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 38 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
Justise Winslow, SF, Duke
Pre-Tournament: 10, 9 (ESPN, DX)
Pre-Sweet Sixteen: 6, 7
Winslow's performance was the highlight of Sunday's action, with the Duke forward likely pulling ahead of Stanley Johnson and Kelly Oubre in the battle to be the first domestic wing player selected in June.
Over two games, Winslow scored 19 points with 23 rebounds, 12 assists, four steals and four blocks while shooting 8 of 14 from the floor and two of four from outside. The scoring numbers may not jump off the page, but Winslow's across-the-board contributions are nearly unmatched at this level.
His elite defense has him drawing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist comparisons, and remember he went second overall without a jump shot just a few years back ... and Winslow's hit 40 percent of his threes this year. He'll have a huge opportunity to further display his defensive versatility on Friday against Utah guard Delon Wright, one of the top offensive players in the country.
Nigel Hayes, PF, Wisconsin
Pre-Tournament: 59, N/R (ESPN, DX)
Pre-Sweet Sixteen: 26, 26
Let's start here with Hayes: Nobody made themselves more likable over the course of the weekend than Hayes, who dropped words like cattywampus and quandary and zephyr in media availability just to toy with a stenographer.
On the court, the Wisconsin forward was phenomenal, upping his status all the way from also-ran to potential first-round pick. That's an enormous jump, and it started back in the Big Ten tournament. Over his last four games overall - all against tournament teams - Hayes has averaged 17.3 points, six rebounds and four assists while shooting 46.5 percent overall and 44.4 percent on threes.
The sophomore is small for the four but hyper-athletic, and while he doesn't rebound exceptionally well, he's a savvy, active presence on the defensive end. If teams believe his 39.3-percent 3-point stroke is real, there's a really solid player here.
Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah
Pre-Tournament: 20, 19 (ESPN, DX)
Pre-Sweet Sixteen: 17, 14
Poeltl's going to have a phenomenal opportunity to up his stock against Duke's Jahlil Okafor, the presumed number one pick, on Friday. To this point, he's done well for himself in showing that his appreciable potential is closer to being realized than originally thought.
The seven-footer scored 30 points on ridiculous 12-of-13 shooting over two games, adding nine rebounds and six blocks in the process. He's basically taken himself from first-round developmental pick to potential lottery pick, a status he could firm up with a strong showing in the Sweet Sixteen.
Demetrius Jackson, PG, Notre Dame
Pre-Tournament: 39, 57 (ESPN, DX)
Pre-Sweet Sixteen: 34, 25
Jackson's been making a fairly steady climb up draft boards since 2015 opened, enough so that his tournament performance could determine what round he's selected in come June, or if he declares at all.
So far so good for Notre Dame's intangible-laden guard, who scored 22 points with 10 assists, three steals and just a single turnover in two games last week. Wichita State's guard-heavy attack will be a great chance for Jackson to take the bubble out of his first-round status.
Michael Qualls, SG, Arkansas
Pre-Tournament: N/R, 59 (ESPN, DX)
Pre-Sweet Sixteen: 57, 46
There may be anyone who gained more over the last week than Qualls, who has taken himself from draft after-thought unlikely to declare to firmly within the second-round mix. He may ultimately opt for a senior season at Arkansas, in which case the SEC may want to run for cover.
Qualls beasted to open the tournament, scoring 47 points with 13 rebounds and four assists over two games, shooting 16-of-28 from the floor in the process. This comes on the heels of an 18-point, 8-of-12 performance against Kentucky in the SEC championship game.
He can guard either wing spot and can clearly dominate against strong competition. The question now becomes whether he can further develop his 33.3-percent clip from outside.
Now on the radar
Joseph Young, SG, Oregon - The senior went from likely European pro to potential second-round pick, landing in ESPN's top-50 after a really strong tournament (57 points, eight assists, 20-of-40 shooting in two games).
T.J. McConnell, PG, Arizona - The former A-10 All-Defense player was a menace all weekend, earning himself a spot on DX's top-100, and the senior should get a Summer League look.
Anthony Barber, PG, NC State - You don't make a Cinderella run to the Sweet Sixteen without someone's stock rising. His inconsistency and relatively low profile likely mean a junior season but another strong weekend could change that.
