Next year's Big Ten might change Saturday
The Big Ten has been one of the most successful conferences in college basketball in recent years. Since 2007, three Big Ten squads have repped the league in the Final Four.
Over the last two seasons, the Big Ten has sent 12 teams to the Big Dance. But those achievements have not translated to the development/recruitment of pro-level talent. The 2009 NBA draft featured two Big Ten products. Former Ohio State reserve B.J. Mullens (No. 24, Dallas Mavericks, traded to Oklahoma City) averaged 1.1 points and 0.8 rebounds in 4.2 minutes per game for the Thunder during the 2009-10 season. Former Michigan State star Goran Suton (No. 50, Utah Jazz) signed a contract with a Russian team after the Jazz cut him. Beyond Evan Turner, the Big Ten won't send many players to the next level via this summer's NBA draft. But that's not stopping a number of league hopefuls from considering the idea. The Big Ten's early entrants who have not hired agents have until Saturday to withdraw their names and preserve their collegiate eligibility. Penn State's Talor Battle withdrew from the draft Friday, according to multiple reports. The prospects' decisions will shift next year's race for the Big Ten crown. The choices of the players who have already decided to hire agents and stay in the draft matter, too. Evan Turner (Ohio State): He's gone. No coming back. He has an agent. And he won't fall past No. 3. Smart decision for a guy who can't really raise his stock after earning national player of the year honors, even though he broke two bones in his back during the season. But Ohio State has one of the nation's top recruiting classes, which features one-and-done center Jared Sullinger. I still think the Buckeyes will finish in the top tier of the Big Ten, even though they've lost an extremely talented player. Manny Harris (Michigan): Looks like he's going to hire an agent and forgo his college eligibility. Bad decision. Harris needs another year to add some beef to his frame and prove to NBA scouts that he has the leadership skills necessary to handle himself at the next level. He's a proven scorer. And Michigan will miss that. But the Wolverines were going into rebuilding mode with or without Harris. A solid recruiting class will have to contribute early to give the Wolverines a chance to stay away from the bottom of the Big Ten. JaJuan Johnson (Purdue): Johnson doesn't have an agent, but I think he'll stay in the draft. I don't think he's going to raise his stock with another year in the Big Ten. He's faced the same question during his three years at the Division I level: Is he big enough to bang with post players in the NBA? His 6-10, 215-pound frame justifies those queries. If Johnson returns to school, the Boilermakers will have a key piece to a program that would have made a Final Four run in March with a healthy Robbie Hummel. Johnson gives the Boilermakers the size they need to contend with national powerhouses. If he leaves, the Boilermakers will have a huge void in the paint. Their nationally ranked recruiting class is based on the talented four-star guards they've signed (Anthony Johnson and Terone Johnson). I think the Boilermakers are preseason favorites to win the Big Ten title with Johnson, a top-5 team without him. E'Twaun Moore (Purdue): He's in Johnson's boat. Declared for the draft. No agent. The 6-4 guard (he's really 6-2) helped the Boilermakers reach the Sweet 16 by averaging 15.0 points per game in three NCAA tournament games. He also showcased his leadership skills when Purdue lost Hummel to a season-ending injury. But I think he's going to make his decision based on what Johnson does. Johnson, Hummel and Moore returning for a fourth season would mean a possible Final Four run and more exposure for all three pro prospects. If Johnson leaves, the Boilermakers might struggle to finish among the top-5 teams in the Big Ten. Losing Moore to the NBA would certainly affect Purdue's chances of competing for a Big Ten title. But with a pair of four-star recruits entering the picture, some solid reserves and a great system, the Boilermakers would still be a very good team without him. Mike Davis (Illinois): My gut says he'll return for his senior season. He's not ready for the next level. He's too inconsistent. Davis failed to hit double figures in 10 Big Ten games last season. But if he puts it all together and dominates during the 2010-11 season, I think he'll get drafted next summer. If Davis and Demetri McCamey wisely return to school and join a stellar recruiting class, the Fighting Illini enter next season as one of the favorites to win the Big Ten crown. Illinois has talented perimeter players. But that squad will need Davis' inside-outside game to compete at the highest level. With Davis (assuming McCamey comes back), the Illini will be a nationally ranked team that competes for the Big Ten title. Without him, they'll be a top-5 squad. Demetri McCamey (Illinois): He should go back to school. But a couple of NBA teams are working him out in the final hour. He's the kind of sturdy point guard that the NBA adores today. He needs another year, however, to improve as a leader. Too many times, he didn't step up when Illinois needed him most. He also needs to work on his ballhandling. He finished 16 games with four or more turnovers last season. He's a great passer, but he'll need more than that if he wants to compete in the NBA. Good news for Illini fans: McCamey says he won't stay in the draft unless he's a first-round pick. He's not a first-round pick. So I expect him to stay. If he leaves, however, the Illini will lose the most critical player in their rotation. They have a lot of talent coming in and a lot of talent coming back. But McCamey runs the show and runs it well. Illinois would still finish in the Big Ten's top tier without him. With him, they're my pick to win the Big Ten title right now. That's based on Johnson leaving Purdue, a strong possibility. Big AAU tournament this weekend If you're looking for some offseason basketball to satisfy your craving for the game, then head to Bloomington Jefferson this weekend for the Sabes Invitational. Rivals.com published a great preview of the AAU event, arguably the Twin Cities' top AAU event, on its site. You can find a free preview of the Howard Pulley AAU program's premier event here. Hopkins' Joe Coleman competes for Howard Pulley Blue's 17s squad, although he might not play due to injury. Apple Valley eighth-grader Tyus Jones competes for HP Blue's 16s squad. Both players are big targets for the Gophers. You can find the schedule for this weekend's events here.
