Chicago Bulls: A deeper look into one of the most underrated prospects

The Final Four has put a spotlight on some of college basketball’s top players. Should the Chicago Bulls be looking at Texas Tech big man Tariq Owens?

The Chicago Bulls’ 2018-19 NBA season is (thankfully) almost over. This rough season full of injuries and losses has made most Bulls fans turn their attention towards college basketball to do some scouting for potential future Bulls.

At this point, we already know who the Bulls should be looking at with their lottery pick. Zion Williamson is the clear choice if they get lucky and win the draft lottery. But if they aren’t as lucky, they’ll likely be selecting someone like Ja Morant, R.J. Barrett, Darius Garland or Jarrett Culver – all viable options.

What should the Bulls do with their second-round pick, though? In the past, we’ve seen the Bulls treat second-round picks as if they’re unimportant, but that has to stop. This year (and for every year to come), they should put a lot of time and consideration into who they want to add to this young, promising roster.

A guy that’s getting little-to-no attention in mock drafts but has an incredibly high ceiling is Texas Tech senior Tariq Owens.

Many NBA fans probably didn’t hear much about Owens all season long, but he definitely made some noise in the Red Raider’s Final Four matchup with Michigan State. He finished the game with seven points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field and 1-of-2 shooting from deep to go along with four rebounds and three blocks in only 23 minutes of action.

No, Owens didn’t set the basketball world on fire by scoring in bunches and hitting tons of deep shots, but his impact was palpable, especially on the defensive end. The 6’10” forward was constantly flying around the court, diving for loose balls and swatting shots out of midair. His energy was contagious and he was a big reason why Michigan State only scored 51 points and shot a horrendous 31.9% from the field.

This game wasn’t an outlier for Owens. On the season, he averaged 2.5 blocks per game, and last season (for St. Johns), he averaged 2.8. The kid can flat-out protect the rim.

Sure, there are some questions about his offensive game. He shot a rough 25.8% from 3-point range this season, but his form actually looks pretty good. He has a smooth, high release, which makes me optimistic about his potential as a stretch big. Plus, he showed us on Saturday night that he can finish at the rim with authority.

Owens’ energy, hustle, length and defensive upside make him an extraordinarily intriguing second-round possibility.

Obviously, he wouldn’t start over Lauri Markkanen or Wendell Carter Jr., but if Owens can give the Bulls 15-20 minutes per game of rim protection and energy, he’ll prove his worth in no time.

It’s impossible to say whether or not the Bulls should take Owens in the second round at this time. It all depends on who else is available. But if Chicago decides to prioritize defense and energy, Tariq Owens is the guy for the job.