2015-16 CBB Draft Kit: Tier 2 Mock Draft

It was a short mock draft season this year at the FCLZone. Due to a compressed schedule, we did not get into any conference-specific mock drafts and had to console ourselves with a Tier 1 draft and a Tier 2 draft performed a couple of weeks ago. Tier 2 is a rotating group of conferences chosen by the fellow who wins the "Masters Challenge." Going into this year, the Tier 2 conferences are the A10, American, Colonial, Conference USA, Missouri Valley, Mountain West, and WCC. As it turned out, one of those seven conferences got left out (we do these mock drafts for software checks as well). See if you can figure out which one it was. (Answer to be revealed at the bottom of the article.) We had five people at the draft and the rules were the same. Each roster had to consist of two guards, two forwards, a center, and a utility spot. One of the starters had to be a freshman. I had the second pick and the draft snaked.

Round 1
1. AJ West, Nevada, F-C, SR
2. Kyle Collinsworth, BYU, G, SR
3. DeAndre Bembry, St. Josephs, F, JR
4. Shevon Thompson, George Mason, C, SR
5. Fred VanVleet, Wichita State, G, SR

The two hardest spots to fill in the Masters Challenge are the center and freshmen spots. If a team can get a solid player at either spot, they are ahead of the game. It appears that there are three or four top centers in Tier 2, which is why big guys like West and Thompson were selected in the first round. Both players average a double-double with West adding 2.6 blocks. A case could be made for taking Collinsworth and/or Bembry ahead of the available centers based on sheer production, however. The BYU guard was a triple-double beast last season and would allow a team (like mine) to take some risks later on. Bembry's numbers (17.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.9 steals) are not far behind Collinsworth. I wouldn't have taken VanVleet this high, although his assists are the third most precious commodity in this league.

Round 2
1. Eqidijus Mockevicius, Evansville, C, SR
2. Marvelle Harris, Fresno State, G, SR
3. Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga, F, SR
4. Stephen Zimmerman, UNLV, F, FR
5. Jalen Moore, Utah State, G-F, JR

The third double-double center came off the board to balance VanVleet. Mockevicius averaged just a shade under 10 boards, but boosted that category with 2.2 blocks. Harris a solid all-around numbers guy who will form a tremendous combo with Thompson. Wiltjer may be the top scorer in Tier 2. His rebounding totals leave a bit to be desired from a forward spot, and might not go up since he spends a lot of time on the perimeter. I took Zimmerman, who is clearly the top freshman available. He should have a big role with the Runnin' Rebels, and was actually the first overall pick in the Masters Challenge draft that started on Oct. 21. The last team to draft picked up a solid wing in Moore, but they will have to find some dimes soon.

Round 3
1. Stacy Davis, Pepperdine, F, SR
2. Adrian Diaz, Florida International, C, SR
3. E.C. Matthews, Rhode Island, G, JR
4. Ryan Taylor, Marshall, F, JR
5. Dedric Lawson, Memphis, G-F, FR

That same team would once again eschew assists for the ability to get even bigger with the Waves' Davis. He put up 15.9 points and 7.9 rebounds and should be among the non-Gonzaga candidates for WCC Player of the Year. I grabbed my center with Diaz, a Kansas State transfer who punished Conference USA for 13.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks last season. Matthews and Taylor are terrific players who provide similar well-rounded stats. It's hard to go wrong with either one. The second freshman then came off the board with Lawson. Memphis has a good track record of recruiting projected high-value players, but few of these players have developed into fantasy superstars. Maybe the 6-8 Lawson will change that.

Round 4
1. Nic Moore, SMU, G, SR
2. Alex Wintering, Portland, G, JR
3. Jordan Price, La Salle, G, JR
4. Jack Gibbs, Davidson, G, JR
5. Trey Freeman, Old Dominion, G, SR

The fourth round was guard-dominated. Teams had filled out their big player spots and now were looking for little guys to set them up. Moore and Wintering both averaged north of five assists last season, with Moore chipping in 14.4 points for the Mustangs. Price is a high scorer for the Explorers, who had the second highest scoring average of the players drafted thus far (his 17.3 points were second to Bembry's 17.9. I took Gibbs, who put in 16 points to go along with 4.8 assists. The combination of Gibbs and Collinsworth should help me win assists in most weeks. Freeman transferred to Old Dominion after an impressive season at Campbell. He continued to pour in points as a Mighty Monarch with 16.9 per game.

Round 5
1. Jalen Adams, Connecticut, G, FR
2. Daniel Hamilton, Connecticut, G-F, SO
3. Amida Brimah, Connecticut, C, JR
4. Hassan Martin, Rhode Island, F, JR
5. Kevin Larsen, George Washington, F-C, SR

A run of Huskies! Adams was just the third freshman to go and he had a chance to be a solid contributor to UConn. I nabbed one of my favorite players in Tier 2 in Hamilton. While he isn't a great scorer, he puts up nice numbers in both rebounds (7.6 per game) and assists (3.6). Brimah is a rim protector, but his rebound and point totals leave him well behind the top echelon of centers. We had our second Ram selected with Martin, who combined for 10.7 rebounds and blocks per game to go along with 12 points. Larsen is better rounded than Brimah and should get plenty of offensive opportunities for the Colonials.

Round 6
1. Dyshawn Pierre, Dayton, F, SR
2. Shaquille Goodwin, Memphis, F, SR
3. Jeremy Helmsley, San Diego State, G, FR
4. Domas Sabonis, Gonzaga, F, SO
5. Anthony Drmic, Boise State, G-F, SR

Pierre was the first mistake of the draft. He is suspended for at least first nine games of the season because an investigation into an assault on a fellow student. Statistically, he belongs in this draft, but his lack of court time (basketball-wise, that is) will hurt his value. Goodwin could progress for the Tigers. He had a solid 9.5 PPG, 7.1 RPG season, but that was next to Austin Nichols, who transferred to Virginia. Helmsley is an interesting freshman who could land the lead point guard role for the Aztecs. I took Sabonis, who is limited by his teammates, but could be a solid double-double guy with a low ceiling. If Drmic proves healthy, he could be a steal at this point. He missed the majority of the 2014-15 season with an ankle injury.

Round 7
1. James Webb, Boise State, F, JR
2. Four McGlynn, Rhode Island, G, SR
3. Ron Baker, Wichita State, G, SR
4. Malik Milton, SMU, G, FR
5. Milton Doyle, Loyola, G, JR

Drmic's absence allowed Webb to grow into a nice role. The 6-8 sophomore provided 11.2 points and 8.0 boards, but it remains to be seen if the two players can coexist productively. I nabbed McGlynn, who transferred to URI from Towson. I think I reached on him, especially since Baker was still available and does more of everything. Another intriguing freshman followed Baker in "Shake" Milton. He should fit into the high-powered Mustang offense and get at least some tutoring from point guard Yoda, Larry Brown. Former Kansas recruit Doyle has suffered a litany of injuries throughout his Rambler career. Health would equal big production for the 6-4 guard.

Round 8
1. Octavius Ellis, Cincinnati, F, SR
2. Cullen Neal, New Mexico, G, SO
3. Chris Perry, South Florida, F-C, JR
4. Sterling Gibbs, Connecticut, G, SR
5. William Lee, UAB, F, SO

Cincinnati is one of those teams that may be best avoided. They concentrate on defense. Ellis did manage to put up 10.0 points and 7.3 rebounds, but that may be his ceiling. Neal is a one-category player, but he put down 17.0 points. At this point, Perry (excellent name!) is a good backup center. It is a good idea to get two centers so that the schedule won't be a dictator. Gibbs is the fourth UConn player to be drafted. He had a 40-point game with Seton Hall last season, but seemed to be a divisive figure for the Pirates. UAB made a memorable trip to the NCAA tournament (knocking out Iowa State) and Lee led the way with a double-double.

Round 9
1. D.J. Balentine, Evansville, G, SR
2. Anton Grady, Wichita State, F, SR
3. Shaquille Harrison, Tulsa, G, SR
4. David Collette, Utah State, F, SO
5. Patricio Garino, George Washington, G-F, SR

In the actual Master's Challenge draft, these players would still be studs. In this draft, they are late-round fodder. Balentine is the top scoring player in Tier 2 with 18.9 points. Grady transferred to the Shockers from Cleveland State. He is the third Wichita State player and should man the paint for the team. It seems wrong to have a guard named Shaquille. Harrison averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists for the Golden Hurricane. Collette is a solid forward for USU and Garino rounds out the round as the second Colonial drafted.

Round 10
1. Mandell Thomas, Fordham, G, SR
2. Goodluck Okonoboh, UNLV, F-C, SO
3. Dion Wright, St. Bonaventure, G-F, SR
4. Tacko Fall, UCF, C, FR
5. Derrick Jones, UNLV, F, FR

We finish the draft by rounding out rosters. Thomas is a nice all-around guard from Fordham, who seems to produce an inverse proportion of fantasy talent to the team's wins. Okonoboh is a solid shot blocker, but averaged just 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds for UNLV last season. Wright was the last upperclassman selected. His 13.1 points and 6.9 rebounds were solid from a guard-eligible player. I couldn't help myself from drafting the 7-6 Fall. I don't know if he will play much, but I like his name. Jones will have plenty of competition for playing time, but is a worthy flyer as a freshman.