Two-way Billiken with a defender’s edge and a scorer’s backbone
Javon Bess was the kind of Saint Louis guard coaches love: a high-motor, physical wing who led the Billikens in scoring at 15.3 points per game in the 2018-19 season while also anchoring the defense and averaging 6.8 rebounds. He brought toughness, versatility, and real big-game juice—he had a 31-point season high that year—and earned Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year honors, which tells you plenty about his value beyond the box score. If you want a gritty, competitive two-way guard who sets a tone, Bess fits the bill.
