The all-time Big East NBA mock draft

No. 17 overall pick in 2008

2007-08 Georgetown stats (Senior): 13.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.2 blocks per game (Lost in 2nd round to Davidson)

Hibbert is our second Georgetown center off the board, and his physical tools get him drafted here. Even at 21 he was still rather raw, but his 7-foot-7 wingspan and excellent shot-blocking instincts telegraphed that he would become a solid rim protector. We can’t be influenced by how his career fell apart in 2014 — at his peak, Hibbert was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and his ability to contest shots despite lacking elite strength is something NBA teams would love to have then and now. In college, he also showed more potential offensively than you probably remember. College Hibbert was an excellent screen-setter and had a pretty decent post-up game, and his shot release might have meant that he could become a more threatening offensive player in a different setting than offensively challenged Indiana.

It’s still not clear how Hibbert was ever going to be a strong defender on the perimeter, especially with what he showed in rare occurrences against college guards. The rebounding was also a concern then, as he wasn’t quick enough to use his size in a meaningful way on the glass. But as a rim protector with some potential offensive equity, Hibbert is worth the selection here.