The Big Ten conference has produced six invitees for the 2024 NBA Combined Draft, scheduled to take place May 12-19.
These players: Purdue’s Zach Edey, Minnesota’s Cam Christie, Indiana’s Kel’el Ware, Iowa’s Payton Sandfort and Illinois’ Coleman Hawkins and Terrance Shannon Jr.
Unsurprisingly, Wisconsin didn’t see any guest players. NBA hopefuls AJ Storr and Chucky Hepburn chose to enter the transfer portal rather than test the NBA waters.
Badgers fans are hoping a few players earn future invites, including rising star John Blackwell, 2024 top guard Daniel Freitag and power forward Xavier Amos.
The guest oneathletes will carry out several on-court skill drills and compete in games during the seven-day event in front of a crowd full of scouts and coaches. It will happen in Wintrust Arena and Marriott Marquis in Chicago, Illinois. Strength, power, speed, agility and body size are specifically measured in events such as bench presses, track agility exercises, vertical jumps and reactive sprints.
According to the NBA collective bargaining agreement, all selected players are required to attend and participate in the draft combine.
Of the 14 Big Ten teams in 2023-24, six athletes received invites.
From UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington, the Big Ten’s four newcomers in 2024-25, four athletes received invites, including Bronny James.