Iowa’s Luka Garza, Joe Wieskamp get NBA Combine invitations

It appears Joe Wieskamp is getting closer to turning professional.

Not officially, perhaps, but the Muscatine native who finished his junior season with the Iowa men’s basketball team in March clearly has some status with NBA team executives.

Wieskamp is one of just five Big Ten players of the 69 who have been invited to next week’s NBA predraft Combine in Chicago. He joins Iowa teammate Luka Garza, the National Player of the Year and a surefire Combine invitee.

Wieskamp, a 6-foot-6 wing, averaged 14.8 points and 6.6 rebounds for the Hawkeyes last season and led the team in steals. He made 46.2 percent (73-of-158) of his 3-point tries.

He was the only Division I player with 400-plus points, 200-plus rebounds, 70-plus 3-pointers and 25-plus steals. He was a second-team All-Big Ten selection of coaches and media.

Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu, Michigan forward Isaiah Livers and Michigan State guard Aaron Henry are the other Combine participants from the Big Ten.

Meanwhile, distinguished Big Ten players Hunter Dickinson of Michigan, E.J. Liddell of Ohio State and Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn are among several Big Ten players who will try to advance from this weekend’s NBA G League Elite Camp to the Combine.

Like Wieskamp, Dickinson and Liddell haven’t officially ruled out returning for another season of college ball. Wieskamp’s name, however, isn’t listed on the current Iowa roster at the school’s athletics website.

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