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Big Ten Tournament: 5 prospects the Detroit Pistons should watch

By Jacob Warfle

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 25: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans late in the second half of the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Breslin Center on February 25, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 25: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans late in the second half of the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Breslin Center on February 25, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Ayo Dosunmu, Sophomore, Illinois

The biggest draft steal from the Big Ten this season could be a player who has fallen completely off of most big boards. Ayo Dosunmu checks all the boxes for an NBA point guard, he just needs to put it all together.

At 6’5″, 185 lbs, Dosunmu has the size and length needed to survive against today’s top NBA guards. He has an elite ability to score off the dribble and make plays for teammates. Dosunmu is a great athlete, rebounder, and defender.

This begs the question: what’s the problem then?

It’s all about consistency for Dosunmu. At first glance his stats look impressive: 16.6 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, and 3.3 assists per game. But there’s more to the story.

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Dosunmu has struggled to find his shooting stroke, notably shown by his 29.6 percent shooting from three. This is troubling for scouts as perimeter shooting as never been more important for NBA point guards.

Dosunmu is a prime example that Big Ten box scores aren’t always the best way to judge a player. Scouts and GM’s will fall in love with him at the combine and his stock will rise again this offseason.

If Dosunmu was playing for a blue blood, the story on him would be completely different. He is a lottery level talent and one of the best PG’s in this year’s draft class.

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If he declares for the draft, he would be a wonderful fit in Detroit. The Pistons would need to make a trade or two, but sagging a player in the second round with lottery level upside is always a win for a rebuilding franchise.