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NBA Draft prospects to watch at Thursday’s NCAA Tournament

By Bill Johnson

Jan 14, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles forward Jonathan Isaac (1) and North Carolina Tar Heels forward Luke Maye (32) fight for a rebound in the second half. The Tar Heels defeated the Seminoles 96-83 at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2017; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles forward Jonathan Isaac (1) and North Carolina Tar Heels forward Luke Maye (32) fight for a rebound in the second half. The Tar Heels defeated the Seminoles 96-83 at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Caleb Swannigan, Purdue Boilermakers, Maryland Terrapins
Feb 4, 2017; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins guard Melo Trimble (4) and Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) wrestle for a loose ball at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports /

Caleb Swanigan, Purdue 

6-foot-9/250 lbs
vs. Vermont, 7:27 p.m./truTV

Caleb Swanigan is a 6-foot-9, 250-pound sophomore forward from Purdue. Swanigan tested the NBA Draft waters last season, but his draft prospects were low, so he took the feedback and went back to school.

Swanigan did not just go back to school. He implemented the feedback, got better and dominated this season.

He is averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds per game. But even more impressive is the fact he has had four games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. He was a double-double machine in leading the Boilermakers to the Big Ten’s regular season championship.

Swanigan has broadened his game this season. He has developed as a shooter, increasing his 3-point percentage from 29 percent last year to 43 percent this year. His free-throw percentage increased from 71 percent last year to 79 percent this year.

There are still questions about Swanigan’s lack of explosive athleticism. Scouts still doubt what kind of player he can be in the NBA. The thought is he is not big enough to play center and he is not athletic enough to defend the pick and roll as a power forward.

But it is not wise to doubt Swanigan because he has experienced real adversity through his young life. Each time he persevered and came out better. The things he has been through, the NBA experience will not overwhelm him.

Swanigan overcame a bad family situation and obesity as a child. His NBA dream is what has carried him through the years. This breakout senior year — he was named the Big Ten’s player of the year — is a sign of all that hard work. He did whatever it took to accomplish his dream.

Right now, Swanigan is projected as a late first-round pick.  But it does not matter where he is picked. He seems like the type to make it work whatever the circumstances.

His NBA comparable is Zach Randolph.  Swanigan may not ever develop the offensive game as efficient as Randolph. Randolph was a consistent 20 point per game scorer for years.  But Swanigan should at least be a consistent double-double threat in the NBA and a bruiser off the bench.