5 players Pacers fans should keep an eye on in the NCAA tournament
By Ben Gibson
Talen Horton-Tucker, Iowa State
Position: SF | Class: Freshman | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 240 | Age: 18
We’ll start off with Talen Horton-Tucker because I selected him in the 8p9s Mock Draft 1.0. But why did I want an undersized small forward that shoots 41 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from deep?
Upside.
Horton-Tucker is a physical player that can attack off the wings and is already showing signs of being a playmaker. He isn’t afraid to take 3-pointers despite shooting slightly under a 33 percent threshold. With the Cyclones, THT averages 12.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists a game.
Put the ball in his hands he can create for himself, something the Pacers certainly could use. To make up for his height, he has a 7’1 wingspan (drink) which makes me believe he can guard up or down a position even if he doesn’t have the size or speed one might typically want.
Ultimately, drafting Horton-Tucker is about his potential more than anything else. He may struggle and ultimately not put all the parts of his game together on the NBA level. He also could be a wrecking ball on both ends of the floor if properly developed.
As one of the youngest players who might be in this upcoming draft, there’s a reason to believe this is possible. When you are drafting as late as the Pacers are, there’s a reason to look for upside on players that will likely need time to develop. Horton-Tucker wouldn’t need to step in immediately, and you’d hope Indiana’s player development could turn him into a 3-and-D guard.
But he better start making shots.
First game: Iowa State vs Ohio State, Friday at 9:50 on TBS.