Where could Northwestern’s all-time leading scorer land in the 2024 NBA Draft?
With the 2024 NBA Draft just under two months away, numerous talented collegiate basketball players are gearing up to hear their names called at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. This year, for the first time, the event will adopt a two-day format, with rounds one and two spanning from June 26 to 27.
While several Big Ten prospects are expected to be drafted, including Indiana’s Kel’el Ware, Purdue’s Zach Edey, Illinois’ Terrence Shannon Jr., and Coleman Hawkins, Northwestern’s outlook is vastly different. Head coach Chris Collins is on track for his 11th consecutive year without having a player selected in the NBA Draft, as he has yet to hear Commissioner Adam Silver call a Wildcat’s name during his tenure in Evanston.
Although the odds are very slim, Collins’ chance of hearing one of his players called to the stage at the Barclays Center rests in the hands of Northwestern’s all-time leading scorer, Boo Buie. The First-team All-Big Ten honoree utilized his final year of collegiate eligibility this past season to lead the Wildcats to the school’s first-ever consecutive March Madness appearances, boasting a sensational stat line of 19 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5 assists per game for Northwestern. Buie’s stellar play significantly transformed Collins’ program into one of the most formidable teams in the conference.
This marked a stark turnaround from when the 24-year-old first entered Evanston — when the team was considered a laughingstock of the Big Ten. As Buie prepares to leave Evanston, his next career challenge will be securing a professional contract.
While his relatively old age for a rookie will be a crucial factor in team evaluations, NBA front offices will also have concerns about his undersized 6’2”, 180-pound frame. Given his size, it’s difficult to imagine him successfully transitioning to the next level, as he will face challenges defending against and competing with all-star caliber guards in the NBA. This represents a completely different realm of talent compared to his competition in the Big Ten.
Although the prospects for Buie to become an impact player for a playoff-caliber team during his career are slim, he can still carve out a solid professional career.
Several players who played at Northwestern under Collins have successfully established careers for themselves without being drafted into the NBA, including Pete Nance, Pat Spencer, and Chase Audige.
Buie’s path to earning a professional contract could mirror that of Nance, who secured a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers after a strong Summer League campaign last season. Nance turned heads in Las Vegas, averaging 7.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game, playing a pivotal role in helping lead Cleveland to the Summer League championship.
However, if Buie fails to capitalize on what may be his best opportunity—a standout performance in the Summer League—he might have to follow the overseas route that Spencer took to work his way into the NBA. The current Golden State Warriors guard began his professional career playing in Germany for the Hamburg Towers in 2021, leveraging it to secure a contract with the Capital City Go-Go, the G-League affiliate of the Washington Wizards.
Spencer’s overseas journey helped jumpstart his NBA career to where he is now. Last season, he carved out a minor role within Warriors head coach Steve Kerr’s reserve unit, averaging nearly a point per game for Golden State.
Yet, one concern about Buie attempting to follow Spencer’s route is his age. If Buie spends a few years honing his skills in highly competitive environments like the EuroLeague or Spain’s Liga ACB, he could be approaching 30 by the time he’s ready to compete in the NBA. This underscores the importance of Buie seizing the opportunity to deliver an outstanding performance in this year’s Summer League. An impressive showing could lead to a two-way contract, potentially paving the way for a roster spot on an NBA bench.