Blake Wesley's NBA Team Will Have to Make Some Big Decisions

On Thursday night, Blake Wesley will hear his name called and will officially become the first one and done NBA draft pick in Notre Dame Men's Basketball history.

Wesley's career unfolded in a way that many couldn't have imagined. The South Bend native was ranked outside of the top 100 players in his class by most recruiting outlets and didn't start when he first got to Notre Dame.

The 6'5 guard always seemed to think that being in this position was possible, though. In an interview with Schuz, Wesley mentioned the possibility of being a one and done. At the time the claim seemed far fetched, but tomorrow the 19 year old's dream will likely be proven right as he sees his dream come to fruition.

In his lone season with the Irish, Wesley averaged 14.4 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, along with 2.4 assists per game while shooting slightly above 40% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. The Notre Dame freshman was also named to the ACC's all freshman first team.

The South Bend Riley product's skillset propelled him to one of the most productive seasons a freshman has ever had at Notre Dame. But the talented guard's work isn't complete...

Wesley is projected to be drafted in the early 20's of the draft by most major outlets, but some NBA decision makers think he'll need some more development before becoming a productive player at the next level.

Blake Wesley's isn't the first player with his perceived profile to enter the draft. Plenty of current NBA players came into the draft as perceived raw talents with high level unteachable skills, good positional size, and the ability to create their own shot.

Plenty of those prospects turned out to be high level NBA players, like Dejonte Murray and Shai Gilgeous Alexander, but others didn't quite make that kind of impact. There were obviously other factors, but a large part of each of their stories involves how they were developed and who they were developed by.

The organization that drafts Wesley will likely need a concise plan that allows the young guard to get near or hit his high ceiling.

The organization that drafts Wesley will have to make tough decisions like "Do we view Wesley as a one or a two?" "How will help him to improve his decision making, finishing around the rim, and defensive game?" and "Would we be better off giving him consistent playing time in the G-League than having him be a role player or reserve in the NBA?"

The question regarding Wesley's position may be the most important one, a quick decision may not be necessary, but eventually a team will likely have to make the decision. Has the young guard shown enough as a playmaker and a decision maker to make him a primary ball handler? Or do they think that Wesley is better suited as a guy they look to as a secondary creator in a score first role?

To execute a plan regarding the former Notre Dame guard, the team that drafts him will also need to find a place for him in their backcourt room that won't hinder his development. Burying him for years behind a group of veteran guards on long term contracts won't do the young guard much good, but throwing him to the wolves early without many veterans by his side could also be a tough situation for him if "NBA people" are right about where the young combo guard is in his development. Wesley's new team will need to find a balance in their backcourt so that it doesn't stunt Wesley's growth.

A team's decisions regarding Wesley certainly won't end on draft night, they'll be key to his development.

Thank You For Reading

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds. For you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

-James 1:2