Finest Magazine 26-27 DMV Preseason CBB Watchlist: Shooting Guards

The shooting guard position continues to evolve. It is no longer simply about finding a player who can knock down open threes. The modern two-guard has to be capable of creating advantages, defending multiple positions, attacking closeouts and, in many cases, initiating offense.

This year's FM Watchlist Shooting Guards features a mix of experienced veterans, high-level transfers, developing underclassmen and freshmen who could quickly establish themselves in their new environments. Some are proven scorers looking for a bigger stage, while others have the versatility to impact games without needing the ball in their hands every possession.

Here are the guards we're keeping an eye on heading into the season.

Flash Burton/ UMBC/ 6’3/ 185/ Junior:  

Burton arrives at UMBC following his time at Rider with an opportunity to make an immediate impact in the backcourt. At 6-foot-3, Burton has the combination of ball skills and scoring ability to operate as both a point guard and shooting guard, giving UMBC some flexibility with how it uses him.

The scoring production immediately stands out, but his 2.9 assists per game also show that he isn't simply a shoot-first guard. Burton can handle the ball, create offense and make plays for others while still maintaining an aggressive scoring mentality.

One of the more interesting developments entering the season is his physical growth. Burton reportedly added 14 pounds of muscle, which could be important for a guard whose game relies on getting downhill and playing through contact. That added strength should help him finish around the basket, absorb contact on drives and potentially become a more reliable defender.

His 78.4% free-throw shooting is another encouraging indicator of his scoring versatility. Guards who consistently get to the line and convert their opportunities can find ways to produce even when their perimeter shot isn't falling.

The next step is translating his scoring ability into consistent production against stronger competition. If the added strength allows Burton to become more efficient attacking the paint while maintaining his perimeter threat, he has the tools to become one of UMBC's primary offensive weapons.

Justyn Fernandez/ UAB/ 6’5/ 210/ Senior: 

Justyn Fernandez has taken the long road through college basketball, but each stop has added another layer to his game.

Fernandez began his career at George Mason, redshirted the following season because of an injury and then followed Kim English to Providence. After one season there, he moved to Delaware and put together his most productive season to date, averaging 16.6 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 40.3% from three and 87.8% from the free-throw line.

That combination of scoring efficiency and size makes Fernandez an intriguing addition to UAB.

At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Fernandez has the physical profile to play either wing guard position. His shooting numbers suggest a player who can stretch the floor, but his value goes beyond simply standing behind the three-point line. He has enough size and offensive experience to attack mismatches and contribute on the glass.

His 87.8% free-throw percentage also speaks to his ability to capitalize when defenses put him on the line.

UAB head coach Andy Kennedy described Fernandez as someone who "operates like a professional" and projected him as a potential leader and all-conference-level two/three. Kennedy also compared his game to former TCU standout Desmond Bane, a comparison that speaks to the combination of size, shooting and versatility UAB sees in him.

The biggest question will be how Fernandez's offensive production translates to his new level of competition. If the shooting remains consistent, his size gives him multiple ways to impact games.

Mike McNair Jr/ Maryland/ 6’5/ 205/ Grad Student:

Mike McNair Jr. is a player Maryland brought in with a clear purpose: shooting.

The fifth-year guard arrives after a standout season at Boston University, where he averaged 16.9 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting an impressive 44.4% from three. He was also a first-team All-Patriot League selection. For Maryland, his perimeter shooting addresses a specific need. The Terps ranked 307th nationally in three-point shooting, making the addition of a proven high-volume shooter particularly important. But McNair shouldn't be viewed strictly as a catch-and-shoot specialist. At 6-foot-5, he has the size to attack aggressive closeouts, and Maryland will look for him to make defenses pay when they run him off the three-point line. His rebounding numbers also suggest he can contribute beyond his shooting.

That ability to attack closeouts could ultimately determine how much his game expands at Maryland. If defenders stay attached to him, he can create driving opportunities. If they help off him, he has already shown he can make them pay from deep.

His potential impact also extends to transition. McNair has the rebounding ability to grab the ball and push the pace himself, giving Maryland another player capable of turning a defensive rebound into offense.

Andre Mills/ Maryland/ 6’4/205  / Junior: 

Andre Mills is another Maryland guard worth watching, particularly because of the way his game developed late last season.

Mills averaged 12.2 points and 4.1 rebounds, but his production after February 1 provides an even better look at the player he could become. Over 13 games during that stretch, he averaged 17.9 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 38.6% from three.

That late-season run is significant.

It suggests Mills was becoming increasingly comfortable and productive as his role expanded. Rather than simply being a complementary piece, he began showing the ability to carry a larger offensive burden.

At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Mills has good positional size and enough strength to play through contact. His perimeter shooting gives him value away from the ball, while his scoring ability allows him to become more involved when the offense needs a creator.

Maryland's backcourt could feature multiple players capable of spacing the floor and attacking in different ways. Mills' development could be particularly important because he has already demonstrated that he can raise his production when given additional responsibility.

Jaeden Mustaf/ Indiana/ 6’6/ 210/ Junior: 

Jaeden Mustaf's versatility is what makes him stand out. The 6-foot-6 junior started 23 games as a sophomore at Georgia Tech and enters Indiana with the type of positional flexibility coaches love. He can play multiple positions, defend different types of players and contribute without requiring the offense to be built entirely around him. His statistical profile already shows some of that versatility: 10.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, along with 38.9% three-point shooting. Indiana coach DeVries described Mustaf as a "utility guy" who can play positions one through four. That's a pretty strong indication of how the Hoosiers envision using him.

Mustaf's physicality is another important part of his game. At 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, he has the size to put pressure on the defense as a driver while also having enough strength to defend bigger wings.

The ability to make open threes could make everything else work. If defenses respect him on the perimeter, Mustaf can attack closeouts. If they put a smaller defender on him, his size can become an advantage.

His role may not always show up through scoring numbers. He could be valuable as a rebounder, secondary ball-handler, defender and transition player.

Tyler Perkins/ Villanova/ 6’4/ 205/ Senior: 

Perkins enters the season with something many players spend years trying to find: a clear understanding of who he is as a player.

Perkins averaged 13.7 points and 5.4 rebounds, started all 33 games and earned the Big East Most Improved Award along with third-team All-Big East recognition.

He also knocked down 66 three-pointers, including 2.2 per game during Big East play, when he averaged 15.4 points and 6.2 rebounds.

Those numbers tell an important story. Perkins isn't simply a perimeter shooter. His rebounding production gives him value as a physical guard, while his defensive activity—reflected in his 1.2 steals per game—adds another dimension.

Villanova coach Kevin Willard noted that Perkins came into the summer with increased confidence following shoulder surgery and was shooting the ball better during workouts. Perhaps most importantly, Willard emphasized that Perkins now understands who he is as a player.

That could be a major factor this season.

Players often make their biggest jumps when they stop trying to prove they can do everything and instead become extremely good at the things that make them valuable. Perkins appears to be entering that stage of his development.

Qayden Samuels/ Alabama/ 6’5/ 230/ Freshman:

Qayden Samuels brings a different type of physicality to Alabama's freshman class.

At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Samuels already has the frame of a college veteran. What makes him particularly intriguing is that his physical tools are connected to his offensive skill set. Alabama head coach Nate Oats described Samuels as an elite scorer, pointing specifically to his ability to bully his way to the basket, make difficult shots and knock down perimeter attempts. The left-handed guard's combination of strength and scoring ability could make him difficult to deal with. He can put pressure on the rim without necessarily needing a large runway to get there, and his ability to shoot gives him another way to punish defenses. His physicality also creates potential advantages against smaller guards. When he gets a matchup he likes, Samuels can use his frame to create space and get downhill. The biggest adjustment will be learning how to consistently make those reads against experienced college defenders. Freshmen who are accustomed to overpowering defenders at previous levels eventually have to learn when to attack, when to pull up and when to move the ball. Still, Alabama clearly sees enough offensive talent to give him minutes early.

Martin Somerville/ West Virginia/ 6’3/185/ Junior

Martin Somerville brings experience, versatility and leadership to West Virginia's backcourt.

The 6-foot-3 combo guard began his college career at UMass-Lowell before moving to Florida State, where he averaged 8.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals. His scoring production may not jump off the page, but Somerville's game isn't built solely around scoring.

He can handle the ball, make plays for teammates and defend. His ability to knock down shots adds another layer, as demonstrated by his 23-point performance against Jacksonville when he connected on five three-pointers. West Virginia also values the intangibles he brings.

Coach Hodge noted that people within the Florida State program spoke highly of Somerville's leadership ability. That's meaningful for a player entering a new environment, particularly one expected to help stabilize a backcourt. Somerville has the potential to be the type of guard who keeps things moving. He can initiate offense, play alongside another ball-handler and provide defensive pressure.

Makhai Valentine/ George Mason/ 6’3 | 190 | Junior

Valentine ( 13.3 points on 35% from 3FG at Northern Illinois) brings something every successful team needs: toughness.

The 6-foot-3 guard isn't necessarily going to overwhelm opponents with flashy statistics or highlight-reel plays, but he impacts winning in several areas that don't always show up in the box score. His 5.3 rebounds per game are particularly impressive for a guard, and that physical approach should give George Mason another player capable of creating possessions.

Valentine's offensive game is still developing. He has a decent perimeter shot and understands how to play within his strengths, while his ballhandling remains an area where continued improvement could unlock another level of his game. The important thing is that he appears to understand what he does well — and what he doesn't.

That self-awareness can go a long way. Valentine competes, defends and attacks rebounds with the mentality of a bigger player. George Mason doesn't necessarily need him to become something he's not. If he continues to sharpen his handle and perimeter shooting while maintaining that physical edge, he could become one of the more valuable pieces in the Patriots' rotation.

Omari Witherspoon/ George Washington/ 6’6/ 225/ Sophomore:

Omari Witherspoon is one of the younger players on this year's watchlist, but his opportunity at George Washington could be significantly larger than the one he had at Pitt. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound sophomore was productive and efficient as a freshman in the ACC, averaging 7.5 points and 3.0 rebounds. Now, he has an opportunity to take on a larger role in the nation's capital. That increased responsibility could be exactly what his development needs.

George Washington has previously seen players such as James Bishop IV, Brendan Adams and others flourish after coming to the program and receiving expanded roles. Witherspoon enters with a similar opportunity to move from being a complementary player at a high-major program to becoming a more prominent piece. His size is particularly interesting. At 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, Witherspoon has the physical profile to play through contact and create matchup problems on the wing. If he can expand his offensive role while maintaining the efficiency he showed at Pitt, his production could take a significant step forward. The key will be confidence and opportunity. With more touches comes more defensive attention, and Witherspoon will have to show that he can create offense consistently rather than simply benefiting from the opportunities created by others. Still, his youth gives him plenty of room to grow.