 As March is now upon us and the 2019 conference tournament slate is underway, the PBC scouting team will provide a snapshot of some relevant professional prospects to watch at the outset of each conference tournament. The second wave of conference showdowns for automatic NCAA Tournament bids include the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), Northeast Conference (NEC), and Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). NBA players that played collegiately in one of these four conferences include the following:
Though the NEC doesn’t have any current prospects, 2017-18 NEC Player of the Year, Junior Robinson, is certainly a NEC to pros success story. Robinson, a 5’5” point guard, was initially somewhat overlooked as a prospect, but earned a chance to showcase his skills and athleticism at the 2018 Professional Basketball Combine. Robinson parlayed his impressive PBC showing into an NBA Summer League roster spot with the Atlanta Hawks where he filled in at point for Trae Young in stretches and made a name for himself. Robinson is now one of the premier players in the Spanish LEB Oro while leading his team, Saenz Horeca Araberri, in both points and assists. This year’s crop of prospects is headlined by a bonafide lottery pick in Murray State’s Ja Morant. Morant has been an exponential riser over the past year and change, and the electric lead guard is on the precipice of being picked in the top five of the 2019 NBA Draft. In addition to Morant, these conferences also have a handful of prospects with futures as professional basketball players, whether it be in the NBA, G League, or overseas: Dylan Windler Forward | 6’7 ½’’ | 192 | Senior | Belmont | OVC PBC Consensus Ranking: 45 Windler is one of the premier players in all of college basketball and a likely second round draft pick. His volume of across-the-board production on elite efficiency is nearly unparalleled. Read Windler’s full ‘Mid Major, Big Game’ PBC scouting report here. Jalen Pickett Wing | 6’4’’ | 180 | Freshman | Siena | MAAC PBC Consensus Ranking: 99 Pickett is only the second in the 38-year history of the MAAC to earn First Team All-Conference honors. His emergence onto the scene as a young, mid-major point guard prospect is eerily reminiscent to the early stages of Ja Morant’s prospect trajectory. Pickett is ultra-durable (3rd in the nation in minutes), has positional size, has shown great defensive instincts, is a pick-and-roll maestro, is one of the premier facilitators in the country, and has shown flashes of volume scoring. Though unlikely to be a one-and-done, Pickett is a legitimate long-term NBA prospect that will likely get a fair amount of 2020 NBA Draft buzz early in his sophomore season. Milik Yarbrough Forward | 6’6’’ | 210 | Senior (RS) | Illinois State | MVC PBC Consensus Ranking: 140 Yarbrough is a multi-faceted player with an NBA-ready frame (having cut down his weight from 230 lbs. to 215 lbs. this season while maintaining functional lean muscle). Yarbrough’s draft stock may have peaked last season, but the 2018-19 Second Team All-MVC selection still certainly garner some attention from scouts, work out with several teams, and get his shot at NBA Summer League. Yarbrough brings a lot to the table, but he has dropped off a bit as a facilitator and is getting to the line less while committing more turnovers. If he can polish up these areas throughout the MVC tournament and into the summer, his stock as a versatile point forward could swing back up. Cameron Young Wing | 6’6’’ | 205 | Senior (RS) | Quinnipiac | MAAC PBC Consensus Ranking: 157 Young was the lone unanimous First Team All-MAAC selection. The former JuCo transfer has developed into one of the most dangerous scorers in college basketball. One of the most exciting NCAA basketball games this season featured a duel between Young and Siena’s Jalen Pickett, wherein Young notched an NCAA-best 55 points (15-24 FG, 9-13 3Pt, 16-20 FT) and 10 rebounds in the triple-overtime victory. Young has been a late riser into the NBA prospect scene, but has certainly turned some heads and has a chance to continue increasing his stock with a strong conference tournament. Marques Townes Wing | 6’4’’ | 210 | Senior (RS) | Loyola (IL) | MVC PBC Consensus Ranking: NR The 2018-19 MVC Player of the Year and active MVC leader in career points is well seasoned in big games, having helped lead the Ramblers’ 2017-18 Final Four run and earned the opportunity to represent the Dominican Republic in the Central American and Caribbean Games. Townes excels when he gets his momentum going toward the rim as a slasher/cutter, as well as attacking following pick-and-roll or hand-off actions. Nick Muszynski Big | 6’10’’ | 225 | Freshman (RS) | Belmont | OVC PBC Consensus Ranking: NR Muszynski has been a pleasant surprise for the Bruins and could be a sneaky long-term NBA prospect. The OVC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Conference selection led the OVC in blocked shots, was an incredibly efficient scorer (61.1 2P%, 41.2 3P%, 77.1% FT%) at his size, makes functional use of his length on both ends, and showed some intriguing post facilitation upside. Nick Mayo Forward | 6’9’’ | 250 | Senior | Eastern Kentucky | OVC PBC Consensus Ranking: NR Mayo bears one of the most significant offensive burdens in college basketball. The four-year starting forward is top ten in the nation in most volume scoring statistical categories. Mayo has done a nice job of tapering down his turnovers despite a career-high in USG%, but has seen a striking dip in 3P% in his more than doubled 3PA volume this season. Mayo seems a likely Portsmouth invite and could see his game flourish paired alongside other scoring threats in a more well spaced offense. His consistency at the stripe and as a three point shooter in prior seasons serve as indicators of upward three-point efficiency regression as he transitions into his professional career. Cameron Krutwig Big | 6’9’’ | 260 | Sophomore | Loyola (IL) | MVC PBC Consensus Ranking: NR The First Team All-Conference selection is a dominant force on the block and has incredible touch as a finisher around the rim. He has increased his 2P%, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks this season, but has been disappointing from the free throw line. Krutwig could very well dominate the MVC tournament, but will need to work on his strength and conditioning, as well as his shooting stroke, to increase his professional translatability. Keith Braxton Combo | 6’4’’ | 208 | Junior | St. Francis (PA) | NEC PBC Consensus Ranking: NR Despite seeing dips in 2P% and 3P% each passing season, the 2018-19 NEC Player of the Year has shown steady improvement in rounding out the remainder of his game. Braxton is the engine that keeps the Red Flash running, and will need to rattle off a series of stellar performances to lead St. Francis to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1991. Terry Taylor Forward | 6’5’’ | 217 | Sophomore | Austin Peay | OVC PBC Consensus Ranking: NR Taylor is an absolute bulldozer attacking the rim and crashing the offensive glass. Although the post-ups won’t necessarily translate as his size, he still may be able to situationally punish switches. Taylor’s motor, strength, and explosiveness are intriguing if he’s able to continue to add consistency as as shooting threat. Jason Burnell Forward | 6’7’’ | 220 | Senior | Jacksonville State | OVC PBC Consensus Ranking: NR Burnell is a strong forward that excels at putbacks and has added some pick-and-pop acumen on the perimeter. He is solid from the stripe and has shown great improvement as a passer. The Gamecocks have exceeded expectations this season and have given Belmont fits, having swept them in the regular season. If Jacksonville State is to upset #1 seed Belmont and #2 seed Murray State (each led by likely NBA draftees), this run will likely be primarily fueled by Burnell.
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