Several state players set for NBA draft combine
The NBA draft combine this week in Chicago will have a distinct Wisconsin feel. ● Several players with ties to the state are among the 76 prospects expected to be in attendance Wednesday to Friday at Wintrust Area. Prospects will have interviews with teams, play in five-on-five games and participate in drills. ● ESPN will have coverage of the event on Thursday and Friday. ● The draft is June 23 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. ● Here are the Wisconsin players:
Marquette’s Justin Lewis
The combine will be very important to the future of the 6-foot-7 forward. Lewis is slated by most mock drafts as a late first-round or early second-round pick. The 20-year-old was named to the all-Big East first team and was also the conference’s most improved player after averaging 17.1 points and 8 rebounds per game.
NBA teams like Lewis’ physical tools, but scouts and general managers will be interested to see how Lewis fares against other elite prospects. Lewis has signed with an NCAA-approved agent to guide him through the draft process, so he can return to MU to improve his draft stock next season. Players have until June 1 to withdraw from the draft and return to college basketball.
Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis
The 6-foot-5 Davis is seen as a sure-fire lottery pick after a breakout sophomore season in which he averaged 19.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game and was honored as the Big Ten player of the year.
NBA teams like Davis’ fluid athleticism and how he led the nation in scoring against top-25 opponents during the regular season (24.1). But they likely will want to know how Davis has recovered from nagging injuries that slowed him late in the season.
UW-Milwaukee’s Patrick Baldwin Jr.
As with Lewis, the combine will be huge for Baldwin after the highly touted 6-9 forward played in only 11 games for Panthers while averaging 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists. He was plagued by a left ankle injury suffered at Sussex Hamilton High School and also missed three games after contracting COVID-19.
Baldwin was seen as a top-10 pick heading into the season and most mock drafts now have him being selected late in the first round. His size, length and skills are still intriguing. While also digging into Baldwin’s medical history, NBA teams want to know if he will perform better when surrounded by more talented players. Baldwin has textbook shooting mechanics, but shot just 26.6% on three-pointers at UWM.
Wake Forest’s Alondes Williams
Known as “ManMan,” Williams has come a long way since averaging 12.3 points per game as a senior at Milwaukee Riverside High School. The 6-5 guard played two seasons at Triton Junior College and then was a role player at Oklahoma from 2019-21. He took advantage of an extra season of NCAA eligibility to transfer to Wake Forest and average 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists while being named the player of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Williams will be 23 years old next month and is seen as a possible second-round pick. He has drawn interest with his thick frame and slashing ability. He shot just 40 for 142 (28.2%) on three-pointers at Wake Forest, so NBA teams will have to decide if he can improve on that.
G League Elite’s Michael Foster Jr.
The 6-8 Foster is another Milwaukee native with an interesting path. Foster left Milwaukee Washington High School after his sophomore season to play at Hillcrest Prep in Arizona. He pondered going the college route, but decided to play for the G League Ignite, the NBA’s developmental team.
Foster averaged 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds for the Ignite. He is predicted to be a secondround pick with teams needing to decide what his best position will be in the NBA. He has the potential to be a classic banger down low, but he also will need to show that he can develop a consistent outside shot.
Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji
The Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four makes the list because he was born in Milwaukee. His parents both played at UWM in the early 1990s.
The 6-5 Agbaji contemplated entering the draft last season, but dramatically improved his status after returning to college and leading the Jayhawks to a national championship. He averaged 18.8 points per game and was named the Big 12 player of the year. He is seen as a mid-first round pick with NBA teams liking him as a smooth shot-creator who is ready to contribute.