The best current NBA player from every Sweet 16 team left in the NCAA Tournament

1. Purdue Boilermakers: Jaden Ivey

Well, this one was a pretty easy choice considering Ivery is currently the only Boilermaker in the NBA. Drafted 5th overall just a year ago, Ivey has been somewhat underwhelming through two years in Detroit.

But the guard is clearly talented and it’s fair to wonder how much of that is a product of his environment with the Pistons and the way coach Monty Williams has utilized him. I think there is still hope for Ivey to develop into an extremely good player. And if the Pistons are willing to trade him, I would absolutely be looking to buy low.

He actually had a bigger role as a rookie with Cade Cunningham out for the season, and he put up over 16 points and 5 assists per game. But his usage has dipped slightly this season, as have his ballhandling and creation responsibilities and the stats have taken a small hit as a result.

But this kid was a stud at Purdue and I’m betting he’ll figure it out, either in Detroit or elsewhere. The Boilermakers don’t exactly have the most storied legacy of producing NBA stars and haven’t had much success in that regard recently. But the team did produce stars of the 1980s and 90s with Joe Barry Carroll and Glenn ‘Big Dog’ Robinson.

Current Purdue star big man Zach Edey will be drafted in June, and could be the next big Purdue star in the league. But for now, Ivey wears the crown, if only by default.