Top NBA Prospects Set To Visit The Bryce Jordan Center

Story posted February 9, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Derek Bast

While the Nittany Lions might not be enjoying the magical season we witnessed in 2019-20, there are still some exciting teams, and prospects, coming to Happy Valley in the next few weeks who are worth checking out.

These prospects provide you with an excellent opportunity to watch future NBA stars with your own eyes before the season concludes in a month. Junior forward Seth Lundy is a potential sleeper for the NBA Draft next season with his defensive energy and intensity, but there are a few opponents who are ready to make the jump now, and you won’t want to miss a chance to see them play.

The next home game for the Lions is this Tuesday as the Michigan Wolverines, whose roster is littered with NBA talent, will visit the Bryce Jordan Center for the season debut of the whiteout.

Hunter Dickinson is the leading scorer and rebounder for the maize and blue, but Caleb Houstan is the most intriguing prospect on Michigan’s roster. The true freshman forward averages over 10 points per game and has the physical tools and athleticism to compete with the best at the next level.

Dickinson might not be the best prospect on the team, but he is still on the radar for NBA scouts. The 7-foot-1 center is crafty in the post and possesses excellent court vision for a big man of his size. This vision makes him effective as a high-post passer and the development of a 3-point jumper could help him rise draft boards and hear his name called at some point in the second round.

Michigan State will be the next team traveling to the BJC and the Spartans are bringing a potential lottery pick with them. Max Christie is a freshman wing who came into the season projected as one of the best shooters in the nation. He is starting to find his groove for the Spartans, which is good news for his draft stock, but bad news for the Nittany Lions. Lundy will have his work cut out for him when Christie comes to town next Tuesday.

The Nittany Lions will host Minnesota and Northwestern next, but there won’t be much to see from a prospect perspective from two of the worst teams in the conference. Ironically, the worst team in the conference boasts the best prospect mentioned so far.

Nebraska’s Bryce McGowens is a true freshman guard who is lethal attacking the basket with long strides, tight handles and freak athleticism. He is the lone bright spot for the Cornhuskers, scoring in double figures in the last five contests and shooting 38% from the perimeter in his last eight games.

Just showing support for the Nittany Lions is enough of a reason to head to the BJC, but if you want a chance to see the future stars of professional basketball, you have several opportunities to do so as the season winds down.

 

Derek Bast is a third-year majoring in digital/print journalism. To contact him, email him at dmb6699@psu.edu.