8P9S NBA Mock Draft 1.0: With the 26th pick, the Indiana Pacers select…
By Ben Gibson
No. 26 — Indiana Pacers: Talen Horton-Tucker, SF
School: Iowa State | Class: Freshman | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 240 | Age: 18
In theory, he is undersized for an NBA small forward at 6’4, but playing that position in college is making him look closer to being NBA ready than many of his peers despite being 18 years old still.
His basketball IQ and physical tools allow him to beat opponents off the dribble as he averages 12.7 points. However, he doesn’t have his shooting touch as of yet — 41.7 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from outside the arc.
But other things like his passing, rebounding, and defense suggest those other offensive deficiencies can be made up elsewhere. He would be an unorthodox pick in some ways due his size and lack of polish, but ESPN’s listing of him as the 21st best prospect in the draft reminds you there’s more to him than just what shows up in the stat sheet.
With his potential positional versatility and 7’1″ wingspan, there’s more than enough reason for the Pacers to take a shot at seeing if they can unlock the most out of Horton-Tucker. — Ben Gibson