Isaac Likekele is possibly done with his time in the college ranks, Bryce Williams is definitely done with his time in the college ranks, and the backcourt trio of Bryce Thompson, Avery Anderson and Rondel Walker aren’t likely suited to handle the lion’s share of point guard responsibilities. So who will take over the role in 2022?

If necessary, the Cowboys could get it done on a committee basis with Anderson and Thompson, but with both of them better-suited to play off the ball as scorers, OSU has not shied from the fact that it is pursuing options to play point next season. Here’s a look at some of the top candidates, from those who are currently in the mix to a few who could be viable options if the coaching staff expands their search in the transfer portal.

1. Dantwan Grimes | 6-2, 190 | Kilgore J.C.

Grimes is believed to be the only 2022 point guard prospect for OSU with a current offer who has not already made a commitment elsewhere. A 6-foot-2 recruit from Kilgore Junior College, Grimes is a Second Team All-American who can do a little of everything as both a scorer and creator.

2. Courtney Ramey | 6-3, 185 | Texas

OSU has already reached out to Ramey, once a top target out of high school, after he recently entered the transfer portal. But is he a fit to play the lead guard position?

Methinks the answer is yes.

Texas last year played Ramey more off the ball, so the perception around him is that he’s more of a scoring guard. But not so fast! Remember: Ramey was at one time the No. 10 PG recruit in the entire country. He had a 23.7% assist rate as a freshman at Texas, a 19.6% assist rate as a sophomore and a 22% rate as a junior. Those marks all ranked in the top 15 in Big 12 play. (For reference: Likekele last season was 21.4% in that same category.)

3. Rudi Williams | 6-2, 190 | Coastal Carolina

Williams is reportedly the latest transfer product to receive interest from Oklahoma State, this after entering the portal earlier in the week. A former three-star junior college product who began his career in Oklahoma at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Williams spent one season at Kansas State before transferring and spending 2021-22 with Coastal Carolina. There, he averaged 14.7 points and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 44.7% (!) from 3. Good size at 6-foot-3 and had a 21.9% assist rate last season.

4. Marcus Hammond | 6-2, 160 | Niagara

A three-time All-MAAC performer with Niagara, Hammond is coming off a career senior year where he averaged 18.1 points and 2.9 assists per game while sharing the role as lead guard. Good shooter, good distributor who fits at OSU as a potential co-lead guard if OSU were to go that direction — though OSU will have a ton of competition here, it seems.

5. Keeshawn Barthelemy | 6-2, 163 | Colorado

Barthelemy had a breakout sophomore season with Colorado, where he took control of a starting role and averaged 11.1 points per game while hitting nearly 35% of his 3s. He wasn’t the guy at point guard, though, as CU shared the role with another freshman, so the appeal of taking over the spot outright at OSU could be appealing to him. OSU has at the very least expressed interest here.

The post The Top Five Candidates To Play Point Guard at OSU in 2022 appeared first on Pistols Firing.