In our final Tier 1 conference mock draft, the league that boasts the fewest teams drew the most drafters. As with each of the other conferences, our Big 12 mock used points, rebounds, and assists as the categories. Each team drafted six players (two forwards, two guards, one center, and one flex), one of whom must be a freshman. As you will soon see, finding freshman likely to contribute right away proved to be a challenge in the Big 12, but possibly not as big of a challenge as finding competent centers.
Round 1
1. My Team: Perry Jones, Baylor, SO, F/C
2. UAWildcat: Khris Middleton, Texas A&M, JR, F
3. Big5Guy: Thomas Robinson, Kansas, JR, F
4. Thrash13: LeBryan Nash, Oklahoma St., FR, F
5. JHawksRock: Myck Kabongo, Texas, FR, G
6. Big Chief: Royce White, Iowa St., SO, F
7. AsaTyss: Marcus Denmon, Missouri, SR, G
Since apparently I am unable to tell time, I was a few minutes late to the draft, but Perry was looking out for me. The key here is that Jones qualifies at center, which is particularly important in a league with very limited options at that position. And that's putting it kindly. Jones will give me consistent points and rebounds at a scarce position. Middleton is actually the top returnee in the conference when you look at last year's stats, and I pegged Robinson as my top player in the conference. The next two players off the board were the top two freshmen in the conference and really the only freshman who are close to being "sure things." Nash can fill it up and should lead the Cowboys in scoring, while Kabongo will be a great source of assists while he runs the show at Texas. Once you get past these two rookies, the dropoff is fairly significant with the possible exception of Quincy Miller. Perry snatched up Royce White, who is the ultimate high-risk, high-reward fantasy pick this year. I'd be happy to have him on my squad. Asa rounded out the first round with Denmon, who is the league's top returning scorer.
Round 2
1. AsaTyss: J.P. Olukemi, Oklahoma St., JR, F
2. Big Chief: Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas, SR, G
3. JHawksRock: Chris Allen, Iowa St., SR, G
4. Thrash13: Rodney McGruder, Kansas St., JR, G
5. Big5Guy: J'Covan Brown, Texas, JR, G
6. UAWildcat: Quincy Miller, Baylor, FR, F
7. My Team: Laurence Bowers, Missouri, SR, F
I listed Olukemi as my Oklahoma State sleeper after he posted 11 points and four rebounds in under 24 minutes per game last season, all of which he should improve on this year. Taylor is a solid option who will provide scoring and assists for a Kansas team with so few proven commodities. It's easy to lose track of all the Iowa St. transfers, but Allen can knock down outside shots and hand out assists. There are a number of options in the Cyclone backcourt, so it will be interesting to see how the playing time shakes out. In the meantime, it's a situation I am likely to avoid early on in drafts. McGruder cracked my preseason Top 10 and should improve upon his 11 points per game with Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly gone. He provides solid rebounding from the guard position and is an effective outside shooter. Brown could be a steal here since he has the potential to lead the Longhorns in scoring. After a strong finish to the season, Brown carries positive momentum and a great shooting stroke into the season. Miller is the other highly rated freshman in the conference, but with so many talented froncourt players in Waco, he may not log more than 20 or 25 minutes. Still, it's good value at this stage of the draft. Bowers is a solid but unspectacular selection here, but he gives me another consistent source of points and rebounds. He may even excel at a slower-paced game under new head man Frank Haith.
Round 3
1. My Team: Ben McLemore, Kansas, FR, G
2. UAWildcat: Scott Christopherson, Iowa St., SR, G
3. Big5Guy: Romero Osby, Oklahoma, JR, F
4. Thrash13: Quincy Acy, Baylor, SR, F
5. JHawksRock: Ricardo Ratliffe, Missouri, SR, F
6. Big Chief: Philip Jurick, Oklahoma St., JR, C
7. AsaTyss: Marshall Henderson, Texas Tech, SO, G
Perhaps I pulled the trigger on a freshman too quickly here, but I like McLemore's upside given the lack of proven scorers on the Kansas roster. He has all the tools to be an effective wing player for the Jayhawks and should see plenty of playing time. Christopherson is one of few non-transfers on the Cyclone roster, but his shooting stroke from deep will keep him on the floor. Osby was another player I tabbed as a sleeper thanks to a lack of talent and depth for Lon Kruger's Sooners. His work in practice last season earned rave reviews, and he should be a decent source of points and rebounds. Speaking of points and rebounds, Acy is a solid selection here. His athleticism will keep him on the floor even with so many bodies in the Baylor frontcourt. Ratliffe posted 10 points and six boards in under 25 minutes per game last year and may see increased playing time with Haith at the helm this year, making him a great value here. Jurick nearly averaged a triple-double at junior college last season and should see plenty of minutes for an Oklahoma State team with limited height. Regardless, this speaks to the complete lack of depth at center in the Big 12. There are tons of new faces on the Texas Tech roster, but I look for Henderson to lead them in scoring. He averaged almost 12 points as a true freshman at Utah, and it's not like the Red Raiders have much else to turn to.
Round 4
1. AsaTyss: Jamal Branch, Texas A&M, FR, G
2. Big Chief: Jonathan Holmes, Texas, FR, F
3. JHawksRock: Jeff Withey, Kansas, JR, C
4. Thrash13: A.J. Walton, Baylor, JR, G
5. Big5Guy: Keiton Page, Oklahoma St., SR, G
6. UAWildcat: Mike Dixon, Missouri, JR, G
7. My Team: Andrew Fitzgerald, Oklahoma, JR, F
Two more freshmen go off the board to start round four. Branch may emerge as the starting point guard for A&M, while Holmes has a chance to start for Texas due to their lack of size. He projects as a decent rebounder, and he should excel in the pick-and-roll game with Kabongo. Withey seems like the de facto option inside for the Jayhawks, but he is far from a sure thing. Did I mention there are no proven centers in the Big 12? Walton has the potential to help out in terms of assists, but his job may well be in jeopardy with the addition of Pierre Jackson to the Baylor roster. With Nash in the fold, Page should see fewer shots but more assists. Dixon provides a nice mix of points and assists, and similar to the other Tigers, it will be intriguing to see how Haith's style of play impacts the slew of returning players on the roster. At this point in the draft, I pretty much decided to give up on chasing assists and went with Fitzgerald. His stats took a nice jump as a sophomore, and I expect even more improvement as a junior, which gives me yet another sources of points and rebounds.
Round 5
1. My Team: Elijah Johnson, Kansas, JR, G
2. UAWildcat: Jordan Henriquez-Roberts, Kansas St., JR, C
3. Big5Guy: Cezar Guerrero, Oklahoma St., FR, G
4. Thrash13: Kim English, Missouri, SR, G
5. JHawksRock: Cameron Clark, Oklahoma, SO, F
6. Big Chief: Phil Pressey, Missouri, SO, G
7. AsaTyss: Adrian Diaz, Kansas St., FR, C
OK, so I had to at least shoot for a few assists. Johnson has tons of upside and performed well in limited duty last season. His presence may even allow Tyshawn Taylor to play more off the ball. Speaking of upside, Henriquez-Roberts has his share as well. He logged less than 14 minutes per game but grabbed better than four rebounds. As I mentioned in my sleepers post, JHR could average 8-10 points and 8-10 rebounds with expanded minutes, which is great for a center in this league. Guerrero has a shot to start at point guard for the Cowboys and gives Big5Guy a monopoly on the Oklahoma St. backcourt. Yet another Mizzou player is off the board with English, who is looking for a bounce back season as a senior. Clark showed flashes as a freshman and is a solid breakout candidate for the Sooners. Perry picks up a good source of assists at this stage in the draft, although I have no clue how the minutes will shake out in the logjam that is the Missouri backcourt. Diaz needs to add weight but has a chance to earn minutes due to a lack of proven big guys for K-State. He's worth a gamble since he fills two shallow positions (center and freshman).
Round 6
1. AsaTyss: Melvin Ejim, Iowa St., SO, F
2. Big Chief: David Loubeau, Texas A&M, SR, F
3. JHawksRock: Travis Releford, Kansas, JR, G
4. Thrash13: Alexis Wangmene, Texas, SR, F/C
5. Big5Guy: Kevin Thomas, Texas, FR, F/C
6. UAWildcat: Elston Turner, Texas A&M, JR, G/F
7. My Team: Kourtney Roberson, Texas A&M, SO, F
Ejim seems like a steal here given his ability to rack up rebounds and points, but there is some concern as to what White's presence will do to him. I, for one, am not worried. Loubeau is another great value pick at this stage of the draft and played his best basketball over the final two months of last season. After basically spending the past two seasons as a spectator, there is the opportunity for a larger role for Releford. It's now up to him to take advantage of it. Wangmene is one of few big guys on the Texas roster, and his center eligibility makes him a low-risk pick here. Thomas is an intriguing pick for essentially the same reasons. I love the Turner pick here, particularly after he led the Aggies in scoring during their summer trip to Europe. Yes, I went after another solid rebounder here, but Roberson was incredibly efficient last season. With Nathan Walkup gone, I am expecting Roberson to post 10 points and eight boards for the Aggies.
As with most drafts, it's natural to walk away feeling good about your squad. I think I have a lot of guys to help me win points and rebounds each week, while assists will be more of a crapshoot. A couple of other teams stand out as well. If Royce White turns out to be the real deal and Jurick pans out at center, the Big Chief has a formidable roster. I also like Thrash13's squad. He has the best freshman in the conference and a good nucleus of proven players. Walton and Wangmene are potential question marks, but there is solid depth overall. UAWildcat also had some nice late-round picks to go with Middleton to form a balanced team.