Big East Basketball: Where are the former stars from the conference heading in the NBA?

Mikal Bridges, Villanova

Mikal Bridges was the first Big East player to be taken in the 2018 NBA Draft with the 10th overall selection. Originally, he was taken by the Philadelphia 76ers, a franchise where his mother, Tyneeha Rivers, works in the human resources department. It was business as usual though when a few selections later, Bridges was traded to the Phoenix Suns for Zhaire Smith (the 15th overall selection).

Bridges impact in Phoenix could be felt a bit sooner than it would in Philadelphia, given their weaknesses. The pressure will be different for Bridges as well with the spotlight being on first overall pick DeAndre Ayton.

Given those aspects, Bridges could grow into a wing role right away with the Suns. He’s got two NCAA titles under his belt and averaged 17.7 points this past season for the Wildcats.

His versatility will also be of great use as the NBA continues to evolve into a 3-point heavy league. Bridges shot 43.5 percent from 3-point range in 2017-18. With a winning culture in his background, his contributions could pay dividends for the Phoenix Suns in the long run.