Talen Horton-Tucker and the NBA Draft

[DeereClone]

I see both Tyrese and THT as 3-4 year guys.

Tyrese is a great player and I love his all-around game, but he lacks the athletic explosiveness that's needed at the next level. Also, if he is going to be a point guard in the NBA he needs to work on his craft in that area - he's not our primary ball-handler/creator in the offense, I find it hard to believe he has proven enough in this area to be considered a legit top PG prospect.

THT seems like a bit of a tweener to me. He is too small to play inside or on the wing in the NBA, but his ball skills and shot are not refined enough to play guard in the NBA right now. He also has a tendency to get out of control when going to the rim. He's really raw and has a ton of upside, I think he needs to refine his game with ball-handling and shooting before going to the next level.

I love both of these guys and think they are going to be really special players for us, so don't take my assessment as a knock against them. My knock is on these mock draft boards because I think they are wrong. Time will tell, but I think these guys are 3-4 year players for us.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Prohm seems to be targeted his highest recruiting resources on high 4* guys who...

-- the Blue Bloods mostly overlook, going for 5* guys among one another

-- are not quite immediate NBA prospects, or at least for the lottery tier

...and occasionally less-heralded guys, like Tyrese, are going to play up to this tier.

It is a nice spot to minimize the competition and maximize the talent we might have.

It just means we are always going to have these "will they or won't they" conversations -- these guys are always going to be on the cusp of it, but they are always going to have something (age, athleticism, size, refinement of some skill, etc.) that holds them back.

 

[nfrine]

I am not seeing NBA level yet in THT or TH. They have the potential but have not shown the consistency demanded in the NBA. I would be very surprised if either one makes the move this year or even next. The G League and overseas leagues are littered with players that are better.

 

[Cyclonepride]

As of today this could happen but there is half a season yet to go. Lot of time for each player to help their stock especially in the NCAA tournament.

Main take away for me is ISU has a lot of talent that the Pro Scouts are paying attention to. I do think Wigginton will work his way up boards but due to the injury his stock likely won't be in the 1st round. His original goal was to be a First rounder so not sure if that has changed for him?

True enough. Heck, if THT had a game in the NCAA tournament like he had against Illinois, his stock would skyrocket.

 

[jsb]

I like how our fans think they know better than anyone else if players are ready for the NBA.

 

[FinalFourCy]

No way THT is leaving either. I agree Wigginton is gone, but I would be surprised if he gets drafted in the first round. Im guessing his mind is set on leaving.

It’s early. If either get on a role, it could easily happen for both imo. Wigginton in particular will have a great chance if he gets back to his 3P shooting from a year ago.

 

[cycjob]

Certainly not a pro talent evaluator but THT's production dropped off dramatically once conference play started. He needs to find his game against Big 12 level competition before considering taking another jump in competition level.

 

[isutrevman]

I like how our fans think they know better than anyone else if players are ready for the NBA.

In their defense, they have likely watched our players a lot more than the analysts. They've also seen players be way more productive at Iowa State and not even sniff the NBA. The NBA drafts lottery busts year, after year, after year. I somewhat understand the Haliburton projections because he could be a really long point guard with pretty good athleticism and a consistent shot. Horton-Tucker to me is undersized as a 2 guard, is only an "ok" shooter and has below average athleticism for the NBA. His freakishly long arms do make up for a lack of height though. Wigginton is kind of stuck since he hasn't been able to show point guard skill and he's way undersized as a 2. I can see someone drafting him hoping to develope his PG skills though.

 

[brokenloginagain]

TLDR

this is the thread where all the CF's who hate the nba and don't watch it offer their projections on which players we have going pro next year, is that right?

 

[WIB]

The odds are most people on here have watched more THT and Haliburton this year than the scouts have. They don't have time to watch a lesser prospects game against Southern that was broadcast on Cyclones TV during the season. I think it's fair for anyone on here to voice there opinion on a prospects potential.

 

[nfrine]

I like how our fans think they know better than anyone else if players are ready for the NBA.

We have had the opportunity in recent years to watch Georges, Naz, Burton, Nader, Monte, Thomas, Kane, Royce, BDJ, Diante, Babb (Chris) and many others. We may have a pretty good idea of the talent level needed for the next level. Not saying we are experts but we are not uninformed either.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

True enough. Heck, if THT had a game in the NCAA tournament like he had against Illinois, his stock would skyrocket.

Look no further than Royce White. He put up a solid double double performance against UCONN in the first round and then he was the best player on the court in against Kentucky. His draft stock absolutely skyrocketed.

 

[Sigmapolis]

We have had the opportunity in recent years to watch Georges, Naz, Burton, Nader, Monte, Thomas, Kane, Royce, BDJ, Diante, Babb (Chris) and many others. We may have a pretty good idea of the talent level needed for the next level. Not saying we are experts but we are not uninformed either.

Indeed -- and of that list, how many of them have "stuck" in the NBA?

Monté has probably had the best career of the above so far, and even he is only a bench rotational guy. And that is having the all-time, perhaps unbreakable NCAA record in a stat that indicates your level of PG skills. The remainder had something between a cup of coffee in the league and/or barely held onto roster spots or played mostly in the D-League.

The difference between the college game and the pro game is just insane. I think it is actually a greater different than between CFB and playing on Sundays somehow.

The physicality in the NFL is nuts, but I think the talent gap is wider for basketball.

 

[LLCoolCY]

SBNation released their newest 2019 NBA Mock Draft.

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2019/1...19-zion-williamson-rj-barrett-ja-morant-order

26. Indiana Pacers - Talen Horton-Tucker, G, Iowa State
The Chicago native is a unique prospect at 6’4, 230 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan. He’s at his best as a playmaker in the open court, and always finds a way to stuff the stat sheet. Horton-Tucker splashed 4-of-8 threes in a tight loss to Kansas this week — if he keeps shooting like that, there’s so much to like about his game.

I also just looked at DraftExpress update 2020 draft.
http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/sto...mock-draft-new-no-1-pick-scouting-lamelo-ball

Wigginton checks in #54 FWIW, (obviosly the implication he isn't projected in their 2019 draft currently)

 

[LLCoolCY]

Rivals List THT as the #2 freshman to watch to raise his NBA draft stock in March and how he could be replaced if he does go.

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals...freshmen-who-could-break-out-down-the-stretch

Horton-Tucker is one of the youngest freshmen in the nation, but he is an extremely versatile player. He might not look the part of a potential NBA first-rounder, and he will not light up the YouTube world with highlight dunks, but the quirks and layers to his game have definitely raised NBA scouts’ eyebrows this winter.

He's a complete stat-sheet stuffer who plays like a smaller Draymond Green. Horton-Tucker has plenty of talent around him, and that has allowed for him to play the unselfish brand of basketball that he likes most.

Iowa State has gone through a season of ups and downs, but the Cyclones have the talent to make a run this month. If so, Horton-Tucker will be front and center, and if he does make the leap to the NBA expect Steve Prohm to scour the grad-transfer waters while putting an even greater reliance on Zion Griffin and Tyrese Haliburton next season. Prohm will also hope that incoming wing Marcedus Leech can pitch in.

Also notable BigXII wise is KU's Agbaji checking in at #5.

 

[cyhiphopp]

Rivals List THT as the #2 freshman to watch to raise his NBA draft stock in March and how he could be replaced if he does go.

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals...freshmen-who-could-break-out-down-the-stretch

Horton-Tucker is one of the youngest freshmen in the nation, but he is an extremely versatile player. He might not look the part of a potential NBA first-rounder, and he will not light up the YouTube world with highlight dunks, but the quirks and layers to his game have definitely raised NBA scouts’ eyebrows this winter.

He's a complete stat-sheet stuffer who plays like a smaller Draymond Green. Horton-Tucker has plenty of talent around him, and that has allowed for him to play the unselfish brand of basketball that he likes most.

Iowa State has gone through a season of ups and downs, but the Cyclones have the talent to make a run this month. If so, Horton-Tucker will be front and center, and if he does make the leap to the NBA expect Steve Prohm to scour the grad-transfer waters while putting an even greater reliance on Zion Griffin and Tyrese Haliburton next season. Prohm will also hope that incoming wing Marcedus Leech can pitch in.

Also notable BigXII wise is KU's Agbaji checking in at #5.

The crazy thing is that THT has those highlight dunks in his repertoire. The Big 12 has just been so tight that he hasn't had enough opportunities to unleash them.

 

[AuH2O]

Look no further than Royce White. He put up a solid double double performance against UCONN in the first round and then he was the best player on the court in against Kentucky. His draft stock absolutely skyrocketed.

Not sure if THT will have the opportunities to go against guys like Royce did. Back to back games vs. Andre Drummond and Anthony Davis. Absolutely crazy.

 

[jbindm]

Not sure if THT will have the opportunities to go against guys like Royce did. Back to back games vs. Andre Drummond and Anthony Davis. Absolutely crazy.

And Teague, Jones, and Kidd-Gilchrist in the UK game. There were five guys in that game who would go on to be first round picks that following summer.

 

[Sigmapolis]

For the record, and many of us know this, we have had four first-rounds picks ever...

Fizer
Tinsley
Brackins
White

If Wigginton or THT (or even Tyrese) were to elevate themselves to that status, it would be a pretty special moment for the program and those young men.

 

[srjclone]

Not sure if THT will have the opportunities to go against guys like Royce did. Back to back games vs. Andre Drummond and Anthony Davis. Absolutely crazy.

And he legit played to their level or above.