The Marquette Golden Eagles will be losing Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro not only to graduation, but they also may be going to the NBA as well. Kolek and Ighodaro played a huge role in Marquette’s success over the past two seasons.
Tyler Kolek was the Big East Player of the Year in 2022-2023 and was also named to the All-Big East First Team in 2023-2024. Kolek helped Marquette get a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons. In 2022-2023, they won the Big East Regular Season Title and they also the Big East Conference Tournament.
Kolek and Ighodaro both meant a lot to the basketball program and head coach Shaka Smart and many others are going to miss them in 2024-2025 and beyond. Tyler Kolek in 31 games this past season with Marquette averaged 15.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 7.7 APG, 0.2 BPG, and 1.6 SPG.
He shot 49.6% from the field and also shot 38.8% from three-point land this season for the Golden Eagles. NBA Mock Drafts have had him all over the place.
NBADRAFT.NET Has Tyler Kolek of the Marquette Golden Eagles Being Selected 31st Overall In the 2024 NBA Draft By the Toronto Raptors
Nbadraft.net updated its NBA Mock Draft on March, 27. With the 31st selection in the 2024 NBA Draft, they have the Toronto Raptors selected Tyler Kolek from Marquette. Toronto will own three picks in the 2024 NBA Draft this season and two of the other picks would be in the first round at 17th overall and 28th overall.
The comparisons for Kolek are T.J. McConnell and Payton Prichard. Prichard has become a very good bench player in the NBA for the Boston Celtics and he can do well in spot starts when called upon. Some of the strengths of Kolek according to NBADRAFT.NET are as follows:
“Makes the game look incredible easy … Scrappy left-handed guard that competes at the highest level night in and night out … One of the top facilitators in the country and a leader on the court with great vision and basketball IQ … Has improved his scoring each year and become a reliable scoring threat for Marquette … Excellent free throw shooter at 88 percent and can shoot it from deep as well at 40 percent from three … Showed steady improvement with his shot each year in college … A winner who can step up when needed as a leader and put the team on his back … Makes up for lack of athleticism and build with tough and relentless play.”
He is going to be a good bench player in the NBA Tyler Kolek and would also be good in spot starts as well. The Marquette Golden Eagles are going to miss his playmaking at the point guard position next season.
