Big Ten Centers

[bga1]

We think of Oturu as outstanding ...and he is. I personally think he is a year away from coming out and going to the NBA, others think he is gone after this year. But looking around the Big Ten, there are a load of good bigs that are potential NBA players or certainly formidable opponents for Oturu this year:
Best bigs
Illinois- Cockburn
Iowa- Garza
Michigan- Teske
MN- Oturu
OSU - Wesson
PSU - Watkins
Purdue- Haarms
Rutgers- Johnson
WI - Reuvers

Haarms and Teske are defensive specialists mostly but really tough
Watkins, Wesson and Reuvers project at PF at the next level
Garza and Cockburn are right there with Oturu in terms of potential IMO

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

Watching the Iowa game was a bit of a wake up for me on Oturu and I think he needs another year. That being said he is by far our best player.
Garza is very talented as is Haarms and Wesson. Is Reuvers really in this category with the others?

 

[SelectionSunday]

Don’t forget Xavier Tillman.

And Illinois has two stud bigs. Bezhanishvili is a man, too. I still think Illinois’ potential this season is off the charts.

 

[Parcival]

If Oturu is smart he should go after this year. Hard to imagine his NBA draft stock could get much higher than it is currently and an injury could cost him and his family millions. On top of that Pitino's seat is getting very hot and the team is under .500.

Obviously not what we want as fans but I feel that is the reality of the situation.

 

[gophereric30]

Obviously, Oturu is an NBA prospect, but im curious when people say his draft stock can't get any higher where they think he is in the draft right now. I look at a ton of Mock drafts and he's not in anybody's top 60. So your saying that currently Oturu can't get any better than not getting drafted at all?

 

[GopherBlood777]

If Oturu left early this year it would be much more shocking than Amir choosing to remain in the draft. He is clearly on NBA scouts radars, but most think he is at least a year away.

 

[Parcival]

If Oturu left early this year it would be much more shocking than Amir choosing to remain in the draft. He is clearly on NBA scouts radars, but most think he is at least a year away.

So you know what players NBA scouts are looking at?

Oturu is averaging 18.0 ppg 11.0 reb at 65% from the field. Again it's hard to imagine that he significantly changes his game and improves his numbers next year because he's been incredible this year. Why wouldn't an NBA team take a chance on him?

Cam Reddish was taken at #10 last year and with 13.5 ppg and 3.7 reb at 35% from the field. And this is just one example of many... stats aren't everything but hard to imagine there are 60 players better than Oturu.

 

[bga1]

So you know what players NBA scouts are looking at?

Oturu is averaging 18.0 ppg 11.0 reb at 65% from the field. Again it's hard to imagine that he significantly changes his game and improves his numbers next year because he's been incredible this year. Why wouldn't an NBA team take a chance on him?

Cam Reddish was taken at #10 last year and with 13.5 ppg and 3.7 reb at 35% from the field. And this is just one example of many... stats aren't everything but hard to imagine there are 60 players better than Oturu.

You don't have to go to 60. The number to look at is 30. Are there 30 better players than Oturu? Right now looking at nbadraft.net mock draft I see that Oturu has popped onto their board and is listed as the 24th pick. If he can go in the first round- he should do it. If not, he should wait.
If it stays as projected today- he's gone. We will have to see how he does against Big Ten defenses throughout the year. His development from last year to this has been tremendous.

 

[march madness]

We think of Oturu as outstanding ...and he is. I personally think he is a year away from coming out and going to the NBA, others think he is gone after this year. But looking around the Big Ten, there are a load of good bigs that are potential NBA players or certainly formidable opponents for Oturu this year:
Best bigs
Illinois- Cockburn
Iowa- Garza
Michigan- Teske
MN- Oturu
OSU - Wesson
PSU - Watkins
Purdue- Haarms
Rutgers- Johnson
WI - Reuvers

Haarms and Teske are defensive specialists mostly but really tough
Watkins, Wesson and Reuvers project at PF at the next level
Garza and Cockburn are right there with Oturu in terms of potential IMO

All quality big men. But really the only other potential first tround pick besides Oturu is Cockburn and maybe Wesson. The rest don't seem to have the athleticism and length the NBA likes.