Michigan basketball player makes ESPN mock NBA draft
Michigan basketball has been beyond solid when it’s come to sending players into the NBA, especially via the draft. At current, the Wolverines have more players still in the playoff than any other school, indicating just how good the maize and blue have been at getting to and playing at the next level.
The Wolverines have multiple players in the 2022 NBA draft, from Eli Brooks to DeVante’ Jones, and then there’s the freshman duo Moussa Diabate and Caleb Houstan. Many had long expected Diabate to stay in the draft with Houstan returning to the team, but that notion is taking a little bit of a hit as of late.
ESPN produced a mock draft now that the draft order is set, and it’s Houstan that’s included in the first round, while Diabate didn’t make the list at all.
30. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Suns)
Caleb Houstan
Michigan
SF
Age: 19.3The Thunder have precious few roster spots at their disposal and four draft picks (three first-rounders), meaning there is a decent chance they won’t be making this selection ultimately. One of the big mysteries surrounding the 2022 NBA draft will be where Caleb Houstan, a onetime projected top-10 pick, ends up. Houstan declined his invite to the NBA combine, indicating there might be something to the rumors of a first-round promise, or that Houstan has a landing spot he’s comfortable with. Houstan’s positional size, defensive awareness and perimeter shooting gives him a high floor as a prospect, despite his disappointing freshman season at Michigan.
Last year, Michigan sent Franz Wagner into the NBA via the draft lottery. But before Wagner, his brother, Moe Wagner, was a first-round selection, as was Jordan Poole, DJ Wilson, Caris LeVert, Nik Stauskas, Mitch McGary, Trey Burke, and Tim Hardaway Jr. Of those mentioned, Stauskas, Poole, Burke, and Hardaway are in the NBA playoff, while Duncan Robinson, an undrafted free agent, is also included via the Miami Heat.
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