Fultz, Ball headline list of guards in NBA draft

RALEIGH, N.C. • Teams looking for point guard help in Thursday night’s NBA draft are in luck — as long as they have a high pick, that is.

Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball have been the headliners in so much of the pre-draft conversations, projected to be selected first and second.

Who will go first — and where — has dominated the build up to the draft, which starts with the Philadelphia 76ers picking first followed by the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 2.

Here’s a look at two of the top prospects: MARKELLE FULTZ Fultz is expected to be the No. 1 pick after a single season at Washington.

STRENGTHS: The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Fultz ranked sixth nationally in scoring at 23.2 points per game while shooting 48 per cent overall and 41 per cent from threepoint range. He hit the glass (5.7) and ranked 15th nationally in assists (5.9) while having the athleticism to potentially play off the ball.

CONCERNS: He shot just 65 per cent from the foul line. He missed six games with a knee issue late in the season. And he couldn’t elevate the Huskies to more than nine wins in a rough season. LONZO BALL UCLA’s freshman star made the Bruins’ fast-paced offence hum all the way to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.

STRENGTHS: He averaged a national-best 7.6 assists at the helm of an attack that ranked second nationally in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency (124 points per 100 possessions). And while Ball was at his best when he was distributing the ball, he also averaged 14.6 points and 6.0 rebounds and boasts good size (6-6, 190) at the point.

CONCERNS: It is unclear how his offensive game and unorthodox shot will translate to the NBA.