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10 NBA prospects to watch in the Sweet 16

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

The NCAA tournament is too small of a sample to extrapolate future performance at the NBA level, but general managers can't stay away.

A study conducted in 2011 found that a Final Four appearance improves a prospect's stock by an average of 12 draft slots. A great tournament run could turn a second-round pick into a first, or a late first into a lottery selection. Prime examples include Shabazz Napier, Tyler Hansbrough, Mateen Cleaves, and Christian Laettner.

The general takeaway is that visibility in the Big Dance matters. Here's 10 NBA prospects to watch in the Sweet 16.

Lonzo Ball, UCLA

Come for LaVar Ball's sound bites, stay for Lonzo Ball's prodigal talent.

LaVar has more than enough reason to be proud. No, he's not better than Stephen Curry right now, but Lonzo has everything you would want in an NBA prospect. Great size for a point guard at 6-foot-6; limitless 3-point range off the dribble; led the nation in assists as a freshman; willing to compete on defense; able to dunk on people when necessary.

Josh Jackson, Kansas

Josh Jackson is an elite two-way wing. He drills threes, has a mid-range game, can attack off the dribble, is a nightmare in transition, defends three positions, and doesn't shrink in big moments.

With the likes of Duke and Villanova out of the tournament, Kansas is looked upon as a favorite to win the national championship, largely because of Jackson.

De'Aaron Fox, Kentucky

Save for John Wall, you won't find anybody quicker than De'Aaron Fox.

His jumper is still suspect, but Fox still manages create for himself and his teammates with his blazing speed and tight handle. He gets to the rim with raw ferocity and is always a threat to come up with a game-changing defensive sequence. Becoming Dennis Schroder is the floor for Fox.

Malik Monk, Kentucky

Fox's backcourt partner Malik Monk is another projected top-five pick. All you need to know is that the prodigal shooting guard can flat-out get buckets.

Monk set a Kentucky freshman record by dropping 47 points against North Carolina as an 18-year-old. Enough said.

Caleb Swanigan, Purdue

Most bigs selected in the lottery are outlandishly large and crazy athletic, and the 6-foot-9, ground-bound Caleb Swanigan definitely isn't that.

But what Swanigan offers is a polished product on offense. He schools fools in the post. He can pass out of the high post. He understands how he affects the defense and makes concerted moves to create space for his teammates. He knows how to use his bulk to control the glass. He can even knock down threes if left unattended.

Lauri Markkanen, Arizona

There's always a stigma that comes with European 7-footers who primarily operate on the perimeter, but overlooking Lauri Markkanen would be foolish.

It's not that Markkanen can hit an outside shot. He's lights out from deep like Channing Frye, with a quicker release than J.J. Redick. He led the nation in scoring efficiency in the halfcourt. The Finnish sharpshooter is also a fluid athlete who can attack off the dribble and either finish around the hoop, or stop on a dime for his pullup jumper.

In short, Markkanen is perfect for the modern NBA.

Dillon Brooks, Oregon

The deal with Dillon Brooks is similar to Swanigan, in that the skills are there, but the physical tools might not be. He's undersized and he's already 21. That will turn some teams off.

But Brooks brings a bit of everything else to the table. He can play four positions on both ends of the floor. Brooks is like Shabazz Muhammad, with a better handle, and a willingness to compete on every possession.

Justin Jackson, North Carolina

Becoming a lights-out shooter by perfecting his stroke has changed everything for Justin Jackson's draft stock.

The UNC junior already boasted excellent mobility, size, and defensive talents, but adding a consistent 3-point shot suddenly opened possibilities as a big small forward or a small-ball four at the NBA level. Pairing his outside shot with his off-the-dribble game sees Jackson as a potential lottery selection.

Devonte' Graham, Kansas

Kansas guard Devonte' Graham could be playing himself into a first-round selection with a strong tournament run.

Graham is undersized, even at point guard. He struggles to finish in traffic and is more of a scoring combo guard than a playmaker. But the 22-year-old can create his own shot, he can spot-up from deep, and his quickness can be an asset on both sides of the ball.

TJ Leaf, UCLA

A strong NCAA tournament run is exactly what TJ Leaf needs, because the knock on him in college is that he shrinks against elite competition.

Leaf has the tools to become a stretch five at the NBA level, at least on offense. He can play in the post, his wonky-looking jumper is effective out to the 3-point arc, and he's athletic enough to attack a closeout.

But it will take some time to make it work. Leaf doesn't have the tools to be a good defender, nor does he have a great feel for how to guard in space.

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