Atlanta Hawks 2017 NBA Draft Film Breakdown: Michigan’s D.J. Wilson vs UCLA’s T.J. Leaf
By Nile Goodwyn
Michigan’s D.J. Wilson and UCLA’s T.J. Leaf could both fit well within the Atlanta Hawks’ future. The two faced off against one another on December 10th. How did they fare in a head-to-head competition?
The 2017 offseason may be the most important in team history for the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks hold the 19th, 31st and 60th picks in the upcoming 2017 NBA Draft, and have shown interest in a number of prospects. With Paul Millsap’s pending free agency, many mock drafts have tied the Hawks to selecting a big with one of their first two picks. In a draft stocked with talent, the choices for Travis Schlenk and the Hawks front office are plentiful.
Michigan’s D.J. Wilson reportedly received a promise from the Utah Jazz to ensure his selection in the first round, but the Hawks’ first pick comes five picks before the Jazz’ first selection. Wilson averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds for Michigan last season, and carried the Wolverines to a Big 10 Championship. In the tournament, Wilson averaged 15.3 points on a scorching 60.5 percent shooting clip, and led Michigan to an upset of Wisconsin in the title game.
Wilson matched up with UCLA’S T.J. Leaf on December 10th, 2016 in a nationally televised game. Leaf and Lonzo Ball led UCLA to an undefeated record as freshmen, and Wilson looked to play well against a high-level roster. Both players could reasonably be on the Hawks’ draft board , and a head-to-head matchup could be the final piece that puts one ahead of the other. How did Leaf and Wilson fare?