and is a pesky good disruptor in the passing lanes. Honestly, Sears is a fairly comparable guard to Jalen Brunson as a rugged, tenacious, crafty scoring threat with lethal shooting. That being said, He doesn't yet have the footwork, defensive focus or advanced playmaking skillset/ attributes that Brunson displays which make him elite. But I do believe the underlying foundational talent is present to build towards a very similar trajectory.
5-
Kylan Boswell- (Arizona)
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/kylan-boswell-1.html At 6'2 195 lbs, Boswell has a sturdy frame and is a solid high IQ fundamentally sound/ poised 6'2 guard who's an impressive/ underrated playmaker/ floor general that has an impressive feel for the game. He's a very competitive, with shiftiness to his ballhandling, plays a mature and cerebral game and is a very good shooter if left open. He's very crafty at getting to the rim, and is a really pesky POA defender that always puts out full effort. His game and style of play most closely resembles a mix of Fred van Vleet and some Jose Alvarado (not because of the hair)!....LOL. As an undrafted signing, He'd offer very solid value as a quality mid to late 2nd round - undrafted backup guard option.
6-
Mark Armstrong- (Villanova)
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/mark-armstrong-2.html At 6'2 185 lbs, Mark Armstrong is basically anotherstrong, rugged, athletic, tenacious, high IQ, fundamentally sound guard with solid vertical athleticism, dangerous downhill penetrator, advanced ballhandler and also is a rugged/tenacious defender. He's not as potent of a scorer as Mark Sears, and will have to put in serious work to improve his shooting/ offensive production as well as develop other key areas of his game. BUT he plays with alot of confidence and moxy, and an edge and he's very solid and gritty with a lot of talent and a tenacious competitive nature. He's definitely not a star type talent, but he is a tough, rugged, smart bench level guard option that can reliably fill his role.
7-
Devin Carter- (Providence)
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/devin-carter-3.html At 6'3 195 lbs, Carter is another no frills cerebral efficient tenacious, high motor, strong, physical two way guard that plays a mature physical game, is a rugged, pesky, relentless defender, He's developed into a potent scorer and is already a very versatile defender that's really disruptive iun the passing lanes, and plays with good activity as an on ball defender. Ultimately, he's a very solid and reliable two way player that'll fill up the stat sheet and may surprise people. His game most closely resembles a bigger Jevon Carter defensively. And some Kendrick Nunn offensively.
8-
DeJuan Harris- (Kansas)
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/dajuan-harris-1.html At 6'1 160 lbs, Harris is a lightning quick, very shifty athletic, high end cerebral floor general type guard with a high IQ that can get to the basket at will, plays with incredible maturity and poise. Not only is he an ELITE DEFENDER for his size, Harris just always makes the right decision, the right play, the right pass. He's a winner and a confident leader with a smooth game, overall great fundamentals, relentless defense, and a very good shooter, floor spacer from three.
9-
Jamal Shead- (Houston)
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/jamal-shead-1.htmlHouston. a strong, relentlessly competitive, cerebral and very tough hard nosed gritty lockdown defensive guard that plays with unrivaled passion and motor. He's also very strong playmaker, great passer, underrated big shotmaker, he's the heart and soul of the ELITE Houston defense! He's like a more mature and stable version of prime Pat Beverly, But with a great attitude and no behavioral goonish attitude. Put it like this..............Sheads' motor, tenacity and relentless effort could make Okogie look passive and somewhat shy! There's a clear reason he's the heart and soul of the best defensive team in college basketball!!
10-
KJ Simpson (Colorado)
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/kj-simpson-1.htmlEven at 6'2 175 lbs as an undersized guard, Simpson is undersized with a slight framethat'll make playing in the NBA very challenging. But he's also very skilled, with a great basketball IQ and stellar awareness/ court vision and great shooting metrics. These other outlier attributes will somewhat balance out his size/frame concerns. But he will be hunted due to his size, frame, and overall average athleticism. He is an active and willing defender that gives good effort, has a good motor and make solid decisions with the ball. As an undrafted signing, he'd add legit value with his efficient, cerebral play and decision making.
****** Cam Spencer (Uconn)
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/cam-spencer-1.htmlAt 6'4 205 lbs with a sturdy frame, Cam Spencer is the clear budget version of top 5 pick Reed Sheppard. With his incredible efficiency and production/metrics, He's very impactful while also being quite underrated! He is just incredibly reliable in a multitude of areas/ categories, Has a very high IQ/ processing ability for the game. makes great plays that impact winning, and has great poise, nuance, mental awareness, etc. Again, he's the very consistent, efficient, impactful budget clone of Reed Sheppard, and for a team without a lottery pick to get a very similar stellar impactful cerebral combo guard that just happens to be an elite shooter and high end 50/40/90 prospect possibly from a late 2nd range to even possibly undrafted would be an absolute coup!!! I mean just look what our other 50/40/90 guard/wing in Grayson Allen has offered us in terms of impact!!
He'd be a GREAT potential Eric Gordon replacement! Or a GREAT TJ McConnell alternative I'd wager.