Typically in college basketball, point guards see the most dramatic improvement between their freshman and sophomore seasons. Last year, Michigan’s Trey Burke, Syracuse’s Michael Carter-Williams and Miami’s Shane Larkin were prime examples. There’s now a new trio of floor generals who have seen major progress over the offseason with Marcus Smart, Marcus Paige and Jahii Carson.

Smart, who was projected to be a top-five pick in last year’s draft, returned to Oklahoma State for his sophomore season and has been one of the best players in the country. The 6-foot-4, 220 pounder is averaging 21 points, 4.2 steals, 4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game this season and had the performance of the year in a 101-80 win against Memphis. Smart went off for 39 points, five steals, four rebounds, and four assists on 11-of-21 shooting from the field (5-of-10 from three-point range). This all came in front of NBA star Kevin Durant, who had high praise for Smart.

"He is poised," Durant told Eric Prisbell of USA Today. "And the extra year will help him out as far as knowing the game more. I wish him good luck." Durant also added that Smart could “play in the league right now. Definitely.”

The biggest question on Smart’s NBA future was his shooting ability. He could already lead an offense and outmuscle smaller defenders, but his 29 percent shooting from three-point range was a cause for concern. Early on this year, Smart is shooting an improved 35 percent (11-of-31) from behind the arc. Although he can still improve as the season progresses, his draft stock certainly hasn’t taken a hit and he has made Oklahoma State look like a legitimate contender.

Another Marcus who has shown remarkable improvement is North Carolina’s Marcus Paige. After averaging 8.2 points per game last season, Paige’s scoring ability has skyrocketed as the southpaw is now putting up 22.4 points per game while shooting 53 percent from the field and three-point range.

Despite North Carolina’s disappointing loss to Belmont, Paige led the Tar Heels to a big win over Louisville behind his 32-point effort.

''The coaches keep telling me I've got to be more aggressive and attack from the perimeter,'' Paige told the Associated Press. ''It's just something I have to do. I'm starting to feel more comfortable with it.''

Paige’s development is one of the great aspects of college basketball. The role player has developed into a star for North Carolina and it will be interesting to track his progress as the season continues.

Arizona State’s Jahii Carson has been phenomenal as well. The explosive, 5-foot-10 point guard considered entering the draft last season, but certainly made the right decision by spending another year in Tempe. He’s averaging 23 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per contest while shooting both 55 percent from the field and three-point range.

Carson’s premier performance came in an 86-80 win over UNLV where he exploded for 40 points and dished seven assists. He also had 23 points and five assists to lead the Sun Devils over #25 Marquette.

"He's handled enormous expectations with poise and coolness beyond his years," Arizona State coach Herb Sendek told Nicole Auerbach of USA Today. "He has the amazing trait of performing his best when the lights are the brightest. The bigger the stage, the bigger the moment, he seems to have a special ability to rise to that occasion. He does so very matter-of-factly. He has a great even keel about him.”

Carson’s only drawback is his size, but with his quickness and talent he’s certainly made up for it. He has become one of the most exciting players in the nation and will have a national game against Creighton on Thursday. If he leads the undefeated Sun Devils past another ranked opponent, Arizona State will certainly be ranked next week.

These three sophomore point guards have already shown extensive progress in their skill sets early in the season. With plenty of games remaining, it will be fun to follow the three vastly different floor generals for the rest of their sophomore campaigns.