The NBA Draft is this Thursday and all 30 NBA teams will hope to find their next franchise player. The Big Ten will be well-represented on that night as plenty will get called to the stage. I'm going through every Big Ten player in the CBS Sports top 120 prospects or Sports Illustrated top 100 list, as well as some others that are outside the draft boards, and I'll present my analysis on them as a player and NBA prospect. Let's get started!
Jaren Jackson Jr. - Michigan State, 6'11" PF, Freshman, SI Ranking - #3, CBS Ranking - #5
2017-18 Stats: 10.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.0 BPG, 39.6% 3P% (96 attempts), 79.7% FT%
Quick Fact: His 3 blocks per game led the Big Ten and put him 7th in the country
A consensus top-five player in the draft, Jaren Jackson has scouts very excited with all the tools he could provide. His wingspan (7'4") helps to make him an elite defender while his three-point percentage is already very solid, especially for a big man. He immediately, and likely will always, draws comparison and conversation between him and Mo Bamba in the question of who is the better prospect. Regardless, both are freak athletes and have extraordinary defensive abilities.
Jackson is still just 18 years old, a huge plus in the eyes of many NBA front office members. Questions the NBA teams that may be considering him had to be answered in their individual workouts as MSU head coach Tom Izzo drew heavy criticism for frequently benching the big man. There is plenty to like about his game: his shot blocking, rim presence, soft touch around the rim, and ability beyond the arc as well. His shot, especially for a player of his size, looks good and it's hard to not imagine teams desiring to improve this attribute of his game to make him a potentially deadly pick-and-pop man in the league. He has a chance to go in the top three of this loaded draft, which says something about him as a whole. It's hard not to like his abilities as a player.
Miles Bridges - Michigan State, 6'7" SF, Sophomore, SI Ranking - #11, CBS Ranking - #14
2017-18 Stats: 17.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 36.4% 3P%, 85.3 FT%, 45.7% FG%
Quick Fact: Took the most shots per game on his MSU team last season (13.4)
Michigan State's other player on the list is also the other Big Ten player most likely to go in the draft lottery. A surefire lottery pick last season, Bridges decided to return to college. His draft stock took a bit of a hit (as happens to most players who return for an additional year) but he was the key man on a regular season Big Ten Championship winning Michigan State side, despite their under-performances in the NCAA Tournament his time with the team.
Bridges is a listed 6'7", but is only slightly above 6'5" without shoes (as measured at the NBA Combine), though he plays far bigger. Bridges is strong and athletic, his two best traits as a future pro, and that translated last season. He's a tough match-up for any side, as in college teams couldn't guard him with a bigger, stronger player since he shoots the ball well, but couldn't guard him with a weaker wing player because of his strength. In this sort of small ball NBA, you can slot him at power forward and he would produce results despite his listing as a small forward. His time in college exposed his handle as below-par as questions were consistently asked of why he wouldn't take weaker players to the hoop. Still, he is a probable lottery pick for a good reason: his rebounding and scoring cannot be ignored and he has the make-up of a pro. The team that drafts him will be getting a good athletic wing-man.
Kevin Huerter - Maryland, 6'7" SG, Sophomore, SI Ranking - #18, CBS Ranking - #21
2017-18 Stats: 14.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 41.7% 3P%, 75.8% FT%, 34.4 MPG, 50.3% FG%
Quick Fact: Finished fourth in minutes per game in the Big Ten, but second on his own team (Anthony Cowan - 37.0 MPG)
Huerter was a player that saw his draft stock really skyrocket over the course of the season, and it continued to grow during the postseason developments. The former Maryland player is still just 19 with one of the best shooting strokes in the entire draft. At 6'7", you wouldn't expect him to project as a shooting guard, but that would seem to be his most fitting position as it would allow him to focus on his shooting as a young player, and eventually the team that takes him can play around with his positioning once he develops his defensive skills. Teams will be drawn immediately to his shooting skills and I tend to think that he would fit in incredibly well on a team that is currently in contention but needs a bench piece to push them forward. I am rather high on Huerter because if you can shoot, you'll have a spot in the NBA. His 6'7" frame and shot both combined lead to a player that a team in that pick number 20 range of the draft will covet.
Keita Bates-Diop - Ohio State, 6'8" SF, Junior, SI Ranking - #34, CBS Ranking - #20
2017-18 Stats: 19.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 35.9% 3P%, 79.4% FT%, 48% FGP
Quick Fact: Finished as the Big Ten's leading scorer and the conference's player of the year
Bates-Diop is a very interesting case as a player. His true sophomore year was good-not-great, he was injured the better part of his true junior year, then his breakout year came as a 22 year old redshirt junior in Chris Holtmann's first season as the Ohio State head coach. He won plenty of deserving accolades, including the Big Ten's Player of the Year award, and declared for the draft following the season. His stock was at its peak, understandably so, and he projects as a first-round pick, but as a complete package there is much to discuss about Bates-Diop.
His games was perfectly suited in the collegiate game as, at 6'8", he was a match-up nightmare for small forwards and power forwards alike. Still, though, he does not have that sort of athleticism that you would like or expect from a player of his sort. His three-point percentage is good enough for a team to see it and not be too concerned, but you'd really want more from him as a prospect who won't beat you with his athletic ability in the league. He's a very lanky player (with a wingspan of 7'3") and that offers some hope that you can develop Bates-Diop into a strong defender on the NBA level, and I think he has this potential. I see him as a sort of three-and-d player, but offering more in general to the team. He's not gonna be super physical, and he's likely not going to starting drilling threes on a regular basis, but you have a player who you know what you're getting. At 22, he comes with a host of questions, but one can see why some project him in the first round.
Moritz Wagner - Michigan, 6'11" C, Junior, SI Ranking - #43, CBS Ranking - #34
2017-18 Stats: 14.6 PPG, 7.1 REB, 39.4% 3P%, 52.8% FGP, 69.2% FT%, 1.0 BPG
Quick Fact: Committed the most fouls out of any Big Ten player last season (120)
The Michigan man is, of course, someone who most readers of my blog will be familiar with as probable Michigan fans. Wagner did well in the combine and reportedly in team workouts, as well. His game at Michigan led many fans to believe that he has a future at the professional level and after announcing he was staying for his junior year, most everyone seemed to inherently expect Wagner to be out of Ann Arbor and into the NBA following the season.
Wagner is a perfect pick-and-pop center, as he ran it countless times under John Beilein at Michigan. His near 40% three-point percentage also comes after a slow start to the season and is far and away his best professional attribute. His lateral quickness is not all there and, defensively, the team that takes him will have to be accepting that at least for the first few couple of years it is highly likely that he will not be at the NBA center level of defending, especially with more physical players. Wagner is a player whose stock really trended up after the season (as Michigan projects tend to do) and I feel confident in saying that he will go higher than the #34 or #43 ranking that CBS and SI gave him. Wagner is a curious case, he regularly burned slower center at the collegiate level, but he himself found it a bit more difficult to keep up with the powerful centers in the Big Ten. Regardless, a team that wants a stretch five that they can plug into the bench will get their man late in the first. I think he fits best with the top teams of the league, like Golden State or San Antonio, where he can contribute in a bench role right away.
Tony Carr - Penn State, 6'5" PG, Sophomore, SI Ranking - #51, CBS Ranking - #60
2017-18 Stats: 19.6 PPG, 5.0 APG, 4.9 RPG, 43.3% 3P%, 79.9% FT%
Quick Fact: Led Penn State to an NIT Championship last season while finished second in PPG in the Big Ten
Carr has plenty of offensive plus marks to like, but some slight defensive uncertainty. The Penn State point guard in undeniably a great scorer who shoots the ball well, passes at a high level, and is a stellar ball handler. At 6'5" too, he is big for a point guard and he has the sort of size for a point guard that could translate over to the league. He is marked for the second round with concerns over a lack of dynamic athleticism and his tendency to take plenty of shots himself, even that of the more questionable variety. He can take the ball into the paint on occasion, but the three is his favorite shot by far. I'm a bit higher on him than both of my sources, I think a 6'5" point guard that shoots extremely well and has the handles to match would be a steal as the last pick of the draft, but he does indeed have concerns that cannot be ignored.
Justin Jackson - Maryland, 6'7" SF, Sophomore, SI Ranking - #55, CBS Ranking - #55
2017-18 Stats: 11 games played, 9.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 10-for-40 from three, 36.6% FG%
Quick Fact: Finished second on the 2016-17 Maryland team in points per game (10.5)
Jackson missed the vast majority of the season with a torn labrum, but the hope is that it will not affect his game on the next level. The injury should not affect his great strength, his explosiveness. On offense and on defense, he is an athletic player with an incredible 7'3" wingspan. He has the physical tools for the game and won't get bullied around, but questions remain of his game following his injury. Can he make the impact you'd hope of him on offense? Can he find his 43.6% stroke from three again from his freshman year in the NBA? Realistically, though, if he can continue to rebound at a high level, and if he can get a consistent stroke, he's an outstanding three-and-d player that a team could get in the second round.
Vince Edwards - Purdue, 6'8" SF, Senior, SI Ranking - #73, CBS Ranking - #62
2017-18 Stats: 14.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.9 APG, 39.8% 3P%, 83.3% FT%, 47.6% FG%
Quick Fact: Led players under 6'8" in the Big Ten in rebounds per game, with his 7.4 average
One of Purdue's four starting seniors last season, and the highest ranked of the three on this list, Edwards provided a lot of heart to his side. I would argue he is NBA ready, or as much as he'll be as a prospect, right now, but still has the potential to expand on his game. His rebounding and scoring both were essential to his game, with his three-point shot providing a serious spark to Purdue and being a great first scoring option for him as a player. I like his athletic ability too, it should be more than enough for what I figure is a potential sort of three-and-d type of player that I project Edwards to be potentially at the NBA level. To get to that next level, Edwards would have to expand on his already solid three-point shot, but also develop another facet to his game. It's one thing to be a three-and-d guy, it's another thing to be an all-around scorer. Even if it's his passing that he improves on, gaining that second dimension of his game would be huge for his professional career.
Isaac Haas - Purdue, 7'3" C, Senior, SI Ranking - #76, CBS Ranking - #81
2017-18 Stats: 14.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 61.7% FP%, 75.8% FT%
Quick Fact: His 61.7% FG% led the Big Ten last season and put him 9th in the country
You know exactly what you're getting with Isaac Haas. Haas is an absolute mountain of a man who lives next to the rim. In college, this was easy as he was larger and stronger than every one of his opponents. In the NBA, however, this one-dimensional offense would be less likely to translate. He has not once shot a three on the collegiate level, and despite a solid free-throw percentage (usually an indicator for NBA sides that a player has a decent prospect of a three-point shot) it seems highly unlikely that he could develop one overnight. He also has rebounding concerns as just 5.7 per game as the largest player on the court at all times (unless with his 7'4" back-up Matt Haarms) seems rather low, and he does not have an incredibly long wingspan (7'4"). He will get a look because of his size, but whether or not a team fully commits is a whole other story.
Dakota Mathias - Purdue, 6'4" SG, Senior, SI Ranking - #89, CBS Ranking - #114
2017-18 Stats: 12.0 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.9 RPG, 46.6% 3P%, 82.5% FT%
Quick Fact: His 3P% is even more impressive by the fact that he was one of just five Big Ten players to attempt over 200 three-pointers
Mathias is a player who is hard to fully judge given his game. His obvious strength is his shooting from outside which was absolutely outstanding and perhaps gave him the claim to best shooter in the entire conference. You also like to see the four assist average as well, signaling the sort of passing ability that he has as a player. With these offensive strengths, however, comes a defensive liability. He is not very athletic and defensively that results in something lacking. As I've already said though, if you can shoot there's a spot in the NBA for you, but with size limits Mathias comes with questions. I think he is a sort of player that would excel in Europe, but you also wonder if an NBA side will take a chance as an undrafted player on him and his sweet stroke.
Jae'Sean Tate - Ohio State, 6'4" SF, Senior, SI Ranking - #93, CBS Ranking - NR
2017-18 Stats: 12.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.9 APG, 11-for-35 from three, 58.8% 2P%
Quick Fact: Leader of all players 6'4" or under in 2P% in the Big Ten
Despite being just 6'4", Tate does not play at that height. A rebounding and low-post scoring machine, Tate slotted in as a bruising shooting guard, which worked as his Ohio State side didn't do much outside shooting as a whole. He was the heart of a surprise OSU team who stunned Big Ten pundits in Chris Holtmann's first season in the Big Ten. A near-60% two-point field goal percentage is unbelievable for a player of his height, but you have to wonder if that would carry over to the NBA. He is strong, without question, and has some solid athleticism. With a copious amount heart, though, he is a player that you can't overlook.
Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman - Michigan, 6'4" SG, Senior, SI Ranking - NR,
CBS Ranking - #104
2017-18 Stats: 12.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 37.4% 3P%, 75.2% FT%
Quick Fact: Had the most minutes played of any Big Ten player last season (1,432)
Abdur-Rahkman's NBA dreams have halted for the time being as he will be out of commission following foot surgery. It is reported that he will be out for another three or four months, which means he will miss this season's Summer League. While unlikely to get drafted, Rahkman has the sort of game that I can see him sticking around Europe for a while. He is sneakily quick and athletic, something you would not have expecting seeing stats or not watching Michigan on a regular basis, and assuming a leadership role on the Michigan team last season. He was incredibly consistent for Michigan as well, an attribute you always like as a scout, with clutch free throws in his vault against Maryland and Minnesota. I really like Rahkman's games, especially overseas, and think it translates well with a good European side. However, as a Michigan fan, you always hope he overcomes his setback and accomplishes his goal of playing in the NBA.
Corey Sanders - Rutgers, 6'2" PG, Junior, SI Ranking - NR, CBS Ranking - NR
2017-18 Stats: 15.2 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.3 RPG, 22.4% 3P% (98 attempts), 40.1% FG%
Quick Fact: Tested the NBA Draft waters without an agent after his freshman and sophomore years
Sanders was the star of the last three last-placed Rutgers teams, and he finally decided to test himself on the professional level after helping lead his most recent Rutgers side to two Big Ten Tournament victories. He is an up-and-down, both on-court and personality wise, volume scorer who excelled on Rutgers as a number one option. His three-point shooting numbers are nowhere near what you'd want, and his lack of attempts implies that he's a two-pointer volume shooter. He is fortunate, however, that he is also a solid distributive point guard and that could transfer over to the next level. It will be interesting to see what ultimately happens with Sanders on a professional level.
Nate Mason - Minnesota, 6'1" PG, Senior, SI Ranking - NR, CBS Ranking - NR
2017-18 Stats: 16.7 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.6 RPG, 39.1% 3P%, 77.6% FT%, 39.3% FG%
Quick Fact: Was an All Big Ten First-Team selection in the 2016-17 season for Minnesota
One of the Big Ten's premier point guards, Mason was underwhelming alongside, or perhaps because of, a struggling Minnesota team. His stats were almost across the board better than the season before, but his team as a whole dealt with many problems throughout the season. He has the ability to make tough twos and step back from three, to go along with his strong passing ability. I have to assume that he'll get a shot with someone's summer league team, his stats and accolades are too good to overlook. He has a floor presence that seems bigger than 6'1" and I think if he can play the defense that I believe he is capable of, he could try and win a place for a team in the preseason.
Leron Black - Illinois, 6'7" PF, Junior, SI Ranking - NR, CBS Ranking - NR
2017-18 Stats: 15.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 55.1% 2P%, 22-for-43 from three, 80% FT%
Quick Fact: Saw a 7.2 increase in points per game from the 16-17 season to 17-18
Black decided against returning to Illinois for another season to dive into the NBA Draft pool. At 6'7", he is a bruising forward who shot well from three in limited attempts and from the free-throw line. The vast majority of his shots were from inside the arc, however, and if you're a team looking at Black as a prospect, I don't think he's better than a guy like Malcolm Hill who didn't get drafted last season. That said, I see a player who does have a quality game with trends in his limited three-point and free-throw stats that are promising. He could be an undrafted free agent to stay on the look out for as he carves a name for himself in the G-League or overseas.
Final Thoughts:
This is a very deep draft and the Big Ten will hope to land at least four players in the first round of it. In terms of the top players, guys like DeAndre Ayton, Luka Doncic, and Marvin Bagley, Jaren Jackson fits right into that caliber of player. From there, the remainder of the Big Ten players likely to get drafted add into the quality of depth that this draft has been touted for. Don't forget to tune-in Thursday and check out which of these players are drafted and where to.
Follow me on Twitter at my new handle! It's @RMAB_Ryan now! I'll be following the draft on Thursday and providing my usual Michigan basketball, AFC Ann Arbor, and Liverpool FC coverage.
CBS Prospect Board: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/prospect-rankings/
Sports Illustrated Top 100 Prospects: https://www.si.com/nba/2018/06/18/2018-nba-draft-top-100-prospect-rankings-deandre-ayton-luka-doncic
Jaren Jackson Jr. - Michigan State, 6'11" PF, Freshman, SI Ranking - #3, CBS Ranking - #5
2017-18 Stats: 10.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.0 BPG, 39.6% 3P% (96 attempts), 79.7% FT%
Quick Fact: His 3 blocks per game led the Big Ten and put him 7th in the country
A consensus top-five player in the draft, Jaren Jackson has scouts very excited with all the tools he could provide. His wingspan (7'4") helps to make him an elite defender while his three-point percentage is already very solid, especially for a big man. He immediately, and likely will always, draws comparison and conversation between him and Mo Bamba in the question of who is the better prospect. Regardless, both are freak athletes and have extraordinary defensive abilities.
Jackson is still just 18 years old, a huge plus in the eyes of many NBA front office members. Questions the NBA teams that may be considering him had to be answered in their individual workouts as MSU head coach Tom Izzo drew heavy criticism for frequently benching the big man. There is plenty to like about his game: his shot blocking, rim presence, soft touch around the rim, and ability beyond the arc as well. His shot, especially for a player of his size, looks good and it's hard to not imagine teams desiring to improve this attribute of his game to make him a potentially deadly pick-and-pop man in the league. He has a chance to go in the top three of this loaded draft, which says something about him as a whole. It's hard not to like his abilities as a player.
Miles Bridges - Michigan State, 6'7" SF, Sophomore, SI Ranking - #11, CBS Ranking - #14
2017-18 Stats: 17.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 36.4% 3P%, 85.3 FT%, 45.7% FG%
Quick Fact: Took the most shots per game on his MSU team last season (13.4)
Michigan State's other player on the list is also the other Big Ten player most likely to go in the draft lottery. A surefire lottery pick last season, Bridges decided to return to college. His draft stock took a bit of a hit (as happens to most players who return for an additional year) but he was the key man on a regular season Big Ten Championship winning Michigan State side, despite their under-performances in the NCAA Tournament his time with the team.
Bridges is a listed 6'7", but is only slightly above 6'5" without shoes (as measured at the NBA Combine), though he plays far bigger. Bridges is strong and athletic, his two best traits as a future pro, and that translated last season. He's a tough match-up for any side, as in college teams couldn't guard him with a bigger, stronger player since he shoots the ball well, but couldn't guard him with a weaker wing player because of his strength. In this sort of small ball NBA, you can slot him at power forward and he would produce results despite his listing as a small forward. His time in college exposed his handle as below-par as questions were consistently asked of why he wouldn't take weaker players to the hoop. Still, he is a probable lottery pick for a good reason: his rebounding and scoring cannot be ignored and he has the make-up of a pro. The team that drafts him will be getting a good athletic wing-man.
Kevin Huerter - Maryland, 6'7" SG, Sophomore, SI Ranking - #18, CBS Ranking - #21
2017-18 Stats: 14.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 41.7% 3P%, 75.8% FT%, 34.4 MPG, 50.3% FG%
Quick Fact: Finished fourth in minutes per game in the Big Ten, but second on his own team (Anthony Cowan - 37.0 MPG)
Huerter was a player that saw his draft stock really skyrocket over the course of the season, and it continued to grow during the postseason developments. The former Maryland player is still just 19 with one of the best shooting strokes in the entire draft. At 6'7", you wouldn't expect him to project as a shooting guard, but that would seem to be his most fitting position as it would allow him to focus on his shooting as a young player, and eventually the team that takes him can play around with his positioning once he develops his defensive skills. Teams will be drawn immediately to his shooting skills and I tend to think that he would fit in incredibly well on a team that is currently in contention but needs a bench piece to push them forward. I am rather high on Huerter because if you can shoot, you'll have a spot in the NBA. His 6'7" frame and shot both combined lead to a player that a team in that pick number 20 range of the draft will covet.
Keita Bates-Diop - Ohio State, 6'8" SF, Junior, SI Ranking - #34, CBS Ranking - #20
2017-18 Stats: 19.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 35.9% 3P%, 79.4% FT%, 48% FGP
Quick Fact: Finished as the Big Ten's leading scorer and the conference's player of the year
Bates-Diop is a very interesting case as a player. His true sophomore year was good-not-great, he was injured the better part of his true junior year, then his breakout year came as a 22 year old redshirt junior in Chris Holtmann's first season as the Ohio State head coach. He won plenty of deserving accolades, including the Big Ten's Player of the Year award, and declared for the draft following the season. His stock was at its peak, understandably so, and he projects as a first-round pick, but as a complete package there is much to discuss about Bates-Diop.
His games was perfectly suited in the collegiate game as, at 6'8", he was a match-up nightmare for small forwards and power forwards alike. Still, though, he does not have that sort of athleticism that you would like or expect from a player of his sort. His three-point percentage is good enough for a team to see it and not be too concerned, but you'd really want more from him as a prospect who won't beat you with his athletic ability in the league. He's a very lanky player (with a wingspan of 7'3") and that offers some hope that you can develop Bates-Diop into a strong defender on the NBA level, and I think he has this potential. I see him as a sort of three-and-d player, but offering more in general to the team. He's not gonna be super physical, and he's likely not going to starting drilling threes on a regular basis, but you have a player who you know what you're getting. At 22, he comes with a host of questions, but one can see why some project him in the first round.
Moritz Wagner - Michigan, 6'11" C, Junior, SI Ranking - #43, CBS Ranking - #34
2017-18 Stats: 14.6 PPG, 7.1 REB, 39.4% 3P%, 52.8% FGP, 69.2% FT%, 1.0 BPG
Quick Fact: Committed the most fouls out of any Big Ten player last season (120)
The Michigan man is, of course, someone who most readers of my blog will be familiar with as probable Michigan fans. Wagner did well in the combine and reportedly in team workouts, as well. His game at Michigan led many fans to believe that he has a future at the professional level and after announcing he was staying for his junior year, most everyone seemed to inherently expect Wagner to be out of Ann Arbor and into the NBA following the season.
Wagner is a perfect pick-and-pop center, as he ran it countless times under John Beilein at Michigan. His near 40% three-point percentage also comes after a slow start to the season and is far and away his best professional attribute. His lateral quickness is not all there and, defensively, the team that takes him will have to be accepting that at least for the first few couple of years it is highly likely that he will not be at the NBA center level of defending, especially with more physical players. Wagner is a player whose stock really trended up after the season (as Michigan projects tend to do) and I feel confident in saying that he will go higher than the #34 or #43 ranking that CBS and SI gave him. Wagner is a curious case, he regularly burned slower center at the collegiate level, but he himself found it a bit more difficult to keep up with the powerful centers in the Big Ten. Regardless, a team that wants a stretch five that they can plug into the bench will get their man late in the first. I think he fits best with the top teams of the league, like Golden State or San Antonio, where he can contribute in a bench role right away.
Tony Carr - Penn State, 6'5" PG, Sophomore, SI Ranking - #51, CBS Ranking - #60
2017-18 Stats: 19.6 PPG, 5.0 APG, 4.9 RPG, 43.3% 3P%, 79.9% FT%
Quick Fact: Led Penn State to an NIT Championship last season while finished second in PPG in the Big Ten
Carr has plenty of offensive plus marks to like, but some slight defensive uncertainty. The Penn State point guard in undeniably a great scorer who shoots the ball well, passes at a high level, and is a stellar ball handler. At 6'5" too, he is big for a point guard and he has the sort of size for a point guard that could translate over to the league. He is marked for the second round with concerns over a lack of dynamic athleticism and his tendency to take plenty of shots himself, even that of the more questionable variety. He can take the ball into the paint on occasion, but the three is his favorite shot by far. I'm a bit higher on him than both of my sources, I think a 6'5" point guard that shoots extremely well and has the handles to match would be a steal as the last pick of the draft, but he does indeed have concerns that cannot be ignored.
Justin Jackson - Maryland, 6'7" SF, Sophomore, SI Ranking - #55, CBS Ranking - #55
2017-18 Stats: 11 games played, 9.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 10-for-40 from three, 36.6% FG%
Quick Fact: Finished second on the 2016-17 Maryland team in points per game (10.5)
Jackson missed the vast majority of the season with a torn labrum, but the hope is that it will not affect his game on the next level. The injury should not affect his great strength, his explosiveness. On offense and on defense, he is an athletic player with an incredible 7'3" wingspan. He has the physical tools for the game and won't get bullied around, but questions remain of his game following his injury. Can he make the impact you'd hope of him on offense? Can he find his 43.6% stroke from three again from his freshman year in the NBA? Realistically, though, if he can continue to rebound at a high level, and if he can get a consistent stroke, he's an outstanding three-and-d player that a team could get in the second round.
Vince Edwards - Purdue, 6'8" SF, Senior, SI Ranking - #73, CBS Ranking - #62
2017-18 Stats: 14.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.9 APG, 39.8% 3P%, 83.3% FT%, 47.6% FG%
Quick Fact: Led players under 6'8" in the Big Ten in rebounds per game, with his 7.4 average
One of Purdue's four starting seniors last season, and the highest ranked of the three on this list, Edwards provided a lot of heart to his side. I would argue he is NBA ready, or as much as he'll be as a prospect, right now, but still has the potential to expand on his game. His rebounding and scoring both were essential to his game, with his three-point shot providing a serious spark to Purdue and being a great first scoring option for him as a player. I like his athletic ability too, it should be more than enough for what I figure is a potential sort of three-and-d type of player that I project Edwards to be potentially at the NBA level. To get to that next level, Edwards would have to expand on his already solid three-point shot, but also develop another facet to his game. It's one thing to be a three-and-d guy, it's another thing to be an all-around scorer. Even if it's his passing that he improves on, gaining that second dimension of his game would be huge for his professional career.
Isaac Haas - Purdue, 7'3" C, Senior, SI Ranking - #76, CBS Ranking - #81
2017-18 Stats: 14.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 61.7% FP%, 75.8% FT%
Quick Fact: His 61.7% FG% led the Big Ten last season and put him 9th in the country
You know exactly what you're getting with Isaac Haas. Haas is an absolute mountain of a man who lives next to the rim. In college, this was easy as he was larger and stronger than every one of his opponents. In the NBA, however, this one-dimensional offense would be less likely to translate. He has not once shot a three on the collegiate level, and despite a solid free-throw percentage (usually an indicator for NBA sides that a player has a decent prospect of a three-point shot) it seems highly unlikely that he could develop one overnight. He also has rebounding concerns as just 5.7 per game as the largest player on the court at all times (unless with his 7'4" back-up Matt Haarms) seems rather low, and he does not have an incredibly long wingspan (7'4"). He will get a look because of his size, but whether or not a team fully commits is a whole other story.
Dakota Mathias - Purdue, 6'4" SG, Senior, SI Ranking - #89, CBS Ranking - #114
2017-18 Stats: 12.0 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.9 RPG, 46.6% 3P%, 82.5% FT%
Quick Fact: His 3P% is even more impressive by the fact that he was one of just five Big Ten players to attempt over 200 three-pointers
Mathias is a player who is hard to fully judge given his game. His obvious strength is his shooting from outside which was absolutely outstanding and perhaps gave him the claim to best shooter in the entire conference. You also like to see the four assist average as well, signaling the sort of passing ability that he has as a player. With these offensive strengths, however, comes a defensive liability. He is not very athletic and defensively that results in something lacking. As I've already said though, if you can shoot there's a spot in the NBA for you, but with size limits Mathias comes with questions. I think he is a sort of player that would excel in Europe, but you also wonder if an NBA side will take a chance as an undrafted player on him and his sweet stroke.
Jae'Sean Tate - Ohio State, 6'4" SF, Senior, SI Ranking - #93, CBS Ranking - NR
2017-18 Stats: 12.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.9 APG, 11-for-35 from three, 58.8% 2P%
Quick Fact: Leader of all players 6'4" or under in 2P% in the Big Ten
Despite being just 6'4", Tate does not play at that height. A rebounding and low-post scoring machine, Tate slotted in as a bruising shooting guard, which worked as his Ohio State side didn't do much outside shooting as a whole. He was the heart of a surprise OSU team who stunned Big Ten pundits in Chris Holtmann's first season in the Big Ten. A near-60% two-point field goal percentage is unbelievable for a player of his height, but you have to wonder if that would carry over to the NBA. He is strong, without question, and has some solid athleticism. With a copious amount heart, though, he is a player that you can't overlook.
Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman - Michigan, 6'4" SG, Senior, SI Ranking - NR,
CBS Ranking - #104
2017-18 Stats: 12.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 37.4% 3P%, 75.2% FT%
Quick Fact: Had the most minutes played of any Big Ten player last season (1,432)
Abdur-Rahkman's NBA dreams have halted for the time being as he will be out of commission following foot surgery. It is reported that he will be out for another three or four months, which means he will miss this season's Summer League. While unlikely to get drafted, Rahkman has the sort of game that I can see him sticking around Europe for a while. He is sneakily quick and athletic, something you would not have expecting seeing stats or not watching Michigan on a regular basis, and assuming a leadership role on the Michigan team last season. He was incredibly consistent for Michigan as well, an attribute you always like as a scout, with clutch free throws in his vault against Maryland and Minnesota. I really like Rahkman's games, especially overseas, and think it translates well with a good European side. However, as a Michigan fan, you always hope he overcomes his setback and accomplishes his goal of playing in the NBA.
Corey Sanders - Rutgers, 6'2" PG, Junior, SI Ranking - NR, CBS Ranking - NR
2017-18 Stats: 15.2 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.3 RPG, 22.4% 3P% (98 attempts), 40.1% FG%
Quick Fact: Tested the NBA Draft waters without an agent after his freshman and sophomore years
Sanders was the star of the last three last-placed Rutgers teams, and he finally decided to test himself on the professional level after helping lead his most recent Rutgers side to two Big Ten Tournament victories. He is an up-and-down, both on-court and personality wise, volume scorer who excelled on Rutgers as a number one option. His three-point shooting numbers are nowhere near what you'd want, and his lack of attempts implies that he's a two-pointer volume shooter. He is fortunate, however, that he is also a solid distributive point guard and that could transfer over to the next level. It will be interesting to see what ultimately happens with Sanders on a professional level.
Nate Mason - Minnesota, 6'1" PG, Senior, SI Ranking - NR, CBS Ranking - NR
2017-18 Stats: 16.7 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.6 RPG, 39.1% 3P%, 77.6% FT%, 39.3% FG%
Quick Fact: Was an All Big Ten First-Team selection in the 2016-17 season for Minnesota
One of the Big Ten's premier point guards, Mason was underwhelming alongside, or perhaps because of, a struggling Minnesota team. His stats were almost across the board better than the season before, but his team as a whole dealt with many problems throughout the season. He has the ability to make tough twos and step back from three, to go along with his strong passing ability. I have to assume that he'll get a shot with someone's summer league team, his stats and accolades are too good to overlook. He has a floor presence that seems bigger than 6'1" and I think if he can play the defense that I believe he is capable of, he could try and win a place for a team in the preseason.
Leron Black - Illinois, 6'7" PF, Junior, SI Ranking - NR, CBS Ranking - NR
2017-18 Stats: 15.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 55.1% 2P%, 22-for-43 from three, 80% FT%
Quick Fact: Saw a 7.2 increase in points per game from the 16-17 season to 17-18
Black decided against returning to Illinois for another season to dive into the NBA Draft pool. At 6'7", he is a bruising forward who shot well from three in limited attempts and from the free-throw line. The vast majority of his shots were from inside the arc, however, and if you're a team looking at Black as a prospect, I don't think he's better than a guy like Malcolm Hill who didn't get drafted last season. That said, I see a player who does have a quality game with trends in his limited three-point and free-throw stats that are promising. He could be an undrafted free agent to stay on the look out for as he carves a name for himself in the G-League or overseas.
Final Thoughts:
This is a very deep draft and the Big Ten will hope to land at least four players in the first round of it. In terms of the top players, guys like DeAndre Ayton, Luka Doncic, and Marvin Bagley, Jaren Jackson fits right into that caliber of player. From there, the remainder of the Big Ten players likely to get drafted add into the quality of depth that this draft has been touted for. Don't forget to tune-in Thursday and check out which of these players are drafted and where to.
Follow me on Twitter at my new handle! It's @RMAB_Ryan now! I'll be following the draft on Thursday and providing my usual Michigan basketball, AFC Ann Arbor, and Liverpool FC coverage.
CBS Prospect Board: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/prospect-rankings/
Sports Illustrated Top 100 Prospects: https://www.si.com/nba/2018/06/18/2018-nba-draft-top-100-prospect-rankings-deandre-ayton-luka-doncic
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