Fansided

The all-time Big East NBA mock draft

By Trevor Magnotti

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: Jalen Brunson
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: Jalen Brunson /
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Villanova’s Kyle Lowry (1) goes up for a shot over Connecticut’s Ed Nelson (32), Hilton Armstrong (11) and Rusy Gay (22) Monday, February 13, 2006 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA. Villanova University (4) upset University of Connecticut (1) 69-64. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
Villanova’s Kyle Lowry (1) goes up for a shot over Connecticut’s Ed Nelson (32), Hilton Armstrong (11) and Rusy Gay (22) Monday, February 13, 2006 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA. Villanova University (4) upset University of Connecticut (1) 69-64. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /
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Kyle Lowry

PG, Villanova

No. 24 overall pick in 2006

2005-06 Villanova stats (Sophomore): 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.3 steals per game (Lost in Elite Eight to Florida)

Lowry took quite a few years to become Kyle Lowry, which is why he’s so far down the list. currently a 41.2 percent 3-point shooter, Lowry only hit 8-of-18 3s as a college sophomore, and there were significant questions coming in about his shooting motion, which got a total rebuild in Houston. There were also questions regarding Lowry’s ability to create consistently in the NBA, as he had little to no consistent pull-up threat. Ultimately that was the final piece that unlocked his ability to be a number one option in today’s league.

The shooting and size concerns knock him down from the lottery level of this particular exercise, but he’s still a valuable option thanks to his strong defensive profile and his outlier athleticism, which were readily apparent at Villanova. Lowry, along with Randy Foye and Allan Ray, helped craft a versatile offense and tenacious defense for those Nova teams, and he graded out as an NBA-level finisher from the jump. Lowry is another case of a high-floor prospect who could have a high ceiling, a common theme among Big East alumni.