Props for Jarrett Jack

I am beginning to like Matt Doherty - link here - as he looks at the top point guards:

1. Jarrett Jack, Georgia Tech (6'3", 198 lbs) -- A big, strong guard of the old school mold. All he did was lead Tech to the championship game last year. His 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists against Kansas in last year's Elite Eight was "sick". Am I the only person who remembers that? What have the other highly-touted point men done that is more impressive? Nada! J.J. is the Rodney Dangerfield of collegiate point guards -- he gets no respect. He can play for me any day.

Well said Matt D.

Grant Wahl at sports illustrated had this to say about ACC point guards:

It seems that all the preseason hype surrounding the ACC and Wake Forest's surprising success last season has propelled Chris Paul to the top of the point-guard totem pole. Sure, he had a phenomenal season last year, but don't you think people are agreeing too readily that he is the best? Where's the love for Maryland's John Gilchrist, who has shown he can do whatever he wants? With UNC's Raymond Felton, Gilchrist and Georgia Tech's Jarrett Jack in the mix, I wouldn't be so quick to hand the trophy to Paul. What do you think?
-- Jano Valencia, Rockville, Md.

Point taken, Jano. The point-guard talent in the ACC this year is sick. Of the college players ranked in the '05 mock draft over at nbadraft.net, three of the top four choices are ACC point guards: Paul (at No. 3), Felton (No. 7) and Gilchrist (No. 8). (Why Jack isn't listed is beyond me.) The reason Paul has risen to the top of most pundits' lists has more to do with his youth and potential -- he's the only sophomore of the bunch, and sophomores tend to improve more than juniors or seniors. Last year their performances were remarkably similar: Paul, Felton and Jack all made the All-ACC third team, while Gilchrist (who didn't make any all-league teams) was merely the MVP of the ACC tournament. Paul may be in the spotlight's glare right now, but that can be a fleeting thing. All he has to do is ask last year's ACC preseason player of the year: Ray Felton.