The NCAA Tournament begins this week and we have selected for you the players who are most likely to be interesting NBA rookies next year, in particular thanks to what they will be able to do during their probable last campaign university before registering their name in the Draft.
10- Tyler Kolek (Marquette) – guard
Offensive aggression, technique, burst shooting, playmaking and activity. This is what Kolek is proposing, who is experiencing his last matches with Marquette before trying his luck in the NBA. The senior leader will try to show that his enormous offensive qualities can eclipse his defensive limitations which some GMs may find prohibitive at the highest level. In the meantime, he will bring a touch of entertainment to this NCAA Tournament and has the profile to be one of the heroes.
9- Ryan Dunn (Virginia) – forward
The Cavaliers sophomore is one of the best defenders in college basketball and will be an excellent role player in the league if he manages to show a little more on offense, where his shooting and offensive output are insufficient at this time. With Virginia, which has not won a game in the NCAA Tournament since the 2019 title, a good run could help it get noticed by GMs whom it hopes to seduce with its formidable defensive impact on positions 3/ 4.
8- Yves Missi (Baylor) – big man
The Belgian-Cameroonian achieved great things with Baylor for his first NCAA season, with a diamond-in-the-rough profile and a very, very above-average physique, which allowed him to land thunderous dunks and play volleyball with a few overly reckless attackers. There is still work to be done in terms of concentration and technical reliability, but his performances with the Bears, traditionally good during March Madness, should tell us more about his potential and his short-term prospects in the NBA.
7- Stephon Castle et Donovan Clingan (UConn) – guard et big man
UConn will try to succeed in the back to back, which is never a simple thing in the NCAA. As an anchor, Donovan Clingan had already stood out during his freshamn season last year and will try to confirm before attempting the big leap into the NBA. The Huskies pivot is an excellent defender with a huge wingspan and a perfect sense of counterattack. He gained strength throughout the season while battling injuries and should be able to increase his popularity with GMs if UConn does not miss his subject.
Still with the Huskies, Stephon Castle does not only have supporters and his first university year has had its ups and downs, but his flashes exude potential, with very good defensive skills in the back positions in particular. The professional world needs to see him more confident in attack, as he normally has the strengths to be a good two-way player in the long term.
5. Zach Edey (Purdue) – big man
The Canadian, seen with his selection during the last World Cup, will do everything to avoid another early exit for the Boilermakers, eliminated in the first round for the last two seasons. Zach Edey will be the tallest player in this NCAA Tournament at 2.24m, but has good hands and enough mobility to not be “tall for nothing”. Still ultra dominant at the college level this season, he will have to prove that his game can translate to March Madness and, beyond, to a role in the NBA. Edey assures that we will also see him shoot when he arrives at the pros, to extend his range in this era where a big man must no longer be harmless at long distance.
4- Kyle Filipowski (Duke) – forward
It was thought his season would be in jeopardy when he was hit by a fan during a field invasion at Wake Forest, but the Duke sophomore will be there. Stretch 4 or 5, the Dukie has a lot to offer to please NBA franchises, with size, touch, shooting and a robustness that can allow him to make his mark in the league. The Blue Devils have not won in 9 years and are now coached by Jon Scheyer, Coach K’s successor, who has only good things to say about Filipowski and his future in the pros.
3- Cody Williams (Colorado) – guard
The brother of Jalen Williams, the excellent guard from Oklahoma City, has a little more hype around him than his brother, which is quite interesting, but remains a little mystery. With his Colorado college, Cody Williams showed real skills in defense, where he uses his size well, but remains a bit on the surface on the offensive level. The Buffaloes are now using him as a 6th man, asking him to do a little bit of everything when he’s on the field. At the NBA level, he will have to maintain this complete side, but progress significantly in attack.
2- Rob Dillingham et 1- Reed Sheppard (Kentucky)
Kentucky hasn’t won the NCAA title for 12 years, but remains a great factory for talented basketball players. The first two in this top are John Calipari foals and have seen their odds rise recently in view of the 2024 Draft.
Reed Sheppard is starting to hear buzz around him about a possible selection as 1st pick in June. The freshman guard showed great shooting talent, playmaking, good instincts on both ends of the court and an attitude that gives the impression that the boy is afraid of nothing and certainly not of the prospect of getting into trouble. to the best players on the planet next season. NBA observers will want to see how Sheppard handles pressure and the fact that opposing defenses will be focused on him in this NCAA Tournament, but the talent is enormous.
His backcourt partner is a different breed, with more explosiveness and athletic potential, but a little less consistency in performance. Rob Dillingham nonetheless also has what it takes to make noise and a career at the next level. He is perhaps even the one who most exudes the aura of a future notable player in the NBA, with a flashy style and elite passing quality. His reading of the game and his decision-making will be scrutinized to allow him, perhaps, to make another jump in the Mock Drafts.
2024-03-21 15:21:52
#NBA #prospects #NCAA #Tournament
