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Who Were the Top Picks in the PBA Rookie Draft 2017 and Where Are They Now?
I still remember the excitement buzzing through the arena during the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft. As someone who’s followed Philippine basketball for over a decade, I’ve always found rookie drafts particularly fascinating—they’re where future legends get their start, and where hopeful dreams either take flight or fade away. That year felt special, with an unusually deep talent pool that had teams scrambling to secure their next franchise player.
The top pick that year went to Christian Standhardinger, selected first overall by the San Miguel Beermen. At 6'8" with a versatile offensive game, he was considered the most NBA-ready prospect in the draft. Following him at number two was Kiefer Ravena, the charismatic guard from Ateneo who went to the NLEX Road Warriors. Third overall was Jason Perkins, a solid forward who landed with the Phoenix Fuel Masters. These three were widely regarded as the can't-miss prospects, the kind of players you build teams around.
Looking back now, six years later, their careers have taken fascinating paths. Standhardinger has become exactly what scouts predicted—a consistent double-double machine who won a championship with Barangay Ginebra in 2021. Ravena developed into one of the league's premier guards before making the jump to Japan's B-League in 2022, which honestly broke my heart as a PBA fan, though I understand the financial appeal. Perkins has been the steady presence Phoenix needed, winning Rookie of the Year honors and developing into one of the league's most reliable forwards.
What's particularly interesting to me is how some of the later picks have outperformed expectations. Sixth pick Jio Jalalon, selected by Star Hotshots, developed into one of the league's premier defensive guards. Meanwhile, some highly-touted prospects like Robbie Herndon (fourth pick) have bounced between teams, never quite finding their footing. This just goes to show that draft position isn't everything in basketball—development and fit matter tremendously.
I recently spoke with a sports psychologist who works with several PBA players, and she mentioned something that stuck with me. She said that for players facing career challenges or transitions between teams, "the thing that got her through such a rough stretch in her career was taking time not only to prepare her body but also to sharpen her mind." This mental approach seems particularly relevant when we consider "Who Were the Top Picks in the PBA Rookie Draft 2017 and Where Are They Now?" because the players who've sustained success clearly worked on both physical and mental aspects of their game.
Standhardinger, for instance, adapted his playing style multiple times—from being a primary scorer to embracing different roles on championship teams. Ravena spent years developing his basketball IQ, which made his transition to international basketball smoother. These adjustments require more than physical talent; they demand the kind of mental sharpening that separates good players from great ones.
Reflecting on the 2017 draft class today, I'd say it produced about 4-5 legitimate star players, 3-4 solid rotation pieces, and unfortunately, several players who are no longer in the league. The class has combined for approximately 12 All-Star appearances and 3 championship rings among the top ten picks alone. What fascinates me most is how their career trajectories reveal the importance of both opportunity and personal development in professional sports.
As we look toward future drafts, the 2017 class serves as a compelling case study in talent evaluation and player development. Their journeys remind us that a draft selection is just the beginning—the real work begins afterward, both in the gym and in the mind. And honestly, that's what makes following these careers so rewarding year after year.