5 players who could dominate Sweet 16

There will be no shortage of star power when the NCAA Tournament's regional semifinals kick off Thursday. Some players have flown under the radar so far, but they'll be front and center from here on out.

Here are five players to watch in the Sweet 16:

Zion Williamson, Duke

Zion Williamson is truly one of a kind. There's no player in college - and very few in the NBA - who possesses the athleticism and skill set of the 6-foot-7, 285-pound Williamson. Game after game, he continues to get better.

With Duke trailing UCF by three with under 20 seconds remaining, Williamson took it upon himself to get the Blue Devils a crucial bucket. Williamson drove into the paint, spun past his defender, and showed great strength and hang time to finish over 7-foot-6 center Tacko Fall.

Walking off the court following Duke's narrow escape, Williamson told teammate RJ Barrett, "We're not going home, man," according to ESPN's David M. Hale. It's a "never say die" attitude that can't be taught. Some players are just born with it - and Zion clearly has it.

Coby White, North Carolina

Coby White's hair might be the first thing that stands out, but there's more to him than meets the eye. The freshman guard is a perfect fit for North Carolina's up-tempo game; his blinding speed and ability to instantly shift gears make him a nightmare in transition.

Posting three games of 30 points or more this season, White is an explosive scorer. At 6-foot-5, he can also defend multiple positions. The 19-year-old shot 37.9 percent from downtown during the regular season and set a UNC freshman record with 82 triples and counting.

White shows no fear when attacking the basket and can easily split opposing defenses that attempt to trap or double-team him.

Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga

Brandon Clarke could be the missing piece to the Zags' national championship puzzle. The junior transfer has arguably been Gonzaga's best player, leading the team in rebounding and ranking second in scoring.

Clarke is a well-deserving finalist for the Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year. The Canadian is an elite rim-protector, averaging the third-most blocks per game (3.1) in the nation during the regular season. He's also got great defensive instincts, allowing him to recover if beaten off the dribble and guard multiple positions effectively.

Offensively, he's incredibly efficient, boasting a 70.8 percent true shooting percentage thanks to his soft touch around the rim. Clarke runs the floor well in transition and has a relentless motor. He doesn't give up on plays and shows great second effort.

Carsen Edwards, Purdue

Carsen Edwards entered the NCAA Tournament in a huge shooting slump; he connected on just 23.5 percent of his attempts from downtown and 31.4 percent from the field overall in the previous nine games. But the junior guard has awoken in a big way, dropping 26 and then a career-high 42 points in Purdue's first two tournament games.

Edwards has tremendous confidence in his shot and won't hesitate to fire away. He's got NBA range from long distance and doesn't mind pulling up from beyond the arc if a defender is napping. Edwards was borderline superhuman against Villanova in the Round of 32, drilling nine triples to help the Boilermakers hand the defending national champs their worst loss in NCAA Tournament history.

As long as Edwards is on the floor, Purdue is never out of the game.

Kenny Wooten, Oregon

Kenny Wooten's performance through the tournament's first two rounds is starting to feel a lot like Jordan Bell's showing during Oregon's run to the Final Four in 2017.

The 6-foot-9 sophomore has been at the core of the Ducks' late-season defensive turnaround. Wooten's seven blocks against UC Irvine in the Round of 32 are second behind Bell's single-game tournament record of eight set two years ago. His mere presence discourages players from attacking the paint, and if his teammates are beaten off the bounce, Wooten is quick to help.

He won't shoot the lights out, but Wooten cleans up any misses around the rim and provides point guard Payton Pritchard with a lob option.