The madness is nearing its end and the focus will soon shift to June's NBA draft. Here are five players who used the NCAA Tournament to help boost their stock in the eyes of professional teams:
Ja Morant - Murray State, Sophomore, G
Morant was already considered a major prospect, and he solidified his place at the top of the upcoming draft by finishing with a triple-double in Murray State's opening-round win over Marquette.
Duke's Zion Williamson remains the unquestioned favorite to go first overall, but there's a good chance Morant leap-frogged RJ Barrett as the No. 2 selection after proving that his versatile arsenal includes a respectable perimeter jumper.
Even in Murray State's second-round loss to a rugged Florida State squad, Morant finished with 28 points and drilled five of six 3-pointers, which boosted his percentage from deep to 36.3 for the season. If he can adequately threaten NBA teams from behind the arc, the electric guard will be able to thrive with his vision and athleticism.
Finally, while some might have doubts about mid-major superstars because they dominate against weaker competition, that shouldn't be the case here. The Stephen Currys and Damian Lillards of the world do exist, and Morant showed he's on track to rank among the NBA's elite.
Brandon Clarke - Gonzaga, Junior, F
Nobody has boosted their stock quite like Clarke during the Big Dance, as the 6-foot-8 forward was a menace at both ends of the court throughout four impressive tournament performances.
Most notable was Clarke's 36-point, 12-rebound, five-block showing against Baylor in Round 2, which legitimized his case to be a first-round pick. In fact, the Canadian big man was so dominant in certain moments that some believe he surpassed star teammate Rui Hachimura on draft boards.
It was that sort of tournament for Clarke, who should develop into an impactful defender in the pros. Despite being relatively small as a power forward, his elite leaping ability and his surreal timing when blocking shots will go a long way at the next level.
Carsen Edwards - Purdue, Junior, G
Edwards' incredible four-game scoring burst could help him sneak in as a late first-round pick. While some teams might shy away because he stands just 6-foot-1, not many college players are capable of exploding for 42 points on the biggest stage - let alone twice.
Including those performances against Villanova and Virginia, Edwards became the first player to crack the 25-point plateau in four straight NCAA Tournament games since Curry's legendary run in 2008.
In recent years, we've recently witnessed similar players like Jalen Brunson and Frank Mason fall to the early second round. Still, amid a relatively weak draft class, it shouldn't be shocking if a veteran team takes Edwards in the early 20s with hopes that he'll become a legitimate scoring threat off the bench.
Jarrett Culver - Texas Tech, Sophomore, G
Culver continuously trended upward this season, and the superstar swingman has now cemented his place as one of the top five or six picks in the draft and one of the most talented scorers in the country.
In the NCAA Tournament, NBA teams have already watched the 20-year-old lead Texas Tech to three blowout victories and then a narrow win over No. 1 Gonzaga to reach the first Final Four in program history.
Along the way, the 6-foot-5 Culver has made an impact at both ends of the court. This season, he leads Texas Tech in points (18.9), rebounds (6.4), and assists (3.7) while playing a key defensive role for one of the stingiest teams in the country. He's as NBA-ready as they come, and the tournament has shown the big stage doesn't faze him.
PJ Washington - Kentucky, Sophomore, F
Washington returned for his sophomore season with hopes of climbing up draft boards, but the early results weren't impressive, as the 6-foot-8 forward averaged just 11.8 points through the first 17 games.
However, he drastically increased his scoring in the final 16 pre-tournament contests, pouring in 17.9 points per game while knocking down an ultra-efficient 44.4 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Washington then missed Kentucky's first two March Madness games with a foot injury before making a surprise return for the Sweet 16, where his side narrowly topped Houston. His 16-point showing in that contest undoubtedly impressed scouts considering Washington said afterward that he "suffered through" foot pain during the game.
And despite failing to lead the Wildcats to their first Final Four since 2015, Washington was spectacular in their Elite Eight loss to Auburn, finishing with 28 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals in 37 hard-fought minutes. It's safe to say his decision to return this season will pay off in June's draft.
