Big Ten Basketball: Top 10 prospects for 2020 NBA Draft

2. Daniel Oturu, C, Minnesota

DOB:

• September 20, 1999 (21)

SIZE:

• 6’10”, 240 lbs

PROS:

• Very strong
• Good inside player on both ends
• Great rebounder
• Active hands
• Rim protection potential

CONS:

• Not a very versatile scorer
• Struggles guarding quicker players
• Too aggressive defensively
• Not an incredible athlete

DRAFT GRADE:

• Late 1st Round – Early 2nd Round

Daniel Oturu is one of two players from the Big Ten that I would spend a late first-round pick on if I was a general manager of an NBA team. Oturu has tremendous upside, showing potential as a great rim protector who can also rebound the ball and score in the paint.

The only major knock on Oturu is his quickness, but I believe if he works on his discipline it can make up for his lack of foot speed. I expect Oturu to go anywhere from 28-35, and if he goes any later the team that selects him has a potential steal on their hands.

1. Jalen Smith, C, Maryland

DOB:

• March 16, 2000 (20)

SIZE:

• 6’10”, 215 lbs

PROS:

• Good inside scorer
• Above-average athleticism
• Stretch big potential
• Incredible rebounder – one of the best in this class
• Rim protector potential

CONS:

• Inconsistent shooter
• Mental lapses on both ends
• Invisible at times

DRAFT GRADE:

• Mid-to-late 1st Round

There is a lot to like about Jalen Smith’s game, as he is just 20 years old and has already shown flashes of being a great basketball player. A good athlete who has plenty of time to put on more muscle, Smith flashes the potential to be able to a center who can guard both bigger and quicker players.

On the offensive end, Smith is a solid inside scorer who shows flashes of being able to step outside, which opens the eyes of every NBA scouting department. While Smith is definitely still raw, I expect a team to take a shot on developing him somewhere between 15-25th overall.