2019 Draft Position Preview: Guards
JARRETT CULVER – 6-6, 195 – College: Texas Tech – played both SF and SG at Texas Tech, but will likely be moved to backcourt at next level; excelled against top-flight competition in the Tourney; averaged 18.5 points, 6.4 boards and 3.7 assists as a sophomore; frequently ran Red Raiders offense; school’s first Big 12 Player of the Year; will need to improve outside shooting at NBA level; not an explosive athlete, won’t jump out of the gym;
very good ball-handler for his size; maybe the most versatile player in the Lottery; can defend multiple positions at a high level; can be an outstanding 3-and-D guy as a pro; high basketball IQ, passionate player; including assists, accounted for nearly 35 percent of Tech’s offense last year; ideal build for an NBA wing; better than average footwork; shooting mechanics might need tweaked; long arms; outstanding motor; tough defender, moves well laterally, quick hands; very good rebounder for his size and loves to run the break off the glass; can be taken out of his game by a stronger defender; concerns about Culver are that he’s too versatile – a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none at at the next level; but teams are reportedly enamored with the sophomore swingman as June 20 approaches.
COBY WHITE – 6-5, 190 – College: North Carolina – shattered North Carolina high school scoring records before signing with Tarheels; finished second on UNC in scoring and total points; constantly attacking rim;
one of the best catch-and-shoot players in the country; so lightning-quick, had to learn to change speeds at college level; welcomes contact at the rim; shot 35 percent from deep in single season at UNC, maybe the most polished pure shooter in the Draft; decision-making is suspect, tends to play out of control, turnover-prone; led Tarheels to Sweet 16; gives good effort, but not a very good defender at this stage; good late-game killer instinct; outstanding first step, can blow by defenders on perimeter; finishes well at the rim with either hand; good at finding teammates in transition; very good at creating space for his shot; strong facilitator – averaged 4.1 assist per game; excellent free throw shooter; very good lateral quickness; scored at least 33 points on three occasions this year with UNC; needs to add muscle to his frame; sometimes speed can be a curse, gets rushed; sometimes looks to score for himself too quickly; like the two previous players, some team will scoop up the high-octane point man quickly in today’s guard-driven league.
ROMEO LANGFORD – 6-6, 210 – College: Indiana – a decorated Indiana high school player, Langford led the Hoosiers with 16.1 ppg average while shooting 45 percent from the floor; loves to attack the rim and a strong finisher in traffic; lacks consistent outside shot – only shot 27 percent from long-range; aggressive rebounder – averaged 5.4 as a freshman, good on offensive glass as well; likes to get team in transition off the rebound; will need to improve his range at the next level; not a big athletic upside; gets to the stripe frequently but needs to improve his percentage;
nice touch around the rim; shoots well off the dribble; can post up smaller guards; just a so-so defender but potential to improve at NBA level; good size to absorb contact in the paint; questionable shot selection at times; has the size to develop into a solid 3-and-D guy; tends to drift, not always locked in mentally; played some point guard in high school and still retains playmaking skills; reliant on his right hand, making him easier to guard on the next level; between turnovers and bad shot attempts, needs to improve his overall efficiency, Langford is one of the more intriguing guards near the top of the board.