5 game-changing X-factors to watch for during March Madness

By now, you've heard all about projected top 10 prospects in Duke's Marvin Bagley III, Oklahoma's Trae Young, or Arizona's Deandre Ayton - and for good reason.

These elite players are exactly the kind of hoopers NBA general managers want to be choosing with their first-round selections.

However, every March provides an opportunity for a lesser-known group of young men to make their mark. In each tournament, an under-the-radar batch of players step up in the clutch for their schools, using the March Madness showcase to launch their pro careers.

Here are five game-changing players you should keep an eye on during the upcoming tournament:

Jonathan Stark, Murray State

The Ohio Valley Conference champion Racers ride into the Big Dance on a 13-game winning streak, which has been anchored by OVC Player of the Year Jonathan Stark.

A transfer from Tulane two seasons ago, Stark has taken his game to the next level since his move to the state of Kentucky. He is the type of pure scorer who could make a major impact during the tournament, as the 6-foot guard is shooting 46 percent from the field and 41 percent from beyond the arc.

Simply put, Stark can put the ball in the hoop with the best of them in the college game. And, despite playing on a relatively unknown squad, expect him to make some noise when the Racers face a stiff test against No. 5 West Virginia in the first round.

If Stark can find his rhythm and knock down a few big shots, the Mountaineers could have their hands full with a Murray State team looking for its first tournament win since 2012.

Courtney Stockard, St. Bonaventure

The Bonnies took down UCLA on Tuesday to earn their first tournament win in 48 years - and forward Courtney Stockard was a major reason for that victory.

Stockard returned from a hamstring injury to pour in 26 points, his fifth consecutive game where he was arguably the best player on the floor.

Take a look at his numbers over that stretch:

Sensational work from a guy who no one is talking about.

St. Bonaventure clawed its way into the tournament, but now that the team is here, the undersized Bonnies could have enough speed and skill to shock the world.

Or, at the very least, dismantle a Florida Gators squad that lost four of its last seven games.

Mike Daum, South Dakota State

The reigning two-time Summit League Player of the Year is one of the most intriguing players who deserves more coverage. As much as the more dedicated college ball fan knows about the sharpshooting big man, the 2018 tourney could be Mike Daum's coming out party.

Touted as one of the best under-the-radar prospects in the tournament, Daum is the major reason the Jackrabbits find themselves sitting with a 12-seed next to their name.

At 6-foot-9 and 245 pounds, Daum is an intimidating force with a deft outside touch, knocking down 42 percent of his shots from long range this season while averaging 25 points and over 10 rebounds a night.

Check out his 25-point performance from South Dakota's Summit League championship win. Daum can do it all:

Also a dangerous player down low, Daum's prowess in the paint gets South Dakota's offense ticking, an attribute that could be the Ohio State Buckeyes' downfall when the two sides tangle in the Round of 64 on Thursday.

Tyler Davis, Texas A&M

A relentless worker at both ends of the floor, Tyler Davis has been rock-solid for the Aggies all season. While his offensive numbers don't exactly jump off the page, Davis is included on this list because he possesses the physical ability to impact the outcome of a game.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

The 6-foot-10, 265-pound center is a crucial piece to Texas A&M's success, averaging 14.5 points per night - good for most of any Aggies player. If Texas A&M's guards can utilize his size down low and feed Davis in the post, the Aggies might be able to make a decent run.

Davis doesn't have the same flash or curb appeal as others on our list, but his tendency to fly under the radar while still putting up stellar performances makes him a player to keep an eye on.

Ahmaad Rorie, Montana

The Grizzlies dominated the Big Sky conference this year to the tune of a 16-2 record. One of the main men behind the stellar season is 6-foot guard Ahmaad Rorie, who led Montana in scoring this campaign while averaging 17.2 points a night - good for third-best in the conference.

Rorie might be a name you've never heard of, but players from the Big Sky bracket rarely are.

However, Rorie has the handles and shot-making ability to be a difference-maker for the Grizzlies, especially when he gels with his backcourt mate Michael Oguine, as the two speedy guards have the tendency to make the opposition look silly:

A first-round matchup against a highly touted Michigan Wolverines squad doesn't bode well for Rorie's tournament longevity, but that doesn't change the fact he's a talent on the rise who could give the Wolverines some trouble with his quickness, ball-handling, and ability to knock down a clutch jumper.