NCAA Tournament Prospect Watch: Sweet Sixteen preview
The NCAA tournament has felt even more loaded with potential NBA prospects this year than it did in 2014 with one of the most heralded draft classes of all time. Maybe it's the battle to be No. 1 pick, or the constant shuffling of those in the lottery, or the fact that 33 of ESPN's top 40 prospects were all on teams that made the field of 68. Maybe we just love this time of year regardless of prospect quality.
In any case, there were 74 prospects in the tournament ranked in the top 100 by either ESPN, DraftExpress or both, and 40 remain entering the Sweet Sixteen. Each day of the tournament, we'll check in and see how said prospects performed, and at the end of each weekend we'll provide a Stock Watch, letting you know who's been trending in what direction.
Pre-Tourney Previews: EAST | WEST | SOUTH | MIDWEST | Kentucky
Day One review: Russell, Towns shine
Day Two review: Okafor holds serve, Kaminsky dominates
Day Three review: Hollis-Jefferson locks up Russell
Day Four review: Rozier and Winslow excel
Week One Trending: 5 stocks going up
Week One Trending: 5 stocks going down
Thursday - West and Midwest Regions
No. 7 Wichita State vs. No. 3 Notre Dame
Not only should this be a terrific game, the two sides are mirror images when it comes to their prospects. For Wichita State, it's been Fred VanVleet taking over and improving his chances of landing in the second round while Ron Baker has taken on a more secondary role. For Notre Dame, Demetrius Jackson has continued his hot run of play, leaving Jerian Grant to contribute in non-scoring ways.
Thursday should represent a good chance for all four to prove their NBA mettle against elite competition. And then Kentucky looms.
No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 1 Wisconsin
Wisconsin's three top prospects have all been playing well, particularly Nigel Hayes, and the Badgers have been firing on all cylinders as a result. UNC may be without Kennedy Meeks, but with Justin Jackson and J.P. Tokoto both finding their strides at the right time, this game has the makings of a pre-draft prospect gauntlet.
With few notable flaws and a huge interior edge with Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin is the clear favorite, but don't discount the absurd talent in the Tar Heels' starting five.
Other Prospects: Sam Dekker (Wisconsin), Brice Johnson (UNC), Marcus Paige (UNC)
No. 5 West Virginia vs. No. 1 Kentucky
Kentucky is so loaded with prospects that they got their own regional preview before the Round of 64. Their two top-10 7-footers, Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein, will have free reign in the post against a Mountaineers team that has no rotation player larger than 6-foot-9 Devin Williams.
West Virginia's devoid of NBA prospects altogether, but they're a sold team and a nice litmus test for Kentucky's plethora of high-end NBA talent.
Other Prospects: Devin Booker (Kentucky), Trey Lyles (Kentucky), Dakari Johnson (Kentucky), Tyler Ulis (Kentucky), Andrew Harrison (Kentucky), Marcus Lee (Kentucky), Aaron Harrison (Kentucky), Juwan Staten (West Virginia)
No. 6 Xavier vs. No. 2 Arizona
The Musketeers are thin on NBA prospects and may be the least impressive team left in the tournament, but Thursday marks another chance to look in on Arizona's five potential draft picks.
In particular, Stanley Johnson's inconsistency has been frustrating and he'd be well-served by a dominant outing. Meanwhile, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has been playing terrific but it's yet to really move the needle on his draft stock, and showing his opening week was no mirage could push him closer to the lottery.
Other Prospects: Kaleb Tarczewski (Arizona), Brandon Ashley (Arizona), T.J. McConnell (Arizona)
Friday - East and South Regions
No. 11 UCLA vs. No. 2 Gonzaga
Surprisingly, UCLA's unlikely run to the Sweet Sixteen hasn't upped the draft stock of Kevon Looney, but he has a phenomenal chance to show off his defensive chops against Kyle Wiltjer in this one. While Wiltjer isn't quite on the NBA radar yet, he's one of the toughest checks in college ball.
On the Bulldogs' side, Domantas Sabonis has been terrific of late and will look to solidify his case as a first-round pick. Looney could draw that assignment at times, too, especially when the Zags play Przemek Karnowski alongside Sabonis in a giant frontcourt.
Other Prospects: Norman Powell (UCLA)
No. 8 NC State vs. No 4 Louisville
What may end up being the most competitive game is a little thin on prospects. NC State's Cat Barber has gotten on the radar some, but the eyes of most scouts will be on Montrezl Harrell and Terry Rozier of Louisville.
Rozier's stock has been rising consistently and a trip to the Final Four could secure his standing in the first round, while Harrell's been considered a mid-first-round pick for three years and doesn't have a great deal to lose or gain from any one game.
No. 5 Utah vs. No. 1 Duke
This is the premier Sweet Sixteen game to tune in to for prospect evaluation, with two or three terrific potentially matchups.
Duke center and potential No. 1 pick Jahlil Okafor will go toe-to-toe with potential lottery pick and 7-footer Jakob Poeltl, who will be looking to show his game is more NBA ready than was thought before the tournament. Okafor doesn't have a great deal to lose but Poeltl could really do wonders for his stock with a strong showing, especially on the defensive end.
Meanwhile, Utah guard Delon Wright, one of the best players in the country this season, is a part of two interesting matchups. He may be tasked with guarding hyper-efficient Duke guard Tyus Jones, while the Blue Devils could conceivably put vaunted wing stopper Justise Winslow on the 6-foot-5 Wright.
There's a ton to watch here. Can't wait.
No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 3 Oklahoma
The least interesting game for prospect purposes should still be a fun one on the court. Oklahoma's Buddy Hield and Michigan State's Branden Dawson both have tenuous holds on a second-round spot and could really use a strong showing.