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Aug. 15—The Los Angeles Clippers turned first-round pick Keaton Wagler into their leading man for their schedule release this week. Crazy to think a year ago at this time hype was still in a slow burn for the Illinois guard after an impressive showing in the team's summer workouts.
Wagler is Illinois' fourth first-round pick in the last three years, following in the footsteps of Terrence Shannon Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley. Wagler, of course, was the highest pick of the bunch, going No. 5 to the Clippers, who have maybe put him in position for an acting gig or two alongside his hoops career.
It begs the question, though. Who's next?
The most recent mock draft in the NBA mock draft space came this week from . His answer would be five-star freshman Quentin Coleman, who he slotted in at No. 17 overall.
"Unlike many potential one-and-done prospects, Coleman emerged later, breaking out during his senior year," Wasserman wrote. "At (6-foot-4), he's a three-level shotmaker who's got some vertical pop around the basket for finishing and offensive rebounding.
"There is still a lot to evaluate with his playmaking, which he'll need to show at 180 pounds. But Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell going pro means Coleman should have a good opportunity to continue growing in a high-usage backcourt role."
Wasserman also had Stefan Vaaks, Zvonimir Ivisic and Andrej Stojakovic as potential second-round picks. So, no David Mirkovic and no Tomislav Ivisic.
Could Illinois have as many as six draft prospects next June? Sure. Mirkovic has received draft buzz in other corners of the NBA mock draft world, and Tomislav Ivisic is still a 7-footer who can knock down threes even if he isn't the projectable defender his brother is.
Suffice it to say, NBA front office personnel should have a steady presence in Champaign this season.
Continue reading...
Wagler is Illinois' fourth first-round pick in the last three years, following in the footsteps of Terrence Shannon Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley. Wagler, of course, was the highest pick of the bunch, going No. 5 to the Clippers, who have maybe put him in position for an acting gig or two alongside his hoops career.
It begs the question, though. Who's next?
The most recent mock draft in the NBA mock draft space came this week from . His answer would be five-star freshman Quentin Coleman, who he slotted in at No. 17 overall.
"Unlike many potential one-and-done prospects, Coleman emerged later, breaking out during his senior year," Wasserman wrote. "At (6-foot-4), he's a three-level shotmaker who's got some vertical pop around the basket for finishing and offensive rebounding.
"There is still a lot to evaluate with his playmaking, which he'll need to show at 180 pounds. But Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell going pro means Coleman should have a good opportunity to continue growing in a high-usage backcourt role."
Wasserman also had Stefan Vaaks, Zvonimir Ivisic and Andrej Stojakovic as potential second-round picks. So, no David Mirkovic and no Tomislav Ivisic.
Could Illinois have as many as six draft prospects next June? Sure. Mirkovic has received draft buzz in other corners of the NBA mock draft world, and Tomislav Ivisic is still a 7-footer who can knock down threes even if he isn't the projectable defender his brother is.
Suffice it to say, NBA front office personnel should have a steady presence in Champaign this season.
Continue reading...
