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NCAA Basketball: 10 players who can elevate their 2020 NBA Draft stock

By Cody Larson

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MARCH 14: Tyrese Haliburton #22 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates during the quarterfinal game of the Big 12 Basketball Tournament against the Baylor Bears at Sprint Center on March 14, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MARCH 14: Tyrese Haliburton #22 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates during the quarterfinal game of the Big 12 Basketball Tournament against the Baylor Bears at Sprint Center on March 14, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans is defended by Javin DeLaurier #12 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 31: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans is defended by Javin DeLaurier #12 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Xavier Tillman

PF | 6-foot-8 | 245 lbs | Junior

Xavier Tilman truly came into his own as a player last year at Michigan State. Now entering his junior season, with the absence of Nick Ward, he will be forced to take another leap forward and act as MSU’s focal point big man.

Coach Tom Izzo loves to make heavy usage of his bigs in transition; often sending a sprinting big man straight down the middle for quick finishes is a go-to in his scheme. This season that big will be Tillman, who seems built exactly for that role.

Xavier is a powerful finisher with a wrecking ball frame. He should be Cassius Winston’s favorite target when running towards the rim. The amount of points Tillman should score off of lobs and transition slams might be enough to draw NBA eyes towards his direction.

His prowess as a rim protector (1.7 blocks per game last season) and as a sturdy body in pick-and-roll situations should draw interest as well. That is without mentioning his high energy level and steadily improving jump shot. As a whole, Xavier Tillman seems like a prototypical big man; he will be tough to ignore next season.

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