Memphis Grizzlies: 5 Under The Radar NBA Draft Prospects

Austin Wiley

Austin Wiley has had a rocky first couple years in college. He struggled his freshman season averaging just 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game after many felt he was a one-and-done prospect.

He was the 17th ranked recruit in the 2016 ESPN top 100 and is the second highest ranked player from the class still in college. Marques Bolden at Duke was ranked 16th and is still in college while everybody else ahead of them has already moved onto the NBA.

Despite his freshman year struggles that would be nothing compared to what he went through during the 2017-18 season. He was ineligible to play the whole season due to the FBI scandal.

It was tough for him to go through that but it led to him coming back and having a greater appreciation for the game and now he is playing hard and doing everything he can do to improve his draft stock.

So far through five games this season he is averaging 11.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He is playing just 16.2 minutes a game due to some foul trouble, as well as Auburn, being able to frustrate team with their smaller lineups.

His best game of the season was in the loss against Duke. He scored 17 points and 9 rebounds in what has been the Tigers lone loss to this point.

There’s no certainty that Wiley will declare for the draft. He is projected to go 31st in the latest NBADraft.net mock draft.

It’s possible he could return but if he has the chance to go first round expect him to take it. He could be the Grizzlies answer long term for the backup center position.