NBA Draft: Illinois Prep Prospects Preview

The NBA Draft will take place beginning on Wednesday night with the first round and then the second round will happen on Thursday afternoon.  What former Illinois prospects could hear their names called?  We look at those players here!   Matas Buzelis (Hinsdale Central – G League Ignite)   Projected Draft Range: #3 - #8   Buzelis is a small forward that had an interesting prep career.  He might go down as the greatest Illinois hooper to never play varsity.  At Hinsdale Central he played his freshman season on the JV squad, but was already known as a big time prospect.  Our first eval of him was at the Pangos All-Midwest Camp heading into his freshman season where we wrote And your next Hinsdale Central face up four man is……..  They just keep pumping out skilled forwards that can shoot the basketball.  This 6'5” forward could very well be the next in line.  Long and lanky frame with the ability to continue to grow.  He is really thin and will definitely need to add strength moving forward.  Stretches the floor with his shooting, but there was more to his game.  Got on the glass with his second jump and put it on the deck with straight line drives.   Debuted as a top 10 prospect when the 2023 class was first ranked despite never playing a varsity basketball game.  He worked his way up to #2 before leaving the state for Brewster Academy during the pandemic.  I will never live down not having him #1 at that time over JJ Taylor.  Since then Buzelis finished his high school career at Sunrise Christian where he became a McDonald's All-American and one of the top prospects in the country.  Then he opted to play for G League Ignite instead of college to prep for the 2024 NBA Draft.  With Ignite he averaged 14 points and 6 rebounds a game.  His calling card is his versatility at 6'10”.  He can handle it, really pass, plays with athleticism, and has shooting potential.   Terrence Shannon (Lincoln Park – Illinois)   Projected Draft Range: #20 - #40   Shannon was another interesting prospect.  He did not emerge on the scene until his senior year.  It was a game I will never forget as he played the last game of the night at Hinsdale Central.   Shannon came off the bench and was absolutely spectacular in the first quarter.  Impressive looking prospect standing at 6'6” with long arms.  He is a lefty that displayed deep range on his three point shot.  Drilled 3-6 from beyond the arc.  Elevation off the floor with a clean looking shot mechanically.  Handles the ball well and can score off the bounce.  Defensively he snatched rebounds, was mobile defending on the perimeter, and also swatted shots.  He had 23 points (9-15 FG) and 6 rebounds.  If he qualifies would be a potential low-major player, but might have to go the JUCO route.  We will definitely keep tabs on him!   Shannon only garnered a few D1 offers by the end of his high school career in Illinois so he opted to play with the [program_tooltip program_id='2452456' first='Mac' last='Irvin Fire'] that spring in the EYBL along with doing a prep year at IMG.  That changed everything for Shannon as he proved that spring and summer he was every bit a high-major prospect.  Ultimately committed to Texas Tech where he played as a freshman in the national championship game.  Shannon would transfer back to the state where he would become one of the best Illini players in recent memory leading Illinois to the Elite 8 while averaging 23 points per game as an All-American.  At the NBA level he will be looked at as a secondary scorer that can slash using his physicality getting downhill and maybe even be a microwave guy off the bench for a contender.   Cameron Christie (Rolling Meadows – Minnesota)   Projected Draft Range: #20 - #45   Christie was the #2 ranked prospect in the Illinois 2023 class.  He made a big impression early in his freshman season at the Jack Tosh Holiday Tournament.   The little brother also had a standout performance.  Probably the best we have seen him in his young career.  At 6'0” he was a factor early in transition getting loose for scoop shots and pull up jumpers.  Capable three point shooter.  Showed a solid feel for the game as a freshman.  He had 16 points and 5 dimes. Christie was one of the top prospects in his class throughout his high school career.  Once Max left he became the go to scorer he had the potential to become and then committed to Minnesota.  His brother Max we thought there was a chance he would be one and done which he was.  We did not anticipate that kind of quick college career for Cameron.  As a freshman he averaged 11.3 points per game shooting 39% from three.  His strong close to the season put him on the NBA radar and ultimately after testing the waters decided to stay in the draft.  Should hear his name called late on day 1 or early day 2.   Antonio Reeves (Simeon – Kentucky)   Projected Draft Range: #40 - Undrafted   Reeves was a prospect that was on our radar early in the process playing at Kenwood as we saw him during his freshman campaign.   Reeves is a long and angular combo guard that came in on the road late in the game and wasn't afraid.  He let a couple fly from deep including making one from deep.  The freshman had 3 points.  One to track going forward.   One thing remained the same since then was his shot would be his ultimate calling card in college and now at the next level.  Reeves transferred to Simeon to finish out his career where he had a monster senior campaign!  He garnered interest from several high-majors, but ultimately ended up at Illinois State for three seasons where he became a star in the MVC before transferring to Kentucky to play his final two years including this past year where he averaged 20 points and shot 44% from beyond the arc.  Teams looking for a shooting specialist could take a chance on Reeves during the second round!

The NBA Draft will take place beginning on Wednesday night with the first round and then the second round will happen on Thursday afternoon. What former Illinois prospects could hear their names called? We look at those players here!