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With the college basketball season about to wrap up, one of the topics that will continue to dominate fan discussion is each team’s pro potential. And moreover, there will be a lot of discussion regarding whether players should go pro or stay in school. Well, DraftExpress recently updated its 2018 NBA mock draft, which should set a good baseline for this discussion in the coming weeks.
The Big Ten found itself well represented with six players making the cut, including a few First Round projections. Obviously, that speaks to just how exciting this season should be for Big Ten fans.
Here’s a full look at the Big Ten players listed below.
Big Ten In 3/22 DraftExpress 2018 NBA Mock Draft:
- #18 - DJ Wilson (Michigan)
- #22 - Justin Jackson (Maryland)
- #37 - Ethan Happ (Wisconsin)
- #38 - Vincent Edwards (Purdue)
- #45 - Keita Bates-Diop (Ohio State)
- #48 - Isaac Haas (Purdue)
Before we dive into some of these selections, it’s worth noting that these kind of mock drafts are notoriously inaccurate. Not only could some of these players still enter this year’s Draft, but we still have more than a year before the end of next season. In other words, the 2018 NBA Draft projections are still very, very early.
With that said, there were a few interesting selections. To start, Michigan’s DJ Wilson at No. 18 was pretty surprising. He had a great finish to the season, but I’m not sure I would have expected him to be in the Lottery discussion next summer. That’s a completely different tier of competition and NBA prospects.
Additionally, it was interesting to see Ethan Happ come in at No. 37 on the board. Happ has never been considered a major pro prospect, but it’s crazy to think that a player as productive as him could be so low on the projections. Happ can certainly improve his stock before then, but it looks like he will end up in Madison for all of his eligibility.
Purdue could also have some interesting NBA decisions in the next two springs. Vincent Edwards and Isaac Haas will both get some love. This will be a key aspect to watch in the coming years.
If interested, you can see the full list here.