The Big Ten's Top 5 Remaining 2015 NBA Draft Decisions For The Conference

The college basketball season ended in early April and as such, all eyes have now turned onto the offseason and the roster moves that will happen around the conference.  The Big Ten featured plenty of talent last year and many players are considering their NBA options.

With so many decisions still up in the air, Ten O' Clock Shooters decided to take a look at the top 5 NBA decisions remaining in the Big Ten for this year.  These are based on their impact to the conference and not on their impact for the 2015 NBA Draft.

Top 5 Remaining NBA Decisions In The Big Ten

#5. AJ Hammons, Purdue

Starting off the list is Purdue's AJ Hammons who had one of the best defensive seasons in the Big Ten last year and arguably deserved to be the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year.  He had an impressive 12.3% blocking rate and a 19.7% defensive rebounding rate, which were both bests for Purdue last season, who ended up finishing at #2 in defensive efficiency as a team in Big Ten play.  Hammons would likely be higher on this list if it weren't for Isaac Haas, who was a valuable backup inside last season for Purdue.

[Read more after the break.]

#4. Terran Petteway, Nebraska

Though Petteway did not have the season that he and fans hoped for last year in Lincoln, the Huskers still have a lot on their roster for next season and do have a shot to return to the NCAA Tournament if their star forward decides to return.  However, if Petteway decides to leave, Nebraska will lose three of their top four, four of their top six, and six of their top nine players in minutes from last season, which are absurd numbers.  Those would be huge departures and likely too large to overcome for a team that had a 15-17 record last season.  If Petteway leaves, it's tough to imagine the Huskers doing much next year, but if he decides to come back, there definitely is hope for Nebraska next season.

#3. Caris LeVert, Michigan

Last season, the Wolverines had a year to forget.  Not only did the team finish at 16-16 overall, but they featured significant injuries that derailed any comeback including a season-ending injury to star guard Caris LeVert, who was selected as a preseason All-American.  Though he did not appear to be living up to his lofty expectations early on, his exit crippled Michigan's chances and forced young players into action.  Now, LeVert is faced with the question of whether to declare for the NBA despite still being limited by injury.  Michigan appears poised for a turnaround season with virtually every contributor back, a few nice additions, and a roster full of experience, but a lot hinges on whether #23 will return to Ann Arbor for his senior season.  If LeVert returns, Michigan becomes a real Final Four contender and if he leaves, the Wolverines will be left looking for a star contributor despite looking like a team that could be on the rise for next year.

#2. Yogi Ferrell, Indiana

The Hoosiers look like they could have a loaded roster next season, but quite a lot depends on the return of senior point guard Yogi Ferrell.  If Ferrell returns, they could very likely feature a starting lineup featuring three 5-star players in Blackmon, Bryant, and Ferrell and two 4-star players in Johnson and Williams.  That is a loaded lineup regardless of experience.  However, if Ferrell exits, the Hoosiers are going to have some major questions about the backcourt.  They have options in Blackmon, Johnson, and Zeisloft, but nobody as consistent and productive as Ferrell.  This team could go from a real Big Ten title threat to Top 25ish if Ferrell declares, making this the second most important NBA decision remaining in the Big Ten.

#1. D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State

This was an easy pick.  Although just about everybody is projecting Russell to declare for the NBA in the next week or so, he has to be #1 simply due to his impact.  He was easily the top freshman in the conference last season and very arguably the second best Big Ten player behind senior and National Player of the Year Frank Kaminsky.  If he returned to Ohio State, they are instantly a Final Four contender and the Big Ten favorite.  His return is unlikely, but his elite play puts him here.

Other Links:

- McDonald's All-American Game Breakdown

- Three Takeaways from Wisconsin vs. Duke

- Jake Layman to Return to Maryland

- Sam Dekker (Wisconsin) Declares For 2015 NBA Draft

- Welcome to Ten O'Clock Shooters!

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