pga tour players from illinois

Illinois Golf: Nick Hardy making presence known on PGA Tour

By rees woodcock | jul 31, 2022.

Illinois golf produces some great players, and we get to see these talented golfers every weekend on the PGA Tour.

Throughout the years, the main name many Illini golf fans knew was Steve Striker. The 2017 Illinois athletics Hall of Famer was tremendous on the PGA Tour and still tees it up on the Champions Tour to the day. But there is a new fresh crop of talented former Illinois golfers on the tour.

Thomas Pieters has probably been the most successful. He continues to don leaderboards week in and week out. He also finished just outside the medal stand in the 2016 Olympics , finishing in fourth place at -4.

While Pieters has been the most successful former Illinois golfer over the past few years, Nick Hardy is right behind him ready to take on the role.

Former Illinois golf star Nick Hardy is making his presence known on the PGA Tour.

Hardy was one of the best golfers on the Illinois golf team during his time in Champaign. He was poised to be a great golfer post-Illinois career, and we get a taste of that during the 2015 US Open when Hardy would qualify and finish in a tie for 57th at Chambers Bay.

After his stop at Illinois, Hardy would be a staple on the Korn Ferry Tour. He would consistently finish toward the top of the leaderboard, and after the 2020-21 season, Hardy found himself in the top 25 on the points list. This enabled him to earn his PGA Tour card for the 2021-22 season.

Would having a PGA Tour card be too much for Hardy? Not at all. The first tournament with the new status resulted in a tie for 36th at the Fortinet Championship. This kicked off what would be a great season for the future PGA superstar.

So far, Hardy has made the cut in 12 out of the 19 events he has played. He has four top 25 finishes and even finished in the top 10 one time.

Heading into this week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic, Hardy had made seven consecutive cuts which included the US Open where he would finish in a tie for 14th. Sadly, that great run of cut-making came to an end as Hardy would finish +2 and miss the cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

This was still a great run by Hardy. It is hard to make a cut on the PGA Tour, but he has consistently made them and has been a staple on the weekend this year.

It does look like Hardy will be just outside of the top 125 on the FedEx Cup points list. But the future is still extremely bright. Look for Hardy to be a name on the leaderboard in big tournaments for years to come.

Next. Doug Kramer gets first-team reps at Chicago Bears training camp. dark

Best Golfers from Each State: Illinois Golf and Bill Mehlhorn

By christopher o'day | may 29, 2020.

We move to the “Prairie State”, to see the best Illinois Golf Product. We head back in time to the 19th Century and Bill Mehlhorn.

In one of the furthest back entrants to our series, Bill Mehlhorn takes the honors as the top Illinois Golf Product. If the article was about the top athlete who has played professional golf from Illinois, then it would likely go to someone else.

That honor would do to Joanne Winter . She was an original member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Over 100 wins, 2.06 ERA, and an incredible amount of other records. After she retired, she became a golf teacher for 30 years.

This is an article on the top player to come from Illinois Golf, and that honor goes to Bill Mehlhorn.

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Born back in 98… 1898, that is, Wild Bill stood out from his competitors by wearing a cowboy hat while out on the course. I can’t even imagine seeing someone like that now, but it sure would be nice to see. Maybe someone like Callaway could help themselves out ana popularize cowboy hats for golf.

We all know of great golfers who haven’t found their way to a major win. Lee Westwood, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, and Steve Stricker are some of the names that come to mind. Bill Mehlhorn is actually third all-time when it comes to most wins without a Major.

He did come close a couple of times, finishing with four top-fives at the U.S. Open in itself. HIs closest came in 1925 at the PGA Championship. He finishing in second place, losing 6&5 to Walter Hagan. Even though his last win was in 1930, he was still competitive, playing in the first-ever Masters.

Like many golfers from the early part of the 20th century, just because he retired doesn’t mean that he stepped away from the world of golf. At first, he got into the world of design, helping design a handful of courses throughout the United States.

After another retirement, he would go on to help coach at Florida International University. 20 wins on the PGA Tour, designing courses, and a nice coaching career leads to Mehlhorn

Next. Callaway Golf is in trouble. dark

That’ll do it for this entrant into the top golfer from each state. Check back for the next entry and the top golfer from Indiana.

The Top Ranked Golfers of All-Time from I llinois

Notes: Players are ranked on the list of the state they were born in. 

Where a player grew up or went to school  is not factored into this list.

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College Golf

Belgian block: Illinois' Adrien Dumont de Chassart continues a unique international network for the Fighting Illini

Warren Little

When the University of Illinois men’s golf team arrived at the 2011 NCAA Championship in Stillwater, Okla., it was looking to break a 70-year-old trend. Not since 1941, when they took fourth, had the Fighting Illini finished inside the top five at the national championship. Coach Mike Small’s team snapped the streak, making the quarterfinals at Karsten Creek Golf Club, and since then has finished inside the top five in six of the nine championships, highlighted by a runner-up finish in 2013.

So what changed?

Until Belgium’s Thomas Pieters arrived on campus in 2010, Small, who took over the program in 2000, had never recruited an international player. Pieters, the current World No. 35, won the 2012 NCAA individual title and established a connection between his country and Urbana-Champaign that has sent four more Belgians to Illinois, including three-time All-American and PGA Tour pro Thomas Detry and, most recently, two-time Big Ten Player of the Year Adrien Dumont de Chassart, who currently sits fifth in the PGA Tour University Velocity Global Ranking .

MORE: What's it like for a top college player to turn pro? This All-American offers a glimpse

To attribute all of the program’s recent success to the Belgians would be unfair to Small and the many All-Americans he’s recruited—Scott Langley, Luke Guthrie, Charlie Danielson, Dylan Meyer, Nick Hardy and others—but the influx of international talent has been an undeniable catalyst for the program’s rise to national prominence.

“The Belgian connection has been the main centerpiece of my international recruiting,” says Small, who as a player has won three PGA Professional National Championships and competed in more than 70 PGA Tour events. “The Belgians fit our personality. They’re competitive; they grit and grind. If they don’t hit it good, they’re still competing hard and fighting, and that’s what I love.”

It’s those qualities Small sees particularly in Dumont de Chassart, a fifth-year senior who has not finished outside the top 15 yet in the 2022-23 season heading into this weekend’s Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas. Dumont de Chassart won the 2019 Big Ten individual title as a freshman and nearly did it again in 2021 and 2022, finishing runner-up both years. The two-time All-American has three career collegiate wins, a tally that could be higher if not for some final-round stumbles over the past year.

While Dumont de Chassart has had plenty of success at Illinois, coach Mike Small (right) says the way he handles adversity is what stands out.

University of Illinois Athletics

Growing up a mile away from a golf course in Villers-la-Ville, a town of about 10,000 in central Belgium, Dumont de Chassart began playing at age 6. Living a junior golfer’s dream, Dumont de Chassart would ride his bike up to Golf la Bruyère, where he developed the game that would lead him to win the 2017 French Boys Championship and finish runner-up at the 2015 Junior Orange Bowl, one of the most prestigious junior events in the United States.

When it came time to decide where he’d play college golf, the choice was simple. “It was always Illinois,” Dumont de Chassart says. “I didn’t look anywhere else. I just trusted Pieters and Detry. … Back home, every young golfer sees Illinois as the school to go to because of those two guys. Since they have been playing so well on tour, they know that Illinois is the right path to achieve success. I remember playing 18 holes with Detry when he was either a sophomore or junior, and I was 14 back then. He told me about the program, sent a text to Coach Small about me, and I think I got in touch with Coach when I was about 15 or 16.”

MORE: College golfers can now earn PGA Tour cards before turning pro. Here's how

Sure, the Belgian pipeline is largely rooted in the “If it worked for them, it can work for me” mentality, but at the center of why the program worked for six-time DP World Tour winner Pieters and Detry, who competed at the Tokyo Olympics, is Small's coaching philosophy. At Illinois, golfers learn how to handle adversity and compete—even if that means a little tough love from the coach who knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level.

“Coach is one of the most competitive guys out there. He hates losing,” Dumont de Chassart says when asked the deciding factor, other than previous Belgian success, in choosing Illinois. “The program and the mindset. "He can be a little hard sometimes, but I feel like most players, especially young players, they need someone to be a little hard on them. It’s not easy at first, but I think that’s how you get better. The way we practice, it’s just intense. I think people that are here, they just love it because he’s good at recruiting guys that are good fits for the program.”

To simulate the pressure of tournament competition, Small often organizes team or one-on-one matches, Dumont de Chassart says, where the losing side has to complete a grueling task—like 200 reps on the VersaClimber, a total body workout machine—before coming back for a rematch. Lose again? VersaClimber and repeat. This is just one example of the creative ways Small injects pressure into practice.

“We compete a lot,” Small says. “If you can learn to hit the shot under intense pressure, it makes taking it to the course that much easier. I’m a big believer in you practice hard and then when you go to tournaments, you relax, enjoy it and have fun.”

MORE: Top college golfer on why signing with sports agent now will pay dividends in the spring

The approach has paid off for Dumont de Chassart, who last June came to the final hole at Springfield Country Club in Ohio needing a birdie to qualify for the U.S. Open. Having missed a 12-footer for birdie on the previous hole, the Belgian left little work on the final green, hitting his wedge approach to a foot for the birdie. Though he shot 72-75 at The Country Club to miss the cut, he took a lot of confidence from the week, particularly in how he drove the ball—a former weakness. Small, who walked the practice rounds with him, shares similar optimism about the week.

“Playing in the U.S. Open last year, he didn’t have his best stuff, but being there and watching him play, you could tell his maturity, the way he handles adversity, handles good things, and his body language are all like a pro,” Small says.

Dumont de Chassert has a win (here in 2019) and two runners-up finishes at the Big Ten Championship.

Dumont de Chassart plans to turn professional after the NCAA Championship in May, though he’s unsure if he’ll begin his career in the United States or in Europe. If he can remain inside the top five of the PGA Tour U. Velocity Global Ranking at season's end, Dumont de Chassart would earn exempt status on the Korn Ferry Tour for the rest of the summer and get into the final stage of PGA Tour Q school for next season. If he has a strong spring and finishes No. 1 in the ranking, he would earn PGA Tour status for the rest of the 2023 season.

MORE: The USGA is rethinking how it's going to pay for its amateur championship

Though Dumont de Chassart would prefer to stay in the United States and work his way on tour via the Korn Ferry Tour, his Plan B is to head back to Europe, where he expects to receive a few starts on the Challenge Tour, the DP World Tour’s developmental circuit. Either way, the end goal is the same.

“Hopefully on the PGA Tour,” Dumont de Chassart says about where he sees himself in a few years. “Playing golf in the States is the place to go. The level is there, and you’re in an environment where people are practicing hard, working hard and winning.”

Practicing hard, working hard and winning. It’s the mindset that has Coach Small eager to keep the Belgian pipeline open. “I would jump at the chance to get another Belgian because I’ve such good success with them. I’ve had great relationships with every one of them,” Small says.

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Schools with the most golfers on the PGA Tour

It's likely the casual fan of professional golf doesn't follow the collegiate version of the sport. But like the Dukes and North Carolinas of the college basketball world, there are plenty of college golf powerhouses that continue to produce, though not necessarily graduate, some of the game's best.

Here's a look at the most prominent colleges and universities currently producing those on the PGA Tour (a minimum of three golfers, based on 2018-19 full-time membership, excluding medical exemptions and also determined on overall success). They are listed from least to most.

Coached by former PGA Tour member Mike Small , the Illini are a perennial contender in the Big Ten. The school currently boasts three golfers on Tour, with veteran and 2020 Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker still the biggest name. He's splitting his time between the PGA and Champions, the latter where he's won two majors this season, including the U.S. Senior Open. Sticker also finished tied for 22nd at the Memorial. Fellow Illini Scott Langley, meanwhile, was sixth at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am this year.

San Diego State

Xander Schauffele actually began his collegiate golf career at Long Beach State before transferring to SDSU after his freshman season. A standout as an Aztec, Schauffele has won twice on tour this season and placed within the top five at both the Masters and U.S. Open. Fellow Aztecs Scott Piercy is a four-time career Tour winner and J.J. Spaun had two top 10s and has made over $1.1 million this season through June. 

Texas A&M

Many consider young Cameron Champ to be the next big thing on the PGA Tour after winning the Sanderson Farms in October. Champ highlights a trio of quality former Aggies currently on Tour. Ryan Palmer , who transferred to Texas A&M following a freshman season at North Texas, earned his fourth career Tour victory while teaming with Jon Rahm to win the Zurich Classic in 2019. 

We saw former Tiger Lucas Glover make a nice run at the 3M Open over the weekend. The 2009 U.S. Open winner has overcome some personal issues and is still making a living on the Tour. Kyle Stanley. meanwhile, has a top 10-finish this season. And don't forget Sam Saunders, grandson of legend Arnold Palmer . 

Adam Scott, Ryan Moore and Charley Hoffman make up a relatively small but certainly strong contingent of PGA Tour members from UNLV at the moment. The trio has combined to win more than 20 PGA Tour events over the years, and each is still able to contend during any given tournament. Of course Scott is the premier member of that group and the only one to win a major championship.

C.T. Pan's victory at the Heritage provided some major exposure for the Washington program, which began the season boasting four former golfers on Tour. Pan also finished in the top five at the Charles Schwab, while fellow Huskie Joel Dahman finished second at the Wells Fargo and has made nearly $2 million this season on Tour.

Things seem to be going well for the guys from Berkeley. Max Homa's victory at the Wells Fargo in May helped lead a group of four Golden Bear golfers on Tour, and Byeong-Hun An has won more $1.4 million this year. Michael Kim is also the reigning John Deere Classic champ. Then there is Collin Morikawa, who just turned pro and nearly won the 3M Open.

Adam Long and Kevin Streelman are half of the Blue Devil contingent on Tour — and the two most prominent. Streelman has a pair of Tour wins during his career and two top 10s this season. Long, meanwhile, won the Desert Classic back in January for his first PGA Tour victory. Fellow Dukies Wes Roach and Ryan Blaum have also had their moments.

The Crimson Tide are not only about football. Just ask Justin Thomas, one of four full-time Alabama golfers on Tour. Thomas is the biggest name of the group, but Bud Cauley is considered one of the greatest ever to come out of the school and has two two top 10s this season. Trey Mullinax, who helped the Tide to the national title in 2013 and '14, had three top-10 finishes in 2018.

Florida State

The current Seminole charge is led by Brooks Koepka . The former All-American is the No. 1 golfer in the world and a threat to win every time he tees off in a tournament. Three other Florida State products are on Tour, including Daniel Berger , who tied for second in Puerto Rico in February. Fellow Seminole Jonas Blixt was fifth at the Charles Schwab.

Of the six golfers on full-time, non-medical status from the Longhorns, Jordan Spieth is the flag bearer for the program at the moment. He's still aching to get back to his winning form but remains the class of Texas golfers on Tour, Jhonattan Vegas is a three-time winner on Tour and has three top-20 finishes this season. There is also plenty of potential surrounding Beau Hossler.

Arizona State

It's been a stellar season for those golfers from Arizona State, seven of whom are active in 2018-19. Former Sun Devils have four wins on Tour this season. It began with Phil Mickelson's triumph at Pebble Beach in February. Wins followed from Paul Casey at the Valspar and Jon Rahm as a duo at the Zurich Classic event. At the Travelers, Chez Reavie took home the title in June.

Georgia Tech

There are eight current, full-time Ramblin' Wreck golfers on Tour who fit our criteria for this list, and Matt Kuchar is top gun at the moment. The PGA Tour leader has won twice this season and ranks among the top five on the money list. Fellow Yellow Jacket Cameron Tringale has two top 10s in 2019, and 2009 Open Championship winner Stewart Cink is still making money on Tour at age 46.

Oklahoma State

The Cowboys' 11 national team titles rank second only to Houston (16), so it's no wonder eight former golfers from that program are currently making full-time money on the Tour. Rickie Fowler , Charles Howell III and Kevin Tway are the three most notable Cowboys at the moment, and each has won an event during the 2018-19 season. Golf fans also saw a glimpse of the potential of another Oklahoma State, with Matthew Wolff, the 2019 NCAA individual champ, winning the 3M Open weeks after turning pro.

Georgia won its last NCAA national championship in 2005, but that has not kept the Bulldogs program from producing quality PGA Tour members at a consistent rate. More than 10 former Georgia standouts are considered full-time Tour players with Keith Mitchell and Kevin Kisner posting victories this season. Former Masters champ Patrick Reed began his tumultuous collegiate career at Georgia before leaving for Augusta State, and Bubba Watson, two-time winner of the Green Jacket, has also called the Athens' school home.

A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for parts of four decades. He was an integral member of award-winning sports sections at The Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster, Ind.) and Champaign (Ill.) News-Gazette, where he covered the NFL, PGA, LPGA, NCAA basketball, football and golf, Olympics and high school athletics. Jeff most recently spent 12 years in the editorial department at STATSPerform, where he also oversaw coverage of the English Premier League. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Jeff's work has also appeared on such sites at Yahoo!, ESPN, Fox Sports, Sports Illustrated and NBA.com. However, if Jeff could do it again, he'd attend Degrassi Junior High, Ampipe High School and Grand Lakes University

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Who is playing in the Travelers Championship 2024? Field and top players

T he Travelers Championship is the final Signature Event of the year on the PGA Tour and there’s a stacked field for the 2024 edition. The event has been held at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut since 1984 and many of the world’s best golfers will descend on the golf once again.

Included in the field for 2024 are all of the top five highest-ranked male players, in addition to the defending champion. Scottie Scheffler (World No. 1) Rory McIlroy (No. 2), Xander Schauffele (No. 3), Ludvig Aberg (No. 4) and Wyndham Clark (No. 5) will be looking to prise the trophy from Keegan Bradley , who secured a three-stroke victory last year.

The first competition rounds begin on Thursday, 20 June and the action will last until Sunday. For a full list of golfers competing in the 2024 Travelers Champions head over to the PGA Tour website .

How much is the purse for the Travelers Championship?

Last year’s Travelers Champion winner, Keegan Bradley, was the first player to generous from the massive increase in purse at the tournament. The 2022 winner Xander Schauffele received $1.5 million, of a $8.3 million total purse, for winning the competition. In 2023 the total purse shot up to $20 million and Bradley was given $3.6 million as the champion.

Once again the winner of this year’s Travelers Championship will take home $3.6 million as the champion. In total the prize purse remains $20 million.

The Travelers Championship also generates millions of dollars for New England non-profits every year. The primary beneficiary for 2024 with be The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, which provides support for children with serious illnesses. There will be a series of special fundraising events across the week’s golfing action.

Alan Schnitzer, chairman and CEO of Travelers, said of the competition’s growth : “We are humbled and gratified by how far we have come and by the community’s overwhelming response every step of the way. And, of course, the Travelers Championship is about so much more than golf – it is about making a difference in people’s lives through a tradition of giving back and boosting the local economy.”

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2021 Illinois PGA Professional Championship Players to Watch

Aug 20, 2021

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION PAGE

GLENVIEW, Ill. – August 20, 2021 –  The 2021 Illinois PGA Professional Championship will take place August 23-25 at Ivanhoe Club. This year marks the 99th Illinois PGA Professional Championship. The top 10 finishers will qualify for the 55th PGA Professional Championship at Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas in April 2022.    This year’s field features seven past champions, including defending champion, Mike Small (University of Illinois). Ivanhoe Club will play host to the Section Championship for the first time in tournament history in 2021. Three Ivanhoe PGA Professionals will compete in this year’s Championship (Michael Strain, PGA, Jim Billiter, PGA and Jim Sobb, PGA). There are four Championship victories shared between the three Ivanhoe pros. (Billiter – 2015, Sobb – 2000, 1999, 1995).   Long-time Illinois PGA Partner, Nadler Golf, is the Title Sponsor of the 2021 Illinois PGA Professional Championship and has been supporting this event for over 15 years.     ROY BIANCALANA, 61 PGA Teaching Professional at Blackberry Oaks Golf Club Biancalana has played in eight Illinois PGA Professional events in 2021, as well as the Illinois Open Championship. He finished T14 at the 72nd Illinois Open and was the Illinois PGA’s lowest finisher. Biancalana has two wins this season. His first win came at the Illinois PGA Stroke Play at the Hawk Country Club, and his other victory came at the Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Oak Park Country Club. In his most recent appearance, Biancalana finished third at the Illinois Senior PGA Professional Championship, and he also finished fifth at the Illinois PGA Senior Masters. In 2020, Biancalana finished fifth at the Illinois PGA Professional Championship and qualified for the 54th PGA Professional Championship where he missed the cut. He is currently in second place in the Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year race and leads the Illinois PGA Errie Ball Senior Player of the Year race.    BRIAN CARROLL, 38   Head PGA Professional at The Hawk Country Club Carroll has played in six Illinois PGA Section events in 2021, and the Illinois Open Championship where he finished T18. He has finished inside the top-10 at three Illinois PGA events this season, including a T4 finish at the Illinois PGA Stroke Play at River Forest Country Club. In 2020, Carroll finished ninth at the Illinois PGA Professional Championship and qualified for the 54th PGA Professional Championship where he missed the cut. He is currently sixth in the Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year race.    GARRETT CHAUSSARD, 38  PGA Director of Instruction at Skokie Country Club Chaussard has played in six Illinois PGA events in 2021, and the Illinois Open Championship where he finished T37. His best finish came at the Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Sunset Ridge Country Club. He also finished runner-up at the Illinois PGA Match Play for the second straight year. 2021 marked the fourth consecutive season Chaussard made the Championship Match at the Illinois PGA Match Play. In 2020, he finished T14 at the Illinois PGA Professional Championship. He is currently fifth in the Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year race.     CHRIS FRENCH, 35 Assistant PGA Professional at Aldeen Golf Club French returns to the Illinois PGA Professional Championship after spending 2020 in the Southern California PGA Section. French has played in seven Illinois PGA events in 2021, and the Illinois Open Championship where he finished T41. His best finish came at the Illinois PGA Stroke Play at ThunderHawk Golf Club where he finished third. He also finished fifth at Illinois PGA Assistant Championship. In 2020, French finished T13 in the Southern California PGA Professional Championship and qualified for the 54th PGA Professional Championship as an alternate, and finished T29. He finished T5 in his last appearance at the Illinois PGA Professional Championship in 2019. French is currently third in both the Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year race and the Illinois PGA Don Drasler Assistant Player of the Year race.    FRANK HOHENADEL, 38 Head PGA Professional at Mistwood Golf Club Hohenadel is one of seven past Illinois PGA Professional Champions in this year’s field. Hohenadel got his win in 2011 at Medinah Country Club. Since then, he has finished inside the top-10 at this event five times, including a T2 finish last year. Hohenadel has played in six Illinois PGA events this year. His best finish came at the Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Sunset Ridge Country Club where he finished second. His T2 finish in last year’s Illinois PGA Professional Championship qualified him for the 54th PGA Professional Championship where he missed the cut. Hohenadel is currently 10th in the Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year race.    TRAVIS JOHNS, 43 PGA Director of Instruction at Medinah Country Club  Johns is one of seven past Illinois PGA Professional Champions in this year’s field. He has appeared in six Illinois PGA events this season and the Illinois Open Championship. He won his first event of the year at the Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Bull Valley Golf Club. He also finished T1 at the Illinois PGA Stroke Play at ThunderHawk Golf Club and finished T33 at the Illinois Open. Johns’ first place in the 2019 Illinois PGA Professional Championship broke a streak of three second places finishes (2010, 2013, 2016). In 2020, Johns finished fourth in the Illinois PGA Professional Championship to qualify for the 54th PGA Professional Championship where he missed the cut. He is currently leading the Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year race.    JEFF KELLEN, 32 Assistant PGA Professional at Butler National Golf Club Kellen has played in seven Illinois PGA events this season. He won the Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Sunset Ridge Country Club and has two other top -10 finishes. He finished T6 at the Illinois PGA Stroke Play at The Hawk Country Club and the Illinois PGA Assistant Championship. In 2020, Kellen finished T11 in his first career Illinois PGA Professional Championship. He is currently seventh in the Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year race and second in the Don Drasler Assistant Player of the Year race.       ANDY MICKELSON, 40 PGA Director of Golf at Mistwood GC Mickelson has played in six Illinois PGA events in 2021, and the Illinois Open Championship. He has four top 10 finishes this year including a second-place finish at the Illinois PGA Stroke Play at The Hawk County Club. In 2020, Mickelson finished T2 at the Illinois PGA Professional Championship and qualified for the 54th PGA Professional Championship where he finished T85. Mickelson made his Section Championship debut in 2019 and finished T5. Before 2019, Mickelson enjoyed a decorated playing career as an Associate, which included winning the 2015 National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship. He is currently 11th in the Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year race.   MIKE SMALL, 55 Men’s Head Golf Coach at the University of Illinois Small enters the 2021 Illinois PGA Professional Championship as the defending Champion and fresh off his fifth consecutive victory at the Illinois Senior PGA Professional Championship. Small has won the Section Championship 13 times, including eight straight victories from 2003-2010. He also won the Section Championship in consecutive years in 2013 and 2014. Since his first victory in 2001, Small has never finished outside the top 10 at the Section Championship. Including the Illinois Senior PGA Professional Championship, Small has played in four Illinois PGA events in 2021, finishing inside the top 5 at each event. He also played in the 72nd Illinois Open Championship where he finished 50th. Small is exempt into the 55th PGA Professional Championship due to his win in 2009. In 2020, Small won the Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year Award for the second time in his career. He is currently 15th in the Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of Year race.      About the Illinois PGA/Illinois PGA Foundation The Illinois Section of the PGA of America is a professional organization serving the men and women golf professionals in northern and central Illinois who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf. The Illinois PGA is responsible for the administration of competitive golf tournaments, educational opportunities, support programs and growth of the game initiatives. With over 840 members and associates, the Illinois PGA is one of the 41 regional Sections that comprise the PGA of America. The Illinois PGA Foundation focuses its community efforts on promoting the goodwill and growth of the game with an emphasis on activities that benefit youth. Foundation initiatives include: GolfWorks Illinois, Youth-based Scholarship Funds and the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame. For more information about the Illinois PGA and the Illinois PGA Foundation, please visit www.www.ipga.com and join us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.                

CONTACT: Kevin Quinn Illinois PGA Communications 708.336.1294 mobile 847.729.4102 office [email protected]  

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Illini golf coach Small wins record 14th Illinois PGA Professional Championship

Hopefully the PGA Tour's BMW Championship, which teed off on Thursday at Olympia Fields, won't have the problems that affected one of the biggest competitions for local players this week.

Mike Small, the men's coach at the University of Illinois, won the Illinois PGA Professional Championship for the 14th time and became the winningest PGA Professional at a section championship across the PGA of America's 41 sections nationwide.

His feat came with some unexpected problems, however.

The Illinois PGA was to have a Monday-through-Wednesday run at a new site, Thunderhawk in Zion. Bad weather forced the cancellation of the first round, and that forced the IPGA to reduce the event from the usual 54 holes to 36.

More rain left the course unplayable on Tuesday morning. Ten of the 103 players entered withdrew, and the rest played in a shotgun start format on Tuesday afternoon. They were able to complete the first round and the event concluded under more normal weather conditions on Wednesday.

Small posted a 66-69 - 135 total, which was 9-under-par and paid $10,000.

Andy Mickelson, of Mistwood in Romeoville, and Jeff Kellen, of Butler National in Oak Brook, were one shot back in a tie for second.

"It's fun to compete, it's fun to come up here and play," said Small, who birdied two of his last three holes to get the win. "I appreciate the PGA of America and the Illinois Section that provides us the chance to play for some money and a championship. I don't get up here a lot during the summer, but this one I refuse to miss."

The IPGA had nine qualifying sports for the 2024 PGA Professional Championship in Texas on the line. Small and fourth-place Chris French of Rockford had both qualified previously and didn't count against the qualifiers at Thunderhawk.

In addition to Kellen and Mickelson, the other qualifiers for next year's national tourney were Kyle Donovan, or Oak Park; Matthew Rion, Briarwood; Jim Billiter, Ivanhoe; Chris Green, Glen View; Brian Carroll, The Hawk of St. Charles; John Varner, Beverly, of Chicago; and Steve Orrick, Bloomington.

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Cameron Young Fires 13th Sub-60 Round Ever on PGA Tour at Travelers Championship

Patrick andres | jun 22, 2024.

The PGA Tour's sub-60 club has its newest member.

Cameron Young, a 27-year-old American with a pair of top-three finishes at major championships, fired a 59 Saturday in the second round of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn..

The blistering score took Young from 2-under par to 11-under, and rocketed him into a tie for first place in its immediate aftermath—before second round leader Tom Kim teed off on Saturday. It also made him the 13th player in the history of the PGA Tour to break 60—and the first to do so since countryman Scottie Scheffler in 2020 at The Northern Trust in Norton, Mass..

Young's round included seven birdies and a pair of eagles—one on the par-4 3rd and one on the par-4 15th.

Birdie-birdie-eagle start for Cameron Young! He holes it from the fairway on No. 3 for a hot start to Moving Day @TravelersChamp . pic.twitter.com/PtMMOJSNnE — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 22, 2024

The Scarborough, N.Y. native had a chance to chip in for a record-tying 58, but wound up about 10 feet from the hole.

Al Geiberger became the first player to shoot 59 on the PGA Tour in 1977, in the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic. The 12 players to crack 60 include 10 Americans, an Australian (Stuart Appleby in 2010) and a Canadian (Adam Hadwin in 2017).

Jim Furyk remains the only player ever to shoot 58 on the PGA Tour; he did so at the Travelers Championship on Aug. 7, 2016.

PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres has been a Staff Writer on the Breaking & Trending News Team at Sports Illustrated since 2022. Before SI, his work appeared in The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword, and Diamond Digest. Patrick has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University.

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Ten players to watch at The Beachlands Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist

Neal Shipley’s runner-up finish at the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship earned him spots in the Masters and U.S. Open, where he went on to become the first player since Viktor Hovland in 2019 to earn Low Amateur honors at each event in the same season. (Credit David Cannon)

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School’s out and summer is here, which means it’s time to start the job search if you’re a recent graduate.

For the PGA TOUR University Class of 2024, the players who finished Nos. 6-25 didn’t have to worry about any job interviews, as they earned exempt status on PGA TOUR Americas for the North America Swing. For everyone else, they had to go back and take one more class, this one at PGA TOUR Americas Q-School where the top nine players from each of the six sites earned exempt status for the remainder of 2024.

Let’s take a look at 10 newcomers to watch this week at The Beachlands Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist, as they join the race for the Fortinet Cup.

1. Michael Brennan, Wake Forest

Brennan, the No. 12 player in the PGA TOUR U Class of 2024, won six individual titles with the Demon Deacons, the fourth most in program history behind Bill Haas, Gary Hallberg and Curtis Strange. Brennan became the first player since 2015-16 to claim back-to-back ACC titles after earning individual co-medalist honors at the 2024 ACC Championship.

2. Sampson-Yunhe Zheng, University of California-Berkeley

At the end of February, Zheng was on the cusp of falling outside of the top 25 of the PGA TOUR University Ranking. From March 5 to May 15, the Cal-Berkeley alum reeled off five straight top-10 finishes, his best being a T2 finish at the NCAA Rancho Santa Fe Regional. Zheng finished No. 14 in the final PGA TOUR University Ranking after his strong play to close out the season.

3. Dylan Menante, UNC

Menante finished No. 15 in the PGA TOUR University Ranking and begins his professional journey after a decorated collegiate career at Pepperdine and North Carolina. In his sophomore season, Menante led Pepperdine to the 2020-21 National Championship and was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year. After transferring to UNC for the 2022-23 season, the Carlsbad, California, native became the first Tar Heel to finish in the top 10 in both the NCAA Regional (T6) and National Championship (T4).

4. Canon Claycomb, Alabama

5. neal shipley, ohio state/james madison.

Shipley’s runner-up finish at the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship earned him spots in the Masters and U.S. Open, where he went on to become the first player since Viktor Hovland in 2019 to earn Low Amateur honors at each event in the same season.

Neal Shipley's parents celebrate son's low amateur honors at U.S. Open

The James Madison and Ohio State product put together a solid spring that included five top-15 finishes. Shipley won the Southwestern Invitational, finished T5 at the Big Ten Championship, and T9 at the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional.

6. Maxwell Moldovan, Ohio State

Moldovan finished No. 20 in the PGA TOUR University Ranking, capping off a decorated career at Ohio State.

Maxwell Moldovan makes birdie on No. 15 at Barbasol

The Ohio native finished with the most career rounds in the 60s (48), most rounds at par or better (86) and the lowest scoring average (71.25) in school history. Moldovan finished his career with 31 top-20s and 19 top-10s.

7. RJ Manke, Washington

A native of Lakewood, Washington, Manke was an alternate for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst but opted to play PGA TOUR Americas Q-School in Courtenay, British Columbia. Manke finished T4 at the final Q-School site to earn his card for the North America Swing. Prior to Washington, Manke spent four seasons at Pepperdine, where he was teammates with Menante, and helped the Waves win the 2020-21 National Championship.

8. John Marshall Butler, Auburn

Butler capped of a decorated career at Auburn by being named to the All-SEC second team and helping the Tigers to their first National Championship in program history. As a junior, Butler ended the season with a 70.14 stroke average, the second best single-season mark by a Tiger. Butler earned his card after finishing T3 at PGA TOUR Americas Q-School at Soboba Springs Golf Club.

9. Piercen Hunt, Illinois

Hunt earned his PGA TOUR Americas card after finishing T4 at Q-School in Courtenay. A native of Calgary, Alberta, Hunt registered three top-five finishes during his senior season at the University of Illinois.

10. Thomas Ponder, Alabama

The second Alabama alum on the list, Ponder became the first medalist of the PGA TOUR Americas Q-School cycle, finishing at the top of the site in Ocala, Florida. Ponder finished No. 33 in the PGA TOUR University Ranking after a solid senior season where he collected five top-15 finishes during the spring season.

After graduating from PGA TOUR University or passing Q-School, these alums hit the ground running in the North America Swing in the race for the Fortinet Cup.

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Illinois basketball recruiting: Will Riley, a top 10 prospect, may reclassify to join Illini this season

The five-star prospect is illinois' highest ranked recruit since 247sports began rating prospects in 2002.

Illinois picked up its highest-rated recruit of the 247Sports era Sunday, when five-star small forward Will Riley announced his commitment to the Illini. Riley is ranked No. 9 overall in the Class of 2025 by 247Sports and is considered the No. 2 small forward. However, he is expected to reclassify to the Class of 2024 and join Illinois for the season ahead.

Riley could provide an immediate jolt for an overhauled roster and enter the mix for 2025 NBA Draft consideration. With star wings Terrence Shannon Jr . and Marcus Domask departed from a 2023-24 Illinois team that reached the Elite Eight, there should be minutes available immediately for Riley on the wing.

Riley, who also considered beginning his professional career in Australia's NBL, is a recent riser in the 247Sports rankings. The 6-foot-8 Canadian prospect vaulted up 12 spots from No. 21 in a recent rankings update after a strong spring and summer.

"What stands out about Riley more than anything is his size, length and athleticism," 247Sports national basketball analyst Travis Branham wrote . "He is a versatile guard who can dribble, pass, and shoot. Riley possess plenty of untapped potential. The Canadian demonstrates prowess as a three-level scorer and playmaker against elite high school competition. He's still very thin, so as he gets into the weight room, adds muscle, and gets stronger, his play on the court will only continue to elevate."

Illinois has never been regarded as a haven for one-and-done prospects. But Riley could change that if he meets his immense potential. Because of his combination of size, skill and upside, he could parlay a strong season in college basketball in to 2025 NBA Draft consideration.

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The NBA Draft’s 60 best prospects in 2024, ranked

Here’s our final top-60 big board for the 2024 NBA Draft.

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The 2024 NBA Draft feels like the weakest class to enter the league in a decade. You have to go back to 2013 for the last time a draft had such a distinct lack of starpower at the top, but that class also offers some valuable lessons for this one. Anthony Bennett was a shocking No. 1 overall pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers back then, and he turned into a monumental bust. At the same time, there were still two future Hall of Famers lurking after the lottery (Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert) and plenty of solid pros scattered throughout.

Even bad drafts have good players, and this one will, too. It’s just going to be extremely difficult to identify the eventual best player in the class with the No. 1 overall pick, because no one can agree on who that player is this year. Before we delve into our final rankings, here are a few notes about my draft philosophy as someone who has been on the beat since about 2013 .

I put the most value into how good a player can be in his prime years. I don’t really care if I’m wrong, because unlike NBA GMs, I face no consequences for it. For that reason, I tend to prefer players with higher ceilings than more certain floors. I typically go for players with elite physical tools, because it gives them more outs for success ... but I have a habit of falling for super-skilled smaller guards, too. I put more value into shot creation than any other skill. I try to give the benefit of the doubt to players with a strong feel for the game. I value off-ball defensive impact greatly. I always look at advanced metrics like BPM and enjoy checking out different draft models, but typically rely more on my own eye test and gut check.

I released my first big board for this class the day after the 2023 draft . So much has changed since then. Here are our final top-60 player ranking for the 2024 NBA Draft.

2024 NBA Draft board

Tier 1: all-star upside if things break right, 1. nikola topic, g, red stars (serbia).

Topic first emerged as the top player in our board in Dec. during a torrid start to the season for Mega in the Adriatic League. Since then, he changed teams and suffered two knee injuries, the latest of which resulted in a torn ACL. This is the least confident I’ve ever felt about ranking a player No. 1 overall in a draft class, but ultimately Topic’s polish at an extremely young age (he turns 19 years old in August) and upside as a potential on-ball engine won out.

The main appeal for Topic is his shot creation potential, his positional size as a 6’6 point guard, and his undeniable production going against grown men. Topic is a downhill attacking guard who can burn defenders off the dribble with his tremendous burst going to the basket. While he lacks vertical explosion (he finished with zero dunks this season), he’s an extremely crafty finisher who used long strides and extension finishes to convert his rim opportunities efficiently all season. He’s at his best operating out of the pick-and-roll, where he can leverage the threat of his own scoring to open up passing lanes to teammates.

In 13 games with Mega, Topic averaged 18.6 points, 6.9 assists, 3.7 rebounds per game on terrific 62.9 percent true shooting. He got to the foul line a lot (and made 87.8 percent of his free throws), posted an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio, and finished with an “excellent” grade on pick-and-roll ball handling, isolations, and transition opportunities, according to Synergy Sports.

There’s still considerable downside here. Topic is not a good three-point shooter at the moment, and will face teams going under every screen early in his career. He tends to drift a bit when he doesn’t have the ball in the halfcourt. He shows poor technique and effectiveness defensively. It’s fair to wonder how a player so reliant on his burst will look coming off a torn ACL.

Still, Topic put up fantastic numbers as an 18-year-old in a solid pro league, and has a rare ability to generate easy baskets with his speed as a ball handler. His combination of scoring and playmaking as a downhill guard feels like the clearest pathway in this class to All-Star potential if everything breaks right.

2. Alex Sarr, C/F, Perth Wildcats (France)

Sarr has the best physical tools in this class as an athletic 7’1 big man with a 7’4 wingspan. He has the potential for elite defensive versatility as a big man who can protect the rim from the backline, or switch screens and stick with smaller perimeter players. Sarr can fly in the open floor, or soar above the rim to finish plays on both sides of the ball. While his offense remains a work in progress, he’s shown some tantalizing flashes as a ball handler and shooter. Sarr can be frustrating to watch at times because he doesn’t play with much force offensively, he’s not a plus passer, and he tends to give up opportunities on the glass. Will he shoot it well enough long-term to be an NBA four? Will he rebound it well enough to play center? The offensive upside here comes if Sarr’s three-point shot develops, or his body blows up and he’s able to start running over guys. Even with questions about his offensive role, Sarr’s ground coverage and explosion is a rare combination at 7’1 and gives him real star equity long-term as a play finisher.

3. Ron Holland, F, G League Ignite

Read my profile on Holland here . I’m betting on Holland’s ability to make winning plays when he’s not overmatched in a primary creation role like he was for the Ignite. His athleticism, slashing, defensive motor, passing touch, and transition scoring should all translate well to the league. He will obviously have to improve his jump shot, and I wish he was a little bigger to play the four. While his G League numbers were underwhelming, the fact that he was able to learn what it’s like to carry such a huge usage rate at a young age should be beneficial for his long-term development. Still only 18 years old on draft day, Holland is one of the few players in this class to have star upside with his physical tools, pedigree, and hustle.

Tier 2: Potential high-end complementary players

4. Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky : Sheppard is tiny and doesn’t offer a ton of on-ball creation upside, but he’s such a good shooter and has a special ability to force turnovers defensively. He’d be at this best filling in the cracks for a team with length and athleticism around him, allowing him to tap into his shot versatility and maximize spacing. Sheppard will get physically overpowered defensively in certain matchups, but he has incredible hands to generate turnovers and is excellent kickstarting the break with outlet passes. He’s going to be below the size and athleticism thresholds for most NBA guards, but if he can continue the elite three-point stroke he showed at Kentucky (52.1 percent from deep on 144 attempts), he should bring enough to the table to be an elite complementary piece.

5. Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky : Dillingham is dangerously small at 6’1 barefoot with a 6’3 wingspan, and will be the lightest player in the NBA next season after weighing in at 164 pounds at the combine. You need to be enormously skilled to thrive in the NBA at that size, and I believe Dillingham meets the criteria. The Kentucky freshman is one of the great shooters in this draft class, able to rip deep pull-ups off the dribble or relocate off-the-ball for backbreaking catch-and-shoot threes. He hit 44.4 percent of his 144 attempts from three this season, and knocked them down on every action possible . Dillingham also has a case as the best ball handler in this class, able to link together moves to keep his defender off balance while attacking. He has awesome vision as a passer, and looks comfortable throwing everything from lobs to skips to pocket passes to the roll man. His inability to play through any contact is a big concern, but the shot-making and playmaking here is too thrilling to discount.

6. Matas Buzelis, F, G League Ignite : Buzelis is simply going to have to shoot it better from three than he did with the G League Ignite (26.1 percent from three on 115 attempts in 34 games) to be successful in the NBA, but his track record as a shooter at lower levels inspires some confidence that could happen. Having a reliable spot-up jumper would unlock the rest of Buzelis’ offensive game. It’s rare to find forwards this big (6’8.75 with a 6’10 wingspan) who can attack off the bounce with creativity and make plays for themselves and others. Buzelis also showed a surprising amount of defensive toughness at the rim (64 blocks in 34 games) despite a skinny frame. This ranking could look bad if the shot doesn’t come around, but the ideal version of Buzelis is the type of well-rounded forward every team covets.

7. Isaiah Collier, G, USC : Collier entered the cycle as a potential top-3 pick, but quickly lost momentum during a slow start for USC. There was less attention on his hot close to the season, but it deserves the same consideration. Collier is simply one of the best shot-creation bets in this class as a strong and fast downhill guard with the requisite passing vision. At 6’2.5 barefoot, Collier has a burly 205-pound frame which he uses to put consistent pressure on the rim. He finished well at the rim (61.7 percent) with nearly 74 percent of those looks being self-created (without an assist). He got himself in trouble with turnovers for much of the season, partially because his passes were too ambitious, partially because USC didn’t have the spacing or lob threats to maximize his vision. Collier’s biggest swing skill is again his jump shot: he made 33.8 percent of his 80 attempts on the year. For a player who gets to the line a ton, he should probably start working on his free throws, too, because he only hit 67 percent from the charity stripe. If Collier can develop any kind of shot — even from mid-range — his speedy, bully ball game could still have serious pro upside.

8. Donovan Clingan, C, UConn : It’s hard to grasp just how huge Clingan is. At 7’1.75 barefoot with a 7’6.75 wingspan and 280 pound frame, he would have been one of the NBA’s tallest, longest, and heaviest players last season. Clingan was the rock on back-to-back national championship teams at UConn, and his game has an easy translation to the NBA as a rim protector. While he’ll mostly have to play drop coverage, his length and shot-blocking instincts give him a chance to be one of the league’s top paint deterrents. The offense could be a bit worrisome to me, despite the impressive playmaking chops and sparkling 63.7 true shooting percentage he posted this year. Clingan just doesn’t get much pop off the ground as a leaper, and his finishes will get much tougher against more athletic NBA defenders. I also find it concerning that Clingan played less than half the available minutes for UConn on the season, and only played over 30 minutes four times in his sophomore year. Clingan feels safer than other prospects for his size and easy role translation, but his scoring and conditioning issues give me some pause with a top pick.

9. Devin Carter, G, Providence : Carter took a superstar leap in his junior season at Providence by adding improved three-point shooting and paint finishing to his already tenacious defensive ability. Carter went from hitting 29.9 percent of his threes as a sophomore to 37.7 this past season while nearly doubling his number of attempts. He confidently stepped into pull-ups when the defense went under screens, and quickly relocated for spot-ups when he was off-the-ball. Carter’s improved stroke opened up the rest of his offense, and his added craft as a driver (he noted he started playing off two-feet more to model his game after Jalen Brunson after a suggestion from the coaching staff) helped him finish an impressive 65 percent of his shots at the rim. Carter’s best attribute is his defense. He has length (6’8.75 wingspan) and explosive leaping ability (42-inch max vertical) that helps him play so much bigger than his size. His 26 dunks this season are a shocking number for a guard who measured 6’2 barefoot. The catch with Carter is he’ll turn 23 years old during his rookie season, and is already the same age as someone like Jalen Green who has three NBA seasons already under his belt. Still, Carter’s fantastic defense and improved shooting stroke earmarks him as a disruptive guard who would thrive next to a bigger initiator.

10. Stephon Castle, G, UConn : Forget the noise about Castle viewing himself as a long-term point guard: right now, he’s perfectly suited as a defensive stopper who is more of a connective wing offensively. At 6’5.5 barefoot with a 6’9 wingspan and strong 210-pound frame, Castle is a physical guard who wins loose balls and rebounds and can play through contact on both ends. His three-point shot is just very bad right now (26.7 percent on 75 attempts), so a team will have to get creative how to use him offensively (as a short-roll playmaker, in the dunker’s spot, etc.) early in his career. Castle’s size and physicality stands out even with a broken jumper, and if he ever fixes it, this could be one of the better players in this class.

11. Zaccharie Risacher, F, JL Bourg (France) : Risacher just doesn’t have enough shot creation upside to go higher than this to me, but it does feel like he has a high floor as an off-ball wing who can space the floor. At 6’8.5 barefoot with a 6’9.5 wingspan, Risacher played a big role in the top French pro league, and had some of his best games of the year deep in the playoffs. He hit 38.7 percent of his threes on 238 attempts this season, usually getting up three or four attempts per game. In addition to the shooting, Risacher looks like a good defensive forward, but it feels like he defends guards better than wings. Is he capable of defending someone like Jayson Tatum a few years from now in a playoff series? If not, it’s hard to see why he’s in the mix for No. 1 overall given that he’s not someone you ask to take the ball and create offense.

Tier 3: Players with a pathway to success, but with more risk

12. Tyler Smith, F, G League Ignite : Smith was just about the only player on the Ignite who surpassed expectations this year. A 6’9 forward with a 7’1 wingspan, Smith is a classic stretch four whose biggest value will come from his shooting and spacing. He hit 36 percent of his threes on 161 attempts for the year. Smith also gets off the floor pretty quickly for a big man, and had 58 dunks as a powerful inside finisher. His ball handling is too limited to create off the dribble, and his defense is an adventure at this point. He’ll need to shoot it at a high level to return this type of a value, but he’s worth a chance as a tall, athletic marksman with deep range.

13. Kel’el Ware, C, Indiana : Ware is oozing with talent, and it’s something of a gift and a curse for him. At 6’11.75 barefoot with a 7’4.5 wingspan, Ware is a huge center with tantalizing athleticism and a nice shooting stroke. He has an easy translation as a rim roller who can slam home dunks on offense (he had 63 dunks this season) and block shots in drop coverage defensively. The upside here comes if Ware’s shot continues to develop after he hit 42 percent of his threes on low volume (40 attempts in 30 games) this year. So what’s the catch? Ware is so talented that he often leaves you wanting more. He’s long been a player said to have a low motor dating back to his freshman year Oregon, and there are times on tape when it feels like he could have grabbed a rebound or blocked a shot but didn’t. He’s not a plus passer, and isn’t someone who should be tasked with decision-making on offense. Ware’s combination of physical tools and shooting potential is still so rare that teams are going to be kicking themselves for passing on him if it all comes together.

16. Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke : Filipowski isn’t the biggest or most explosive center, but he has a case as the most skilled big in the class offensively. The Duke sophomore is a pick-and-pop threat who can also act as a passing hub in the halfcourt. He made 34.8 percent of his threes on 112 attempts this season, and finished with an impressive 18.4 percent assist rate. His defense is likely going to be a problem because he’s not very long (6’10.50’ wingspan) and he can’t really jump, but his playmaking and shot-making is valuable in a league always looking for stretch bigs.

18. Dalton Knecht, F, Tennessee : Knecht is the best story in the draft, emerging as a potential lottery pick after a winding journey that included two seasons of JUCO ball and two years at Northern Colorado before his superstar turn at Tennessee this past season. He has an easy translation to the NBA as an off-ball shooter and scorer who can stroke it from deep and attack the rim with some athleticism. I’m lower on Knecht because I’m highly skeptical of his defense, and can’t get over the fact that he turns 24 years old at the end of his rookie year. Still, a team that needs a wing with real shooting versatility and enough juice to finish above the rim when he gets a clear lane will probably take him much higher than this.

19. Zach Edey, C, Purdue : Read my big breakdown of Edey’s pro potential here . His unprecedented size, scoring touch, offensive rebounding, and motor gives him a sliver of star upside at this point in the draft. I just don’t know how he defends an opposing big who can shoot, or a speedy guard on a spaced floor. I’d have him higher if I felt better about him as a processor and passer.

Tier 4 bets

21. DaRon Holmes II, C/F, Dayton : Holmes was one of the very best players in college basketball as a junior for Dayton, unleashing a new dimension of his game by adding offensive skills on the perimeter. Holmes has always been impressive as a roll man, dunker’s spot finisher, and rim protector with the Flyers. This past season, he improved as a shooter (38.6 percent from three on 83 attempts), ball handler, and passer. Teams will wonder if Holmes is big enough to play the five in the NBA (he measured 6’8.75 barefoot with a 7’1 wingspan) or skilled enough to play the four. That might be overthinking it. He’s just a really good player with legit size who can find a way to make an impact regardless of his role.

25. Bub Carrington, G, Pittsburgh : Carington is a tall (6’3.75 barefoot with a 6’8 wingspan), extremely young (turns 19 a month after the draft) guard with an innate ability to take and make pull-up jumpers. He wasn’t always an efficient scorer (53 percent true shooting), but Carrington’s ability to create his own shot and cash difficult pull-ups is a trait that defines star guards. It might take some time, but Carrington’s upside is worth betting on in a weak class.

26. Pacome Dadiet, F, Ulm (France): Dadiet is a super young French wing (turns 19 in late July) with an intriguing combination of positional size, athleticism, and shooting touch. Measuring at 6’7.5 barefoot with a 6’9 wingspan, Dadiet hit 39 percent of his threes, a high percentage of two-pointers, and showed a good motor to get rebounds and steals. It might take a few years before he’s ready for the NBA, but the tools are there.

4 NBA Draft sleepers worth targeting

28. KJ Simpson, G, Colorado : Simpson was one of the best guards in college basketball by any measure as a junior for Colorado. He’s a quick and dynamic lead ball handler who can blow past his defender off the dribble, hit a tough floater or mid-range pull-up, or generate free throw attempts at the rim. Best of all, Simpson is a high-volume three-point sniper, hitting 43 percent of 181 attempts on the season. Simpson plays bigger than his size and posted impressive defensive rebound rates and steal rates this season. It’s hard to make it in the league as a guard who measured 6’0.25 barefoot, but Simpson is skilled enough to have a chance.

32. Jamal Shead, G, Houston : Shead an absolute menace defensively. The Houston senior consistently makes multiple efforts on possessions to get over screens, break up passing lanes, and press up on opposing ball handlers with tight, physical coverage. His 4.3 percent steal rate and 2 percent block rate this season are impressive numbers for a guard who measured 6-foot without shoes. Shead also took on the biggest offensive load of his career this season, and answered the challenge by becoming a fantastic college distributor and capable volume scorer. His jump shot and his size are major questions, but Shead’s motor and IQ are too impressive to bet against.

33. Adem Bona, C, UCLA : Bona is an explosive athlete with length who makes plays above the rim on both ends of the floor. The UCLA sophomore was a monster finisher at the rim this year (76 percent) by running the floor hard and getting off the ground quickly as a leaper. He posted the highest standing vertical leap at the combine (35 inches), and was among the top performers in max vertical (40 inches), too. Putting up those numbers at 243 pounds with a 7’3.5 wingspan is undeniably impressive. Bona is definitely short for an NBA center (6’8.5 barefoot) and he doesn’t have any perimeter skill offensively, but his length, strength, hustle, and elite leaping are worth consideration as an energy big off the bench.

37. N’Faly Dante, C, Oregon : Dante has the size and strength to fit on an NBA court as a play finisher right now. He measured at 6’ 10 barefoot with a 7’6 wingspan at 260 pounds. He made 69.5 percent of his field goals exclusively hammering home inside feeds created by his teammates. He has to play a relatively narrow role and will turn 23 years old at the start of the season, but Dante’s tools, touch, and production shouldn’t be discounted.

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