Mark Snyder

Detroit Free Press

Michigan big men Moe Wagner and D.J. Wilson are heading to the biggest job interview of their lives this week at the NBA pre-draft combine in Chicago.

But many minds may be already made up, especially about Wagner.

“The NBA guys I talk to say, 'Moe Wagner, come back,'" ESPN analyst Jeff Goodman said on a conference call today. "Great that he played well at the end of the year but it was a small sample size. He’s got good upside, come back become a better rebounder, become a better defender, but go back to school.

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“D.J. same thing for the most part. But they felt like he did more to justify what he did in testing the process. They felt like he could be a 25-to-40 type guy at the end of the day. But almost everyone I talked to said both should come back, Wagner 1000%. And Wilson, if he comes back, he could play his way into the first round for sure next year."

Each player has two years of eligibility remaining, so as long as they withdraw from the draft before May 24, they will be able to return to Michigan and re-enter the process next year without penalty.

That's what they're currently evaluating and hope to figure out at this week's combine, which runs today through Sunday, with the on-court drills and testing coming Thursday and Friday at Chicago's Quest Multisport facility. U-M coach John Beilein said last week that both may take their decision up to the deadline trying to assess the feedback from teams.

Wagner said in April that he hadn't considered entering the draft until after the season ended and he drew so much attention from his breakout game against Louisville in the second round. But that may not be enough.

"If you take away the 26 points versus Louisville and the good game against Minnesota (17 points) late in the year, he did not play great the rest of the postseason," ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla said.

Wilson may have a better chance of getting drafted, but it may not be the best decision for him.

“Neither one of those guys is physically ready for the NBA," Fraschilla said. "D.J’s really interesting because he is the quintessential 'three and D' big guy right now. He shoots threes and he has great length to defend. Even he got bullied inside. So both of those guys are not ready in my opinion to be in the NBA right now.

"D.J. could get drafted in the first round late but he ain't playing in an important NBA game for at least a couple years."

While both Wagner and Wilson are projected as late first-round picks by ESPN.com's Chad Ford -- and rank No. 26 and 27 on his Big Board -- U-M's third player at the combine is getting less attention.

Derrick Walton Jr. was Michigan's team MVP last season but was an alternate for the combine and is not projecting to be drafted.

“Kudos to Derrick Walton, he had a monster season, he’s probably likely a D-League player, but he shoots the absolute cover off the basketball," Fraschilla said. "But when you look at all the guys who are points guards in this draft after you get past the first five, I just watched him give (Oklahoma State's) Jawun Evans fits and some people think Jawun Evans is a first rounder and he could not guard (Derrick) Walton."

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Contact Mark Snyder: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark__snyder.Download our Wolverines Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!