NBA Draft 2021: A look at the 10 best Big Ten Basketball prospects

While this year’s Big Ten Basketball NBA Draft class lacks the high-end talent of some of the other conferences, there are a handful of players worth taking a look at in the second round or even as undrafted free agents. Let’s dive into a brief scouting report of the ten best.

Franz Wagner – Michigan – 6’9, 220 lbs – Sophomore –  August 2001

Wagner did not have the best statistical season, but he was one of the most impactful players in college basketball. His box plus/minus of +10.6 was top 10 nationally. Wagner was a role player at Michigan, but he excelled in said role.

Offensively, Wagner was not asked to self-create, but rather play off the ball and attack weakside advantages. He had a sub 20 usage rate and was tasked with just ten isolation possessions, per Synergy. But when he did have the ball, Wagner showed a diverse skill set. After starting the season 5/19 from deep (26%), Wagner finished the season shooting 30/83 from three (36%). His shot is a bit slow and the release point is lower than desired, but he takes them at a high enough volume to draw defensive attention.

When he draws that attention, Wagner has shown he’s a sound decision-maker and finisher. He shot an impressive 67.7% percent at the rim. While Wagner isn’t the best athlete, he uses his long arms to finish over defenders, combined with soft touch and understanding of angles. Wagner averaged three assists per game, showcasing his ability to make the right read and excel in the pick-and-roll as a ball-handler.

While there’s no one area Wagner is excellent at offensively, he also can do a little bit of everything at a sufficient level for a role player.

Defensively, Wagner is arguably the best team defender in the draft. He rarely guarded the opposing team’s best player, but that freed him to wreak absolute havoc in the helpside. Using his go-go gadget arms and awareness of rotations, Wagner disrupted drives and offered weakside rim protection. Wagner was masterful at covering ground.

Team defense was Wagner’s specialty, but he also made a positive impact on the ball. His footwork and anticipation allowed him to dodge screens and stay with his man. Despite his wiry frame, opponents had difficulty bumping Wagner off his spot and his length made it nearly impossible to shoot over him.

At first glance, Wagner’s raw box score numbers don’t strike you as “lottery pick”. Why gamble on a player in the lottery, if he was just a role player on his college team? For me, the appeal is scalability. Wagner’s diverse skill set, youth, and length, project him to be a plus role player at the next level. He may not have the All-Star upside potential, but if an NBA team believes in their core, he’s an easy addition to boost their floor.