2019 NBA Draft: Illinois Prep Prospects

Thursday night is the 2019 NBA Draft. While many are focusing on the “Big Three” at the top of the draft we wanted to take a look at prospects from the state of Illinois that could hear their names called on Thursday night.   Talen Horton-Tucker (Iowa State) High School: Simeon Travel Team: Team Rose Class: 2018 Ranking: #2 High School Days: THT was a prospect that early in his career who didn't have the “prospect” look at all. He was a bit pudgy and undersized, but two things stood out. He had an insane wingspan which made you think he was going to grow and Horton-Tucker always produced with his high skill level. He gradually improved and heading into his junior season was one of the top handful of prospects in the class. He took it to another level the last two years of his career including a dominant senior campaign leading a Simeon team who many saw as the best in the state that season. Horton-Tucker committed to Iowa State in one of the most crazy recruitment endings in recent memory.   Draft Outlook: The former Simeon standout entered the draft as a freshman after averaging nearly 12 points and 5 boards a game. He would like to hear his name called in the first round. It looks like he has a legit shot to see that happen. Right now we project him to land somewhere between #20 - #40 overall so there is about a 50/50 chance he will get the coveted guaranteed contract.     Isaiah Roby (Nebraska) High School: Dixon Travel Team: Quad City Elite Class: 2016 Ranking: #5 High School Days: Roby is a long and lanky combo forward that was oozing with potential early in his high school career. I remember a ton of occasions watching him on the travel team circuit thinking that he might have the highest ceiling in the class. The production was sometimes hit and miss, but there was no doubting his upside with his length, positional versatility, skill, and athleticism. Nebraska jumped in early on Roby and sealed the deal on a commitment!   Draft Outlook: As a junior the 6'8” forward averaged almost 12 points and 7 rebounds while shooting 45% from the field. Roby has a chance to sneak into the late first, but more than likely will hear his name in the first half of the second round. Our range would be #25 - #45.     Zach Norvell (Gonzaga) High School: Simeon Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire Class: 2016 Ranking: #2 High School Days: Norvell maintained his place among the top prospects in the 2016 class throughout his career. He started off watching the Jabari Parker led team win a state title as a freshman. Norvell would be known for his clutch three point shooting throughout his career with the Wolverines. He was a scoring two guard that drilled spot up shots and had a knack for taking over big games. Gonzaga won his commitment in battle of out of state programs from coast to coast.   Draft Outlook: As a redshirt sophomore he went for 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists a game while shooting 37% from three for Gonzaga's Elite 8 squad. Norvell is right on the board line of the first round like the two above with his range being #25 - #50. It is a pretty wide range, but he definitely should hear his name at some point.     Admiral Schofield (Tennessee) High School: Zion Benton Travel Team: Team NLP Class: 2015 Ranking: #11 High School Days: Schofield was definitely underrated by us coming out of high school looking back at the career he had at Tennessee. Our biggest question was how would his physicality translate at the next level. He was always a physically imposing presence on both ends of the floor and the boards with both Zion Benton and Team NLP on the circuit.   Draft Outlook: As a senior for the Vols he averaged 16 points and 6 boards a game while shooting 47% from the field. He was obviously one of the top players in college basketball last season. Schofield is looked in that #35 - #50 range.     Charles Matthews (Michigan) High School: St. Rita Travel Team: Meanstreets Class: 2015 Ranking: #2 High School Days: Matthews was a standout and coveted recruit from his early days at St. Rita picking up high-major interest from his freshman year on. Silky smooth scorer that battled Jalen Brunson for the top spot in the class throughout his career. He was an effective scorer from all three levels and had a few epic performances as a senior. Matthews jumped at the opportunity to play for BBN at Kentucky.   Draft Outlook: He transferred to play at Michigan after one season and was a key starter on a team that went to the national title game as a redshirt sophomore. This past year he averaged 12 points and 5 boards a contest. Matthews suffered a torn ACL in a workout with the Celtics. Could go late in the second round, but now is most likely to go undrafted.     Ethan Happ High School: Rockridge Travel Team: Quad City Elite Class: 2014 Ranking: #9 High School Days: I will never forget the first time I saw Happ play at Merrilville back in the day as a rising junior. He dominated a shoe circuit squad in front of a ton of college coaches. I go up to him and asked him who was recruiting him. He said “no one”. That changed quickly as several Big 10 schools jumped in the mix, but from the beginning could tell Wisconsin fit what he was looking for. He gave them an early verbal and the rest is history! Happ was always a skilled combo forward that just understood the game.   Draft Outlook: Happ had an historic career for the Badgers finishing his senior year going for 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 dimes. He could hear his name called somewhere in the second half of the second round between #45 - #60.     Max Strus (DePaul) High School: Stagg Travel Team: Windy City Magic Class: 2014 Ranking: #27 High School Days: Strus is a prospect I always believed in the second half of his high school career. Every time I saw him in high school or on the circuit he went for 25+ points showing athleticism and range on his shot. D1's just wouldn't offer. I remember sitting with a D2 coach at Jack Tosh asking him “Am I missing something?” He committed to Lewis and completely dominated for two years before transferring to DePaul as a junior.   Draft Outlook: Great numbers for the Blue Demons senior as he posted 20 points and 6 rebounds a game this past season. More than likely Strus will go undrafted, but we wouldn't be surprised see him on an NBA roster at some point.     Milik Yarbrough (Illinois State) High School: Zion Benton Travel Team: Team NLP Class: 2014 Ranking: #13 High School Days: Yarbrough was part of the loaded 2014 class which produced many high-level college players including him. As a high-school prospect we remember him as a big bodied small forward with a go to scorer's mentality. Shot selection could be a problem at times. Committed to St. Louis out of high school.   Draft Outlook: After two years at SLU he made the move to the Missouri Valley to play at Illinois State. Yarbough made an impact with his scoring and on the boards going for 16 points and 7 rebounds a game as a senior shooting 46% from the field. There is a remote chance Yarbrough gets picked late in the second round, but more than likely he will be an undrafted free agent who will have to make noise on a summer league roster to fight for a full time job.