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

Dalano Banton – Nebraska – 6’9, 204 lbs – Redshirt Sophomore – November 1999

While his numbers don’t jump off the page, Banton has an interesting combination of size to go with handling and good vision. Despite playing with some lesser teammates, he surpassed the 100 assist benchmark.

Banton will have to improve as a scorer. He’s a solid finisher at the rim with his length, but he struggles to put pressure on the defense given his lack of shooting gravity. He shot just 20-81 from deep (24.7%) and his intermediate game needs to be improved.

Banton is certainly a project and will need G-League time, but there’s an intriguing package with his passing and defense that is worth an undrafted free agent. He’s definitely one of the guys I will be monitoring in Summer League.

Kofi Cockburn – Illinois – Sophomore – 7’0, 285 lbs – September 1999

Cockburn dominated the big ten using his sheer size and strength. But the NBA has changed and a back-to-the-basket big without any other offensive skill set rarely survives. He’s a complete non-shooter, who made just over 50% of his free throw attempts last season. When doubled, he has tunnel vision and cannot process the floor well enough to take advantage of his size.

Defensively, Cockburn can muscle up with fives and rebound but he struggled to defend the pick-and-roll against elite guards. He could be a very situational big that gets an opportunity as a two-way player (a la Tacko Fall) but I’d have a hard time drafting him.

Aaron Wiggins – Maryland – 6’6, 200 lbs – January 1999

Wiggins has the body of an NBA wing, but his skillset never developed to the level of that. He’s a plus athlete, with a good wingspan and was an impactful defender in his three years at Maryland. But after shooting 41% from deep his freshman season, he shot just 33% over the next two years. His ancillary skills are lagging and he has a hard time taking players off the dribble. He’s also relatively old for a junior (already 22 years old), meaning there may not be a ton of developing left.

Wiggins has a good-looking stroke so it’s conceivable he finds his jumper in the future. I’d advise him to come back to school and play for a good Maryland team, while making a three-point percentage leap and boosting his stock (like Oregon’s Chris Duarte). But if he does decide to turn pro, the body and stroke are worth a look as an undrafted free agent.