Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor, June 17, 2015
The NBA Draft is eight days away, which means teams are finalizing their draft boards leading up to the big event.
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Several former Big Ten stars are expected to be selected early on in this year's draft.
ESPN NBA Insider Chad Ford recently released his two-round NBA Mock Draft 7.0, which features four Big Ten names.
The first Big Ten name Ford has coming off the board is former Ohio State standout D'Angelo Russell, who he has going No. 4 overall to the New York Knicks.
"For all of Phil Jackson's talk about defense, Russell is an almost perfect fit in the triangle," Ford says. "While he could go as high as No. 2, I doubt Russell slides past No. 4."
Following Russell, Ford has Wisconsin's Sam Dekker pegged as going No. 8 to the Detroit Pistons. Dekker, who chose to enter the draft early following his junior season, has been shooting up draft boards as of late.
"He had a terrific workout there Saturday, shot the lights out, and is more NBA-ready than several of the wings," Ford says of Dekker. "The Pistons also have a huge hole at the 3. Stanley Johnson and Devin Booker will be other options for Detroit."
Dekker's college teammate, Frank Kaminsky, is another guy who could certainly land in the lottery. Ford has Kaminsky, this year's national player of the year, going No. 13 overall to the Phoenix Suns.
"He's more ready than most draft prospects to come in and do his thing," Ford says of Kaminsky. "His ability to stretch the floor is especially appealing. Alex Len can't play 48 minutes a night. The Suns really need backup help at the 5."
After Russell, Dekker and Kaminsky come off the board, there will likely be a lengthy falloff before the next Big Ten player is selected. In fact, Ford predicts it will be 42 picks, where he has former Iowa star Aaron White heading to the San Antonio Spurs with the No. 55 pick in the draft.
"White's a mobile big man who runs the floor well and even became a bit of a stretch shooter this season," Ford says. "He has a great work ethic and seems like the sort of player who would thrive in San Antonio."
Other Big Ten players to consider: Dez Wells (Maryland), Branden Dawson (Michigan State), Travis Trice (Michigan State), D.J. Newbill (Penn State), Rayvonte Rice (Illinois), Terran Petteway (Nebraska).