Where Michigan’s Moussa Diabaté, Caleb Houstan stand in NBA mock drafts

When Ignas Brazdeikis left Michigan for the NBA after his freshman season in 2019, he turned the primary one-and-done Wolverine in 19 years. This yr, two Michigan freshmen are contemplating the draft. Will they get picked?

Moussa Diabaté and Caleb Houstan each entered the draft and have by means of June 1 to withdraw and keep NCAA eligibility.

Diabaté, who began 26 video games and averaged 9 factors and 6 rebounds, participated in final week’s draft mix in Chicago. He did nicely within the agility drills and posted good numbers in his second and remaining scrimmage on Friday.

Houstan, a season-long starter who averaged 10.1 factors and 4 rebounds and shot 36 p.c from 3, didn’t attend the mix regardless of a reported invitation. That led to hypothesis that an NBA crew had promised to draft him.

A number of sources within the NBA supplied explanation why a participant may skip the mix: an damage concern; a perception that he has proven sufficient on tape already; he’s planning to return to highschool.

It’s unclear what Houstan was pondering, however a number of draft prognosticators have modified their stance on him in current weeks.

At ESPN, Jonathan Givony’s mock draft on April 25 didn’t embrace Houstan. His newest, launched Could 17, did. He has Houstan as the ultimate decide of the primary spherical, No. 30 total, to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.

“One of many huge mysteries surrounding the 2022 NBA draft will probably be the place Caleb Houstan, a onetime projected top-10 decide, finally ends up,” Givony wrote. “Houstan declined his invite to the NBA mix, indicating there may be one thing to the rumors of a first-round promise, or that Houstan has a touchdown spot he’s snug with. Houstan’s positional dimension, defensive consciousness and perimeter capturing provides him a excessive flooring as a prospect, regardless of his disappointing freshman season at Michigan.”

Diabaté didn’t seem on ESPN’s full two-round mock draft.

At SI.com, Jeremy Woo additionally tasks Houstan to the Thunder, although with the thirty fourth decide. Woo has Diabaté at No. 44 to the Atlanta Hawks.

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman pegs Houstan to the Detroit Pistons at No. 46. “Houstan’s determination to skip the mix has scouts questioning a couple of promise, although they suppose that’s unlikely,” Wasserman wrote. “Nonetheless, it solely takes one crew to see worth in a 6′8″, 19-year-old shooter, even when he’s restricted elsewhere.” Wasserman didn’t have Diabaté getting drafted.

Sam Vecenie of The Athletic has Houstan at No. 36 to Portland Path Blazers, whereas Yahoo’s Krysten Peek has him at No. 44 to Atlanta. Neither has Diabaté of their mock drafts.

USA At this time’s has neither of the Wolverines; similar goes for the three mocks at CBS Sports activities, The Ringer, and SB Nation, although these solely included the primary spherical.

The draft is June 23.

Right here’s a recap of the aforementioned mock drafts:

ESPN: Houstan (30)

SI.com: Houstan (34), Diabaté (44)

Bleacher Report: Houstan (46)

The Athletic: Houstan (36)

Yahoo: Houstan (44)

USA At this time: none

CBS Sports activities (three)*: none

The Ringer*: none

SB Nation*: none

*first-round solely