Top 10 NBA Prospects in the Big Ten
Ahead of conference tournament week, let's dive into the players with the most NBA intrigue
Casual basketball fans (and big NBA fans) really start to pay attention to the college season around the start of the NCAA Tournament. March Madness is always a coveted time for getting eyes on future NBA players in high-pressure situations as they perform on the big stage.
In our world, college tournament week tends to be my favorite week of the year. Conference-level intensity provides for some fascinating matchups, particularly as teams duel for the second or even third time. There are more games on television, lots of even matchups, and the opportunity to see how players handle back-to-back situations. It’s a glorious week of hoops.
So in advance of next week’s multitude of conference tournaments, we’re giving a preview of seven of the most loaded conferences with pro talent. We’ll provide a prospect review for the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big Twelve, Pac-12, SEC, and American Athletic Conference in terms of the best immediate draft prospects that NBA fans should get to know and scouting departments are watching closely.
Today’s installment takes us to the Big Ten, one of the deepest conferences in the nation in terms of both high-end teams and elite-level talent. The Big Ten is filled with solid big men and a lot of gritty defensive groups. Can a glut of a few high-level freshmen (and a couple of upperclassmen vying for the first round) have superstar showings that help their team make a run at the conference crown?
Honorable Mentions: Jaden Akins, Michigan State; Jamison Battle, Minnesota; Boo Buie, Northwestern; Hunter Dickinson, Michigan; Hakim Hart, Maryland; AJ Hoggard, Michigan State; Matthew Mayer, Illinois; Caleb McConnell, Rutgers; Cliff Omoruyi, Rutgers; Peyton Sandfort, Iowa; Donta Scott, Maryland; Cam Spencer, Rutgers; Jahmir Young, Maryland
Long-term guys not ready yet: Jayden Epps, Illinois; Connor Essegian, Wisconsin; Roddy Gale, Ohio State; Malik Reneau, Indiana; Mady Sissoko, Michigan State; Bruce Thornton, Ohio State; Keisei Tominaga, Nebraska
10. Jalen Pickett - PG, Penn State
Few players have been as good all season as Pickett, who carries the Nittany Lions across so many different categories and has been the engine behind their offense. Pickett is a fairly big point guard who lives in the lane, plays a physical brand of basketball, and is incredibly polished out of ball screens. His playmaking for others is supremely high, and he’s become a master of the mid-range.
Pickett is not a very explosive athlete and could have some issues around the basket or defending in space. Based on his production throughout the season, he’s in line to be considered for a second-round selection.
9. Coleman Hawkins - F, Illinois
In the modern NBA, frontcourt versatility can unlock different lineups and playstyles that allow teams to adjust to their opponent. At 6’10” with rangey movement patterns, underrated defensive play and burgeoning perimeter skill as a playmaker, Coleman Hawkins is a unique 4-man who can slide up and play the small-ball 5. The inconsistency he brings as a shooter is what holds him back right now (only 28% on the year), but the stroke looks excellent. The Illini are a tournament team, but they’re wildly inconsistent. Hawkins doesn’t do a ton of scoring regularly, so his impacts are felt more from watching full games and seeing his impact on defense. He could be in line to return to Champaign next year.
8. Zach Edey - P, Purdue
At 7’4”, Zach Edey is absolutely dominant in college basketball. He’s unguardable down low one-on-one. Teams that face Purdue have to tailor their entire defensive coverage to stopping Edey, often by double-teaming him. Edey is still efficient and scores down low, thanks mostly to the supreme spacing of the Boilermakers’ offense and the wizardry of coach Matt Painter.
Edey’s NBA future most closely resembles that of Boban Marjanovic. Edey has to play in Drop coverage and can (and likely will) get played off the floor by certain teams. But in the right matchup, he can change the complexion of a game with his dominant interior scoring. Is that work a draft pick? Time will tell, but for now, we’re enjoying marveling at Edey’s touch, post footwork, and relentless strength.
7. Terrence Shannon Jr. - W, Illinois
After transferring from Texas Tech and an offensive system devoid of structure, Shannon has popped within Brad Underwood’s high-octane system. Once thought of as a real 3-and-D prospect, Shannon has done a fair amount of self-creation and has intriguing performances with the ball in his hands.
We’ve never been that high on Shannon, and we’re starting to sour on his season with the Illini. Nothing he does is overwhelmingly efficient; he’s a 33% shooter, barely has a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, and can make a few head-scratching plays. He’s firmly in the second-round flier category, but nothing about his late-season play leads us to believe he should crack our top 40.
6. Trayce Jackson-Davis - P, Indiana
While we’ve been skeptical of Trayce Jackson-Davis being able to translate to the NBA in the past, he’s shown some real growth in key areas that could be eradicating our concerns. Jackson-Davis is an exceptional passer and a fluid ball handler in the open floor; the ability to rebound-and-run from the big man spot is intriguing in today’s game.