Yesterday, we published an article about the 2020-21 All-Horizon League team and what their draft value to the Detroit Pistons could be. We also explore if these players have a future in the NBA at all.
Personally, I think the mid-majors are the most exciting aspect of college basketball. Players like Damian Lillard and Ja Morant who come out of nowhere and become immediate stars are the best stories the NBA has to offer.
Even as teams, the 2018 Loyola run was one for the ages, and Butler’s repeat Finals appearances won’t be forgotten. Cinderella stories are never forgotten, but the individual players on those teams are not talked about very much.
There’s an infinite amount of draft coverage surrounding the Power Five and Big East and for good reason. Those conferences are where most of the stars come from. The Big 12 is home to the consensus first overall pick, and the Big 10 is loaded with star power. But maybe by looking at the rough we can find a diamond.
This is the second article in the series surrounding All-Conference players from mid-major conferences, and what their draft stock might be. This time, we move on to the Missouri Valley Conference, whose All-Conference team includes players from Loyola Chicago, Drake, Indiana State, and Missouri State.
None of these schools have players in the NBA right now, and the only player ever of note is Larry Bird. Not exactly a pedigree for success, but that may change.
Possible Pistons draft picks: Tyreke Key, Guard, Indiana State
Tyreke Key is a very good basketball player–compared to me. He scores a fair bit (14.2ppg) and is efficient with his shots, but that’s pretty much it. He is built, which bodes well, but he is not an incredibly good player, which is what it takes to make the NBA.
His assists are awful, with just over 1.5 per game. That matches his turnover numbers. I hate to say it, but the MVC must have had a guard shortage for him to make it on the All-Conference team.
The silver lining is that he’ll probably go pro in Europe, according to a poll of his classmates. Even if the Detroit Pistons have the last overall pick for whatever reason, there will be better options.
VERDICT: HARD PASS
Isiaih Mosley, Guard, Missouri State
Isiaih Mosley is tall for a guard, which I like. He stands 6-foot-5 and checks in at 200 pounds, but since he’s only a sophomore he can easily add some mass.
Mosley doesn’t do much aside from score, but he does that very well. He shoots well over 50 percent from inside the arc, and 40 percent from outside. He is not the best facilitator or defensive specialist yet, but that could change.
As of now, he is a very good one-dimensional college player. If he improves to become more versatile, he could be a seventh-man. If that’s what we need by 2023 when he may declare for the draft, then there will probably be better players, but if not, he could be a decent pick.
VERDICT: WAIT AND SEE IF HE DEVELOPS MORE
Possible Pistons draft picks: Roman Penn, Guard, Drake
Roman Penn is only a junior who will unfortunately not get to play in the play-in game against Witchita State. He broke his foot in February and has been sidelined since.
Without the big stage to play on, he will need to come back and prove himself during his senior season. Before his injury, he was one of the most well-rounded players in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Penn scored a dozen points a game and racked up over five assists. He also was good on defense and was careful with the ball. His shooting numbers are very good, and I imagine he’ll be itching to get back and will have a very productive offseason after he recovers from his injury.
Does another guard fit with Detroit? Probably not, unless they get rid of a few. That being said, his draft stock right now is at zero anyway. That could change, however, if he leads them to the second round of the tournament next year or puts up absolutely insane numbers.
VERDICT: NOT FOR DETROIT, BUT I WISH HIM WELL ELSEWHERE
Gaige Prim, Forward, Missouri State
Gaige Prim reminds me of Rudy Gay. He can pass (2.2 assists per game), score (15ppg), and rebound (6.8rpg). Throw in a block too.
He’s 6-foot-8 with the frame to match, which is rare for a player in his conference. He also only played two seasons even though he is a senior.
He has also been on a few teams that underperformed. Rudy Gay went to UConn and had a storied career, Gaige Prim played two years of junior college and transferred to an underwhelming school.
VERDICT: GOOD LUCK IN EUROPE
Cameron Krutwig, Center, Loyola Chicago
Cameron Krutwig is the only player on this list who is widely projected to be drafted in 2021. He was on the 2017-18 Ramblers team that made it to the Final Four and has been the poster boy for the conference ever since.
For good reason, too. Krutwig is solid, and he may not be the best athlete but he is a very good low-post player. His scoring has gone up every year, topping out at around 15ppg.
Scoring isn’t the only thing he can do. He grabs seven rebounds and dishes out three assists, making him very versatile. He is efficient with his shots and doesn’t foul much.
The lack of fouling may mean he isn’t that physical, but he earned those rebounds and also has a block and steal each game, so the defense is there.
I like him as a fit in Detroit. He could provide some strength off the bench and allow some second-chance shots for our wings. I don’t think we should use our second-round pick on him, he’s too much of a risk. But if we manage to get another pick at the tail end of the draft, I would have fun with Krutwig on the team. I might be the only one though.
VERDICT: ONLY IF THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF.