Draft Prospects for Detroit Pistons fans to see in Elite Eight

Michigan players as potential Pistons and UCLA as well·

 Franz Wagner- Michigan
As a die-hard Wolverine fan, I still have a hard time seeing the things other people are seeing in Franz being a lottery pick. I would be much more comfortable taking Franz if the Pistons got a pick in the late teens/early 20’s.

Franz Wagner is a lengthy 6-foot-9 forward who has recently been playing at the ‘4’ position for Michigan, after playing as the 3 for a majority of his Wolverine career. He has the second-best defensive plus-minus in the nation and is shooting a nice 38.4% from three.

With the recent absence of Isaiah Livers, Franz has been playing the 4 and been slashing to the basket much more. His length, defensive prowess, and solid shooting has resulted in comparisons to (back when he was good) Nicolas Batum.
·      Jaime Jaquez Jr.- UCLA
The UCLA Bruins don’t have any prospects as of now, but players like Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jaquez Jr. should start to get attention thanks to UCLA’s improbable run from the “First Four” all the way to the Elite Eight.

Jaime was averaging 12.4 points per game in the regular season, but since then he’s scored 27, 13, 10, and 17 points on the Bruins big run. Johnny Juzang fouled out with three minutes left in the Bruins’ overtime stunner against the Crimson Tide on Sunday, leaving Jaime as the main option. Jaquez Jr. took the role in stride: facilitating, scoring in the post, getting to the free throw line, and from distance.

Being a 6-foot-10 sophomore small forward, Jamie should get a long look from the Pistons’ with the Lakers’ second round pick, which will be in the 50’s.
·      Johnny Juzang- UCLA
Johnny Juzang isn’t only getting attention from pro scouts, because no one in their right mind thought UCLA would have made this run, giving the attention that Juzang deserves.

Juzang was a 4-star forward out of high school from Hollywood who went to Kentucky for his freshman year last season. After coming off the bench, and only getting 12.3 minutes per game and scoring 2.9 points per game, Juzang transferred back home, and was given immediate eligibility (although Kentucky certainly could have used him this season).

He has made an immediate impact with the Bruins. He has played 31.6 minutes and scored 15 points per game. Juzang has to work on his shooting a bit, and would likely do well with another season in Westwood, but, so often, we see that players returning to college never work out.

He’s a 6-foot-6 forward and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he declared for the upcoming draft. He could be a good option with the Pistons’ Lakers pick, or an  Exhibit 10 contract.