NBA Draft Watch: January 16th, Game of the Day/Prospects of Note (Iowa State at #8 Texas Tech)

Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech
(Photo Credit: Lance King/Getty Images)

A Big 12 Conference contest on the schedule for Wednesday night will feature a number of talented players on the floor, when Iowa State travels into Lubbock to face Texas Tech. Multiple prospects from both teams have the potential of an NBA future, including one of the top prospects currently in college basketball.

Entering tonight's game at 14-1, the Red Raiders will look to look to continue to protect their home court, with its only lost on the season coming against Duke on December 20th at Madison Square Garden. As they've reeled off a five-game win streak since then — including their first four games against Big 12 Conference competition — Texas Tech has been arguably the toughest defensive team in the country, that is led on offense by their star sophomore Jarrett Culver.

At 6'6, 195 pounds Culver is a smooth scoring wing that performs positively more in an under control, methodical manner rather than in an explosive, athletic attack of the defense. Capable of creating his own shot at any given time, he can effectively score at all three levels of the floor with the length to lift over the defense and drain his shot effectively from both mid-range and distance.

One of the most complete and consistent scorers currently in college basketball, Culver could potentially hear his name called as a top five pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, with continued positive production and development of his evidently appealing attributes.

Having just one other player currently averaging double figures in scoring for Texas Tech aside from Culver, Tariq Owens impact on the defensive end of the floor and as a complimentary offensive piece has been huge in determining the success the Red Raiders have enjoyed so far this season.

With a slinky build at 6'10, 205 pounds, Owens plays with an infectious, energetic, bouncy style as a prime rim protector that does his part in dictating the dominant defensive effort for Texas Tech. While he won't usually be thrown the ball in the post to provide a presence in the paint offensively, he is effective in using his high-leaping ability and long arms as a lob-threat, in addition to pulling in offensive rebounds that can be converted into second chance points.

Going on the road to face the eighth ranked team in the country, Iowa State has the opportunity to earn a big win after having lost its two games last week, which dropped them from amongst the ranked teams in college basketball. Despite the recent defeats and current designation as an unranked opponent, the Cyclones enter the matchup with quite possibly more overall NBA talent and offensive output at their disposal, led in scoring by 6'6 senior wing Marial Shayok, averaging 19.4 points per game.

Shayok is true-triple threat on the wing, as someone whose shown he can effectively seek and sink his shot from the perimeter while maintaining the ability to put the ball on the floor in the face of aggressive closeouts to seep into the paint and finish in front of the rim. A seasoned veteran that transferred from Virginia, he also supplies support on the defensive side of the floor with his defense and rebounding ability.

As a senior, Shayok significance as a prospect with untapped potential isn't as seemly as most younger players, but his output and skill translate to someone who has the look of a solid second round selection.

Following a freshman season where he was the featured scorer for the Cyclones, Nova Scotia native Lindell Wigginton has had to work to insert himself back into the fold, having suffered a foot injury that forced him to miss the first month of the season — returning to the court on December 21st. Since his return to the floor, the 6'2, 189 pound combo guard has had a tough time in sinking his shot from the outside, while having coming off the bench in all but his first game.

Wigginton has shown the quickness he displayed last season in being able to beat the defense off the bounce, while finding ways to finish at the basket and draw contact to get to the free throw line. Slowly shaking off the rust from his foot injury, he'll hope that he is able to regain the success he had in his shot from the perimeter during his freshman campaign, which helped solidify his profile as an intriguing scoring guard that seized the attention of scouts — as he has been off the mark with his jump-shot thus far in his six games played.

Stepping up in the void of Wigginton during the beginning of the season, freshman guard Tyrese Haliburton skill-set has saw him receive attention, surfacing as someone whose productivity gives just a glimpse of his potential as a prospect. Standing a slender 6'5, 172 pounds with a wingspan that outreaches his height, Halliburton can glide and finish at the basket effortlessly, but has primarily made his impact scoring the ball with a sure stroke from beyond the arc.

Beyond his ability to shoot the ball, Haliburton potential is powered by his playmaking ability as someone who can set up teammates, taking solid care when in possession of the ball, that also uses his length and activity on the other side of the floor disrupt the opposing offense.

Averaging 8.6 points in 34.4 minutes per night, those that look to the box score for someone to score the ball will likely overlook Haliburton, but when watching him perform and the attributes he encompasses, it's evident that he has the potential to be a promising player in projecting his talent to the NBA.

Another fellow talented freshman for the Cyclones, Talen Horton-Tucker is a unique player that's name has picked up attention from the first game of the season as a formidable prospect.

Listed at 6'4, 233 pounds, Horton-Tucker has the build of a linebacker, while having shown skills as a wing that are worthy of giving consideration to how his game could possibly translate to the next level. Using his strapping stature to his advantage inside the paint and near the basket, he's had no problem in adjusting to the physicality of college basketball.

Halfway through his freshman season, Horton-Tucker has experienced some inconsistency with his stroke outside the paint and from beyond the arc, but remains a productive player on offense even when his shot isn't falling as a capable and skilled passer. As a prospect that has garnered legitimate interest from the NBA as someone who could be selected as soon as this upcoming 2019 draft, he'll work to improve his overall efficiency on the offensive end to boost his stock — currently having shown enough to likely be taken in the second round.