The top 16 guards for the 2024-25 men's college basketball season, ranked by Andy Katz

With men's college basketball almost back, Andy Katz ranked his top 16 guards heading into the 2024-25 season. 

MORE KATZ: Ranking the top 16 wings for the 2024-2025 season

1. Dylan Harper, Rutgers 

The complete highlights of Dylan Harper’s master class to win the Jordan Brand Classic MVP tonight:

— John Fanta (@John_Fanta)

Same as the wings list, Katz's guard rankings are led by a true freshman. Harper is a top-five recruit across all recruiting sites — and he joins consensus No. 2 recruit Ace Bailey at Rutgers. The 6-foot-2 combo guard has high expectations for his first season, and it will be exciting to watch this talented freshman duo in action come November.

2. RJ Davis, North Carolina

The consensus First Team All-American selection returns for his fifth season with the Tar Heels, hoping to lead his squad back to the national championship game. Davis led North Carolina in scoring last season, averaging 21.2 points per game. He will once again be a key part of Hubert Davis' squad that has high expectations heading into the upcoming season. 

3. Mark Sears, Alabama

Sears is in a similar spot as Davis. He is entering his fifth year — third with Alabama — and he will be leaned upon just as Davis to take his team back to a position to compete for a national title. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 21.5 points per game, even leading the Crimson Tide past Davis' Tar Heels in the NCAA tournament, en route to the Final Four. 

4. Caleb Love, Arizona

Love, a former teammate of Davis, also opted to stay in college for his fifth season. He spent his first three years with the Tar Heels before taking his talents out west to Arizona last season. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 18 points per game for the Wildcats, and he will be a key piece of Tommy Lloyd's squad in an effort to get past the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2015. 

5. Braden Smith, Purdue

The junior had a breakout season last year as a key piece in the Boilermakers' run to the national championship game. He averaged 12 points per game, 7.5 assists and 5.8 rebounds as a 6-foot guard. He was named First Team All-Big Ten team and played a school-record 1,327 minutes. He also set a Big Ten record with 292 assists on the year. 

6. Dajuan Harris, Kansas

Harris is entering his fifth season with the Jayhawks, and he will be leading a squad that picked up two key transfers in AJ Storr and Rylan Griffen. The 6-foot-2 guard led Kansas in assists (6.5 per game) and steals (1.5).  

7. Bruce Thornton, Ohio State 

Thornton is coming off a standout season with the Buckeyes, averaging 15.7 points per game and 4.8 assists. His 4.0 assist-to-turnover ratio (168-to-42) was the second-best mark in the nation. As only a rising junior, Thornton should be in store for another improvement, aiming to lead the Buckeyes back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2022. 

8. Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M

The 6-foot guard is coming off his best season with the Aggies, averaging 19.1 points, 4 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals. He led the Aggies to the second round of the NCAA tournament before losing in overtime to No. 1 seed Houston. Taylor dropped 25 in the Aggies' first-round win against Nebraska, and he should take another jump in his fourth season in College Station. 

9. Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State

The Ames, Iowa native is entering his third season with the Cyclones. Lipsey is a true Swiss Army knife, averaging 12.4 points, 4.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 steals. His steal numbers broke the single-season record for the Cyclones and ranked fourth in the nation. He will captain an Iowa State team that is looking for its fourth straight NCAA tournament appearance. 

10. LJ Cryer, Houston

The 6-foot-1 guard wasted no time making an impression in his first year on Kelvin Sampson's squad. Cryer led the Cougars in scoring (15.5 ppg), and alongside Jamal Shead, Houston formed one of the best backcourts in the country last season. With Shead leaving for the NBA, Cryer will be leaned upon to take a larger role in his fifth college basketball season. 

11. Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga

Nembhard broke onto the scene in his first season with Mark Few's program last season, breaking Gonzaga's single-season assist record after averaging 6.9 per game. He will captain the Bulldogs squad which is searching for its 26th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. 

12. Kam Jones, Marquette

The 6-foot-5 guard led the Golden Eagles in scoring (17.2 ppg), shooting 40.6% from beyond the arc. Jones will lead Shaka Smart's squad as they look to avenge their Sweet 16 loss to NC State last season. 

HISTORY: Every men's basketball champion since 1939

13. Tyrese Proctor, Duke

Proctor was just the fourth sophomore in Duke history to be named a team captain last season, and Jon Scheyer will lean on the 6-foot-5 junior to lead the Blue Devils to another deep tournament run. Proctor averaged 10.5 points and 3.7 assists, and he will be a veteran leader on a young Duke squad. 

14. Kadary Richmond, St. John’s 

The 6-foot-6 guard is taking his talents to Rick Pitino's squad after spending the past three years with Seton Hall. Richmond is coming off a stellar season with the Pirates, averaging 15.7 points, 2.2 steals, 5.1 assists and 7.0 rebounds. His length gives him the ability to guard just about anybody on the court, and he provides St. John's with valuable experience as he enters his fifth season. 

15. Matthew Murrell, Ole Miss

Murell is coming off his best season with the Rebels, averaging 16.2 points, 1.6 steals and 3.6 rebounds in his fourth year in Oxford. He shot 39.8% from beyond the arc, and he will be leaned upon in his fifth season to try and get the Rebels back to the big dance for the first time since 2019. 

16. Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee 

The 5-foot-9 guard is entering his fourth season with Rick Barnes' squad. Zeigler averaged 11.8 points, 6.1 assists and 1.7 steals for the Volunteers last season while earning SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Alongside Dalton Knecht, the Volunteers made it to the Elite Eight. With the departure of Knecht, Zeigler should be in store for a larger role in his senior season.