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USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Pacers to sign No. 54 pick Taelon Peter to two-way contract
Former Liberty guard Taelon Peter, the 54th pick in the 2025 NBA draft, will reportedly sign a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Peter was the Conference USA Sixth Man of the Year last season, averaging 13.7 points, four rebounds and one assist on 45.3% shooting from 3-point range. He led the country in true shooting percentage (72.4) and was 19th in player efficiency rating (27.2). The 23-year-old, who played three years at Arkansas Tech (Division II), became the third player in program history selected in the draft and the first since Cliff Webber in 1985. He is the first player from Conference USA to be drafted since Charles Bassey in 2021. Peter debuted with the Pacers in the NBA Summer League, averaging 9.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 57.1% shooting from the field in four appearances. He produced a summer league-high 15 points on July 12 in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 6-foot-4 standout will split his time next season between the NBA and the Noblesville Boom in the G League. He is eligible to be active for up to 50 games in the NBA and will earn $636,435, which is equal to 50% of the minimum salary applicable to a player with zero years of service. Peter had a monumental rise to establish himself as a second-round after failing to earn invitations to the draft combine or G League Elite Camp. He will now have the chance to begin his career with the Pacers and develop within their system.
USA Today
27-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NBA draft: Grading OKC Thunder's selection of Northwestern's Brooks Barnhizer
The Oklahoma City Thunder drafted Northwestern's Brooks Barnhizer with the No. 44 pick of the 2025 NBA draft. He was the NBA champion's second draft pick and joined Georgetown's Thomas Sorber. Barnhizer spent four college seasons at Northwestern from 2021-25. He averaged 17.1 points on 41.4% shooting, 8.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 17 games last season before he suffered a season-ending foot injury. Considering how stacked the Thunder's roster is, only coming away with one second-round rookie feels like the right move. Everybody who helped win an NBA championship this past Sunday is under contract for next season. So it's smart for OKC to run it back. Let's break down the draft pick and hand out a grade for Barnhizer's addition: Barnhizer's background Barnhizer is a bit of a throwback. He spent four seasons at Northwestern and his playing time slowly increased. As he developed in the background, his importance to the program grew over the years from a freshman who barely played to a starter in his junior and senior seasons. Barnhizer averaged 17.1 points on 41.4% shooting, 8.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists last season. He shot 26.6% from 3 on 3.8 attempts. He was also a 76.4% free-throw shooter. He tallied 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks. He suffered a season-ending foot injury in January. The 23-year-old is a 6-foot-6, 230-pound guard Heading into the 2025 NBA draft, Barnhizer utilized the G League Elite Camp to boost his stock and get invited to the draft combine. Even though he wasn't widely mocked as a second-round selection, the Thunder went with him and will likely sign him to a two-way deal. Barnhizer's fit You can't expect much out of second-round rookies if you're the NBA champion. Barnhizer will spend plenty of time on the G League's OKC Blue. That's where he'll log most of his playing time and develop while the Thunder are busy hoping to go back-to-back. Barnhizer has been out since January, which means he'll need to knock off the rustiness. Summer league will help with that, but the G League season should accommodate him to the brutal NBA work schedule and load. But Barnhizer is a bit of a gamble. He's an older prospect and isn't a freak athlete. The jumper isn't really there, either. Instead, he's a defensive pest who can get under the opponent's skin. The steals and blocks numbers back it up. The Thunder have plenty of those types of players, but can never have enough. Barnhizer's long-term future The shelf life for second-round picks is a lot shorter than for first-round picks. Barnhizer will need to impress in his first year. Two-way deals are just launching points, but can't be depended on for a long-term stay in the NBA. Barnhizer must impress from the start and have a positive track record in the G League. If Barnhizer can develop an outside shot, that tremendously improves his chances. Most of his looks will be on the catch-and-shoot variety. The outside percentages at Northwestern weren't pretty, but solid free-throw numbers suggest hints of a jumper. Barring several injuries, Barnhizer won't see much time on the Thunder. That doesn't mean he can't eventually carve out a role in the future. But at 23 years old, he'd better kill it in practice and G League games or risk being moved on from pretty quickly. Final thoughts You can't get too reactionary on the No. 44 pick. Especially when you're fresh off an NBA championship. It feels like small potatoes to stress over the possibilities. Look at the history of that selection and most players don't last in the NBA. That said, Barnhizer was a bit of a surprise. He's an older prospect with little physical tools who can't shoot. That spells doom for his long-term hopes to be on the Thunder. He has to really carve out a knack of being a relentless perimeter defender that can get in the head of the opposition's best players. That will be Barnhizer's best bet to stay on the Thunder beyond this upcoming season. He won't get many chances to prove himself on the NBA court, so practices and G League games are where he'll show OKC why it should eventually convert him to a standard deal. But he's fighting an uphill battle considering his physcial and shooting limitations. Final Grade: C-minus Barnhizer's highlights
USA Today
27-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Wisconsin basketball star signs two-way contract with NBA team
Louisville's Chucky Hepburn – the ACC Defensive Player of the Year – has agreed to a two-way NBA contract with the Toronto Raptors, sources tell ESPN. Former Wisconsin basketball star Chucky Hepburn agreed to a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. News of Hepburn's contract arrived shortly after the second round of the 2025 NBA draft on Thursday evening, an event that welcomed another 29 newcomers to the professional stage. Hepburn's two-way deal with Toronto will enable him to split time between the Raptors and their G League affiliate, Raptors 905. The development isn't uncommon for undrafted college standouts. Arizona's Caleb Love signed a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, St. John's RJ Luis Jr. agreed to a two-way deal with the Utah Jazz and Gonzaga's Ryan Nembhard inked one with the Miami Heat, to name a few. Prior to the draft, the Omaha, Nebraska, native participated in the G League Elite Camp before working out for the Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Hornets, per the RookieWire's Cody Taylor. His introduction to Toronto's brass, while brief, appears to have paid off. Following his stint in Madison, Hepburn transferred to the Louisville Cardinals and delivered his most prolific individual season of his collegiate career. In 30 games, the feisty guard averaged 16.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.4 steals per contest while shooting 43% from the field, 33% from 3 and 84.4% from the free-throw line. The output even earned him a spot on the First Team All-ACC and the 2024-25 ACC Defensive Player of the Year award. While at UW, Hepburn morphed into a fan favorite with clutch performances and timely buckets. From 2021-2024, he averaged 9.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game in 32.1 minutes across 103 games. The Raptors roster includes several ball-handlers, including Immanuel Quickly, R.J. Barrett, Jamal Shead and A.J. Lawson. If Hepburn shows out with Raptors 905, he could certainly fill the team's need for an on-ball defender at the point guard position. His journey in the G League will begin in November. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
27-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Wisconsin basketball center signs with NBA team
Former Wisconsin center Steven Crowl signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Utah Jazz after the conclusion of the NBA draft on Thursday, according to KSTP's Darren Wolfson. The contract is a one-year, non-guaranteed minimum salary. It's commonly used to sign undrafted players for the NBA Summer League (July 10 to 20) and preseason. That player can then earn a spot on the team's G League affiliate. With strong play, the contract could be converted to a two-way deal with the NBA team itself. Crowl gets his NBA shot after a busy predraft process. Despite not being invited to the NBA combine or G League Elite Camp, the now-former Badger reportedly worked out for the Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets and Denver Nuggets in the weeks preceding the draft. The center is making the jump to the professional ranks after a terrific five-year career with the Badgers. He started 141 of his 153 career appearances in five seasons from 2020-25, averaging 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and two assists per game while shooting 52.5% from the field, 36.3% from 3 and 82% from the charity stripe. Arguably, his best season came as a senior in 2024-25. In 37 starts, Crowl averaged 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 54% from the field, a whopping 41% from 3 and 82% from the free-throw line. Notably, Crowl will join John Tonje on the Jazz summer league team. Utah selected Tonje in the second round of Thursday's NBA draft. Both Wisconsin products will look to turn heads during the upcoming summer league circuit. While the two joined the Jazz under different circumstances, both still need strong play to earn a spot on the team's roster. Most likely, that would be the NBA roster for Tonje and the G League roster for Crowl. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
24-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Wisconsin star worked out for several NBA teams before upcoming draft
The 2025 NBA draft is now just days away. On Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, Adam Silver will take the stage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and announce the Dallas Mavericks' first overall pick. Wisconsin fans have notable rooting interests entering this year's draft. Star wing John Tonje is a likely second-round selection. His stock continues to rise in final mock draft projections, some of which see him going in the top-40. Another notable former Badger hoping to hear his name called during the two-day event is point guard Chucky Hepburn. The former Badger and Louisville Cardinal is lower-ranked than Tonje. He's down at No. 77 in CBSSports' latest top 100 player ranking, compared to Tonje's No. 44 position. While a selection during the draft's 59 picks may be a long shot for Hepburn, he's gotten plenty of chances to showcase his ability in front of interested NBA teams. Hepburn first participated in the G League Elite Camp. Then, according to RookieWire's Cody Taylor, he worked out with both the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors. Workouts don't necessarily guarantee a draft selection or a post-draft contract. For example, Wisconsin center Steven Crowl has worked out for seven teams, according to Taylor, though he is not projected to contend for a roster spot. Hepburn may be in a different situation than Crowl, however. He just delivered a career year leading the Cardinals, averaging 16.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 43% from the field, 33% from 3 and 84.4% from the free-throw line. Those tallies resulted in First Team All-ACC honors, as well as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award. While the point guard is undersized at 6-foot-2, NBA teams value his rare combination of ball-handling, distribution and lock-down on-ball defense. Hepburn was a mainstay in Wisconsin's lineup during his three years with the program. He appeared in 103 games during that time, averaging 32.1 minutes, 9.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Much of his time with the Badgers was spent as the No. 2 offensive option, behind shooting guards Johnny Davis (2021-22) and A.J. Storr (2023-24), respectively. The Omaha, Nebraska, native flourished in an increased role with Louisville in 2024-25. We'll see if that performance is enough to land him on an NBA roster. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
