Per Jeff Goodman: Assessing BIG 10 Underclassmen who have declared for NBA Draft....

[BigEastPhil]

Per Jeff Goodman:

I. No Brainers / Definitely to be drafted:

- Daniel Otoru
- Jalen Smith

II. Mistakes to declare / Should go back to school / Draft chances are minimal:

- Alonzo Gaffney (seldom used at OSU)
- Ayo Dosunmu - was surprised to see Ayo in this category
- Luka Garza
- Marcus Carr
- Nojel Eastern
- Aaron Henry
- Isiah Livers
- Justin Smith
- CJ Walker

III. Have 50 / 50 shot to be drafted:

- Kaleb Wesson: Mid to late 2nd round at best. I see him staying in draft.
- Xavier Tillman -Has 2 kids so he's gone IMHO
- Kofi Cockburn - needs another year of school......

If the above is accurate and players per II and Cockburn return to school:

- Iowa remains in Top 5 with Garza returning
- Illinois remains strong with Ayo and / or Cockburn possibly returning
- Michigan remains strong with Livers returning and Wagner already has withdrawn from Draft.
- Indiana remains improved with Smith heading back to school.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Per Jeff Goodman:

I. No Brainers / Definitely to be drafted:

- Daniel Otoru
- Jalen Smith

II. Mistakes to declare / Should go back to school / Draft chances are minimal:

- Alonzo Gaffney (seldom used at OSU)
- Ayo Dosunmu - was surprised to see Ayo in this category
- Luka Garza
- Marcus Carr
- Nojel Eastern
- Aaron Henry
- Isiah Livers
- Justin Smith
- CJ Walker

III. Have 50 / 50 shot to be drafted:

- Kaleb Wesson: Mid to late 2nd round at best. I see him staying in draft.
- Xavier Tillman -Has 2 kids so he's gone IMHO
- Kofi Cockburn - needs another year of school......

If the above is accurate and players per II and Cockburn return to school:

- Iowa remains in Top 5 with Garza returning
- Illinois remains strong with Ayo and / or Cockburn possibly returning
- Michigan remains strong with Livers returning and Wagner already has withdrawn from Draft.
- Indiana remains improved with Smith heading back to school.

Good analysis

With all of those players returning...big ten is going to be a monster again in 2020-2021...8-10 NCAA big league.

Iowa, Rutgers, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan are 6 that seem like it would take a major injury rash to keep them out. Ohio state, Indiana, Purdue and Maryland will be a tough 7-10 that I think at least two get NCAA bids...maybe more depending on how much the computers like the league.

 

[jerzeyguy]

Be nice if Kofi & Garza were no brainers.

 

[Smurph038]

I think that there’s a chance Garza remains in the draft. While I think most are in agreement he’s not an NBA player .. at the same time, I think most would agree his stock is as high as it’ll ever be.

 

[JFK20]

I would stunned if The Cock was not drafted.

 

[NickRU714]

I would stunned if The Cock was not drafted.

Most mocks have Cockburn as 2nd round I think.
Same for Oturu and Smith (maybe late 1st round).

This is why that Wetzel article from the other thread is worthless.
None of these guys are going to be shocked or "duped" if they go 2nd round or undrafted.

If they stay in the draft it's because they are done with college - drafted or not.

 

[mikebal9]

Maybe they figure they'll go to the G league if not drafted? Seems like a new path to the NBA for some kids.

 

[Mr Magoo]

I will be surprised if either Ayo or Kofi returns to Illinois.

Garza has probably peaked but that Iowa team has Final Four potential with him if things break right. Perhaps that could bring him back but still think he leaves.

 

[RUSONIC]

Wait, according to the TV announcers that I watch all season they all claim that (name one of theses players) are sure fire 1st round picks LOL

 

[NickRU714]

Wait, according to the TV announcers that I watch all season they all claim that (name one of theses players) are sure fire 1st round picks LOL

Haha. Not just TV announcers.

Btw - here is the list of Wooden Award winners going backwards the past 10 years.
Literally only 1 has had even a mediocre career so far.
Toppin (he is most likely going to be a lottery/Top 14 pick).
Zion
Jalen Brunson
Frank Mason III
Buddy Hield
Frank Kaminsky
Doug McDemott
Trey Burke
Anthony Davis (legitimate NBA star)
Jimmer Fredette
Evan Turner

 

[Mr Magoo]

Haha. Not just TV announcers.

Btw - here is the list of Wooden Award winners going backwards the past 10 years.
Literally only 1 has had even a mediocre career so far.
Toppin (he is most likely going to be a lottery/Top 14 pick).
Zion
Jalen Brunson
Frank Mason III
Buddy Hield
Frank Kaminsky
Doug McDemott
Trey Burke
Anthony Davis (legitimate NBA star)
Jimmer Fredette
Evan Turner

Buddy Hield had a dissapointing first couple of seasons but he’s having a nice career now.

 

[fbc1866]

Garza might be slow, but he is a NBA player. His only downside is his speed which returning couldn't help. He has size, a nice touch on jumpers, and an unselfish player. In the right system he might be a star.

 

[NickRU714]

Garza might be slow, but he is a NBA player. His only downside is his speed which returning couldn't help. He has size, a nice touch on jumpers, and an unselfish player. In the right system he might be a star.

Excuse me? What?
Do you watch much NBA basketball?
I ask because a majority of the "so and so is going to be a star in the NBA" opinions around here are from people who don't actually watch the NBA.

I guess "techinically" he could be an NBA in the sense that teams have to fill out a 14-15 man roster.
But at best he will be a 2nd round pick - most likely undrafted.

What exactly is this "right system" that would make a slow (your word) center a star in the NBA?
And what year were teams running this magical system?

 

[dontestrond]

Garza might be slow, but he is a NBA player. His only downside is his speed which returning couldn't help. He has size, a nice touch on jumpers, and an unselfish player. In the right system he might be a star.

Can you imagine him in Dallas with KP and Luka

 

[Joey Bacala]

Can you imagine him in Dallas with KP and Luka

No I can't. KP and Luka are cruisers - they can handle, run the floor - Garza is a plodder.

 

[dontestrond]

No I can't. KP and Luka are cruisers - they can handle, run the floor - Garza is a plodder.

Put Garza in an NBA environment with their trainers. With his mentality, I bet he succeeds.

 

[satnom]

I think Garza in the NBA will make it onto a lot of posters.

GO RU

 

[NickRU714]

Put Garza in an NBA environment with their trainers. With his mentality, I bet he succeeds.

Can you define “succeeds”?
I think it is safe to say “All-Star” is off the table but just how low are you setting the bar?

 

[Rutgers25]

Can you define “succeeds”?
I think it is safe to say “All-Star” is off the table but just how low are you setting the bar?

i think the bar should be make a active roster and at his peak put in 10-15 minutes a game

 

[NickRU714]

Looks like the original assessment from Goodman was more or less dead on accurate.

Going to be a lot of shocked people when Garza, Cockburn and Ayo aren’t drafted in October.

Likely late 1st round/possibly slip to 2nd round
Daniel Otoru
Jalen Smith

Likely 2nd round/undrafted
Kaleb Wesson
Xavier Tillman

Returning:
Alonzo Gaffney
Ayo Dosunmu
Luka Garza
Marcus Carr
Nojel Eastern
Aaron Henry
Isiah Livers
Justin Smith
CJ Walker
Kofi Cockburn