Mo Wagner might be the only true NBA Draft hopes for the B1G outside of East Lansing; at least this year. Certainly so for the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft.
In Jaren Jackson, Michigan State has a sure fire lottery pick. In Miles Bridges, they have a likely late lottery/mid first round prospect. Beyond that, itโs pretty much only Mr. Moritz Wagner who possesses any potential to crack the first round. After him, Vince Edwards at Purdue could be a second round pick, ditto for Wisconsinโs Ethan Happ and Ohio Stateโs Keita Bates-Diop.
Go here for our NBA mock draft, and see where we have everyone slotted.ย
The other Edwards has a bright future, potentially so in the NBA, but thatโs a year or two down the line. If it seems like thereโs a dearth of NBA prospects in the B1G right now, itโs certainly a reflection of the current state of the conference. Itโs definitely a four bid league, and thereโs really only four quality teams in it right now.
Of course, the B1G will definitely get at least a fifth team in the NCAA Tournament, as certainly there will be one team (most likely Nebraska) that will rack up enough conference wins against the leagueโs soft underbelly, plus steal one or two from the upper division teams to end up with a conference record that looks impressive enough to the selection committee.
Michigan is currently ranked #20, and they have a #4 to #6 seed kind of NCAA resume right now. Perhaps they can get really hot down the stretch, like they did last season. Maybe Wagner will ring cycle his way into the league, after he potentially leads the Wolverines to bigger and better things in 2018.ย
Mo Wagner was extremely impressive in the Wolverines 61-52 loss at Northwestern tonight, and he showed off the skill set that makes him one who possesses some NBA Draft stock. He can shoot the three, which complements his inside game and spreads the floor. He can play like a European style big man, with a long range game complementing what he can do inside.
At Northwestern he put a 20 and 9, just missing his seventh career double double. His 7-10 from the field complemented his prowess on the glass and that right there could be what gets him up the NBA Draft boards. The ability to rebound is what makes Mo Wagner stand out.
Paul M. Banks runsย The Sports Bank.netย and TheBank.News, which is partnered withย News Now.ย Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times,ย NBC Chicago.comย andย Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly toย WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging communityย Chicago Now.
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