When Will Nebraska Basketball Get Back in The NBA Draft?

Venson Hamilton is the most recent player from the University of Nebraska to be in the NBA Draft. While he’s the most recent selection, more people are probably aware of 1998 draft pick Tyronn Lue, the current head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Since then, Nebraska has had it’s fair share of potential NBA talent roll through the roster, but none of the players have been drafted.

Nebraska has also lost NBA level talent to the transfer market in recent seasons. Andrew White III declared for the NBA Draft without an agent last offseason before subsequently backing out. After he did, however, he announced his transfer for his redshirt senior season and went on to play at Syracuse.

Nebraska also faced another tough loss this past offseason , when Michael Jacobson, the star sophomore forward who had improved each season since arriving at Nebraska, left to play for Iowa State in the Big 12.

While they have lost talent in the transfer market, they’ve also gained a lot. In fact, one of their biggest potential NBA Draft prospects in the next few seasons came from the transfer market.

So who exactly could we see be drafted in the NBA in the next few years?

Anton Gill, Senior, Guard, Transfer from University of Louisville

Gill suffered a season-ending knee injury early on in the 2016-2017 season after sitting out a year following his transfer from the University of Louisville.

While he came off the bench last season, this season could be his breakout season. He was ranked 48th in the ESPN 100 as a senior in high school and has shown that he can be a star at Nebraska, but he hasn’t had enough playing time to show.

This season, he will have the opportunity to compete for a starting role at Nebraska. If he fully recovers from injury and plays well this season, he has the potential to go in the NBA Draft. He has two seasons of college eligibility remaining and he could go in the Draft following the conclusion of the 2019 season.

Evan Taylor, Senior, Guard

Taylor is a Junior College product that joined the Cornhuskers last season. In the first half of the season, he vame off the bench. In the second half of the season, he earned a starting role. With the loss of star guard Tai Webster to graduation, Taylor could improve his draft stock in his final season by scoring more and continuing to show his versatility as a player that can play multiple positions on the floor. He’ll graduate in 2018 and could go in the draft then.

Glynn Watson Jr., Junior, Guard

Watson was Tai Webster’s right hand in the backcourt in the 2016-2017 season. He finished the season averaging 13.1 points and 2.6 assists per game. He was second on the team in scoring behind Tai Webster and showed a few memorable moments throughout the season when he was able to hit game-winning free-throws against Dayton and Ohio State. Watson will be the star in the backcourt this season and has shown his ability to be a play maker and a scorer. Watson will need to have a big year to be drafted in 2018, but if he continues to improve, he has a chance.

Jack McVeigh, Junior, Forward

McVeigh is from Australia originally and had a tough start to the 2016-2017 season after a promising freshman year. While he came off the bench as a sophomore, he will have the opportunity to compete for a starting role in the 2017-2018 season. McVeigh has shown flashes of being a great player, but will need to take a big jump this offseason in order for his draft stock to rise.

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While Nebraska has not had a player go in the draft in recent years, that could change soon.