Killian Tillie, Gonzaga Basketball.
The NBA Draft is bittersweet for Gonzaga basketball. On the one hand, it’s a final goodbye to players that have contributed so much to the program. On the other, it’s a time to celebrate those players’ achievements as they get rewarded with a chance to play at the highest level of professional basketball.
Pacific Northwest Sports scoured the internet for reliable mock drafts. We audited 34 of them, including ESPN, Fox, CBS, Sports Illustrated, and USA Today, to get a consensus of where Killian Tillie will get drafted.
None of the mock drafts audited had Tillie going in the first round. That isn’t a big surprise. Of the twelve mocks that went through Round 2, Tillie appeared on ten of them.
The biggest thing holding Tillie back from being a bonafide first-round pick isn’t talent-related. On talent alone, he’s a top 20 pick. Injuries have taken their toll on this French import. In four years with the Zags, he missed 38 games with damage such as a stress fracture in his ankle, knee surgery, and torn foot ligaments. That’s enough to scare away several teams from selecting him.
In his senior season, Tillie only played in 22 of Gonzaga’s 33 games. He averaged 13.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. On several nights, Tillie was coach Mark Few’s best player. For example, against San Francisco in the West Coast Conference Tournament, Tillie had a double-double, leading the Bulldogs with 19 points and 10 boards in an 81-77 victory.
NBC Sports calls him a risky sleeper with a high upside. Setting injuries aside, Tillie has all the tools to be successful at the next level. He possesses a great combination of size and outside shooting ability. One of the biggest needs in today’s NBA is big wing players who can knock down a trifecta.
The 6-10 forward connected on 44.4 percent of his shots from three-point range during his college career. One site compared him to another European who came to the NBA, Chicago Bulls great Toni Kukoc.
“A mature, polished offensive player who can space the floor at a high level, pass the ball with vision, and make opportunistic plays inside, Tillie thrived in a key role on a deep, uniquely balanced Gonzaga team that played extremely fast last season. A skilled inside-outside threat with great touch and instincts, he ranked among the most efficient players in the country as a senior.” – NBA.com
Again, most evaluations don’t have many criticisms of Tillie’s game. The biggest knock on him is about durability. The internet is full of stories about him. They usually start with Tillie would be a first-round pick if it weren’t for injuries.
“A completely-healthy Tillie would undoubtedly be a first-round pick. His feel for the game is as good as any prospect in this class… Unfortunately for Tillie, all of the conversations regarding his pro outlook begin with the injury history that forced him to miss over 30 games during his college career.” – Chris Grenham, Forbes.
There are questions about his ability to play defense in the NBA. Tillie isn’t very fast, but he makes up for his average foot speed, and lateral mobility with a high basketball IQ; very rarely is he out of position.
As mentioned above, three of the ten mock drafts Tillie appeared on had him headed to the Philadelphia 76ers. That could be a good place for him. They like to play low in Philly and crash the boards. He would be an excellent way to keep defenders honest. If they kick out the ball to Tillie and he nails some treys, opponents would be forced to out hire and guard him.
Likewise with Boston. Their focus is beating up other teams on the glass. He would create a matchup nightmare as opponents who would then have to decide where they want the Celtics to beat them, inside or outside.
Sam Vecinie of The Athletic has Tillie going to Golden State with the 46th pick. That would be a great team for him to begin his NBA career. Injuries to star players dragged Golden State to the bottom of the league last season. In 2021, they will be back in contention for an NBA Championship.
Other places Tillie might end up: 31st – Dallas, 32nd – Charlotte, 38th – New York, 40th – Memphis, 54th – Indiana.
As for the two mock drafts that don’t have Tillie on them, that’s ridiculous. I can almost guarantee that if he hasn’t been selected by pick 55, a team will trade back into the draft to pick him.