There really isn’t anything in the world that is quite as exciting and unpredictable as March Madness. Every year, millions of people watch the selection show on Sunday, and then proceed to print out a paper copy of the bracket, and fill it out. Probably more than five or six times. The NCAA Tournament truly has it all.
Last year Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs drilled a halfcourt shot as time expired to get Gonzaga to the National Championship game. In 2010 Charlotte Hornets forward Gordon Hayward almost made a three-quarter court shot that would have changed the history of college basketball. There are so many great moments, players, coaches and fans during the madness, that we often forget about what’s happening this weekend, which is conference tournaments.
I would argue that this is your best chance to see who a player really is before they enter the draft. In the NCAA Tournament field of 64, sometimes players are off for a game or two, or someone might crumble under the pressure.
So that is why I think this weekend is our best shot to take a look at some future NBA players playing on one of basketball’s biggest stages. While I’m still confident the Cleveland Cavaliers will make the playoffs, I can’t help but watch some of these guys playing this weekend, and wishing they did have a first-round pick guaranteed; that’d only be the case if they don’t make the playoffs.
Even still, there will be multiple opportunities to watch whoever you want, but today I’m going to zone in on a few guys who could be late-lottery picks if the Cavs fail to make the playoffs. On top of that we’ll take a look at two under-the-radar guys who could shine in the coming weeks. I know we write about the NBA on this site, but I am incredibly excited for this year’s iteration of March Madness.
With that being said let’s take a look at my new Big Board (and you can see how it differs from last time here), where we’ve seen a couple risers and a few guys whose stock is trending down.
KJG Big Board (March 11)
1. Jabari Smith, Forward, Auburn
2. Chet Holmgren, Center, Gonzaga
3. Jaden Ivey, Guard, Purdue
4. Paolo Banchero, Forward, Duke
5. AJ Griffin, Wing, Duke
6. Keegan Murray, Forward, Iowa
7. Bennedict Mathurin, Wing, Arizona
8. Johnny Davis, Guard, Wisconsin
9. Shaedon Sharpe, Guard, Kentucky
10. Jalen Duren, Center, Memphis
Heading into conference championship weekend, the top four NBA draft prospects still remain in the same order. However, Chet Holmgren has played his way into possibly being the first man taken in the 2022 NBA Draft. Both Smith and Holmgren have incredibly high ceilings, and will be able to make an instant impact as rookies.
Behind Holmgren and Smith is Duke forward Paolo Banchero. The world watched as Duke collapsed last weekend against North Carolina, but Banchero played well, finishing with 23 points, while playing all but two minutes of the game. After Banchero, there is a small drop-off to the next tier of prospect.
Climbing up to the fifth spot in my big board is Duke’s AJ Griffin. There is a lot that is unknown about Griffin, but the one thing we do know is he can shoot the lights out. He’s been steadily consistent from three-point range this season, which is no small thing. He would be a great addition to the Cavs, but he’ll likely go much earlier than they pick.
After Griffin is three very intriguing wing prospects.
As he continues to dominate, the questions about Keegan Murray’s age (21) are becoming irrelevant. In a game against Northwestern in late February, Murray posted 26 points, 18 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in a dominant Iowa win. He might have reached his peak on the Big Board, seeing as he is one of the older prospects.
Johnny Davis was injured in a loss to Nebraska on Sunday. He could reportedly be available for the Big Ten Tournament, but we’ll have to wait and see. In terms of NBA success, he has all the tools to be a top-8 pick.
Moving along, Mathurin from Arizona has quietly put together one of the best seasons out of any college player. He plays out West, so you may not get to see him much, but he’s definitely a lottery pick. Finally rounding out the big board are two very intriguing guys with some questions.
After re-classifying and joining the Memphis squad this season, Jalen Duren has had an up-and-down season. He’s very powerful and will be an exciting player in the NBA. However, he doesn’t have a lot of range, and is more of a back-to-the-basket big man.
Finally, if Shaedon Sharpe declares for the draft, he will be a lottery pick. There is a lot of buzz around him, even though he will not suit up this season for Kentucky. We’ve seen enough of him at the 2021 Peach Jam to know he has a very high ceiling.
What to watch for on Friday
Upsets seem to happen a lot during conference championship weekend. With that being said, Friday is probably your best chance to get a good look at a lot of different guys. To make things easier on everyone, I’m going to breakdown the players to watch from each conference.
SEC
There’s a case to be made for both Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith that they should be the top pick in the 2022 NBA Draft in June. Personally, I favor Smith because of his shot-making ability, athleticism, and extremely high ceiling.
That’s not to say I don’t love Holmgren, but to me Smith’s game is one that should translate to the NBA extremely well. You can get a look at Smith today at noon ET on ESPN, where they will take on Texas A&M.
Following the Auburn-Texas A&M matchup, it would be a great time to get a first look at Arkansas’ JD Notae. Arkansas takes on LSU at 2:00 PM, on ESPN. As for Notae. it’s unlikely that he will be selected at all, barring a dominating NCAA performance. Notae is 23 years old and stands at only 6-foot-2, but his game could translate well to the NBA.
He’s a good shot-maker and creator, and he is a pesky defender on the perimeter, something that would fit right into J.B. Bickerstaff’s preferred style of play for the Cavaliers. Notae’s definitely not a sure thing, but he’s a great college player. If you get the chance, take a look at him this weekend.
Big Ten
As I mentioned earlier, Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis is battling an injury, but is expected to be ready to play Friday night versus Michigan State. If Davis is playing, you should tune in. He’s a super athletic guard, who can score at all three levels. However, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Badgers decided to play it safe with Davis before the NCAA Tournament.
As a brief side note, while Ohio State did lose to Penn State on Thursday, had they have won, it would’ve been nice for fans to see another game for Malaki Branham and EJ Liddell. Branham is a player who has helped himself over the last month, but he could still potentially be a second-round target for Cleveland. He’s a player that can score at all three levels, and would be a nice addition.
From there, Liddell is a 6-foot-7 forward that has filled it up in the Big Ten this season in a variety of ways. It’s not clear where his position could be at the next level; he does play bigger than that 6-foot-7 size, though.
As we noted, anyhow, Ohio State won’t be in action after that loss.
ACC
Before I get into the prospects from the ACC, I want to say it’s a shame they hold the ACC Tournament in New York. Greensboro and Charlotte were great hosts, and the feel of an ACC game in New York just off. However, there will be a lot of great players to take a look at.
I’ll go ahead and start with Duke, who beat Syracuse Thursday in a tight contest. Banchero is the biggest name for the Blue Devils, but I really like AJ Griffin and even Trevor Keels. Keels is a shooting guard with extended range, and better than average perimeter defense. He’s a guy who will fall to the mid-20’s or further, allowing the Cavs to swoop in and grab him if he falls to the second round.
Griffin is a dream for the Cavs, if we’re being honest. He’s a great shooter, shown by his incredibly consistent season thus far. There are a lot of questions about him since he had injuries in his past, but he’s definitely worth the watch.
Finally, take some time to get a look at Armando Bacot from North Carolina. He doesn’t fit with the current Cavaliers roster, but he’s a great post defender and rebounder.
Big-12/Pac-12
I’ll make this one short and sweet. Outside of Bennedict Mathurin from Arizona, there isn’t a lot to watch in the Pac-12. The Wildcats will play tonight at 9:00 PM, against Colorado.
Mathurin is such a smooth player off the ball. He cuts, and runs off screens with a purpose, and his defense is commendable. The other player to keep an eye on in the Pac-12 is Jaime Jaquez Jr. from UCLA. The 6-foot-7 forward and his teammates took on Washington State last night, and won 75-65. Jaquez is a junior so his age will be a factor, but outside of that he’s a raw, athletic wing who could become a good two-way player in the NBA.
In the Big-12 I would keep my eye on Kansas if I were you. I know I’ve been on Kansas all season and they haven’t been as dominant as they have in the past, but Christian Braun and Ochai Agbaji are prime-time players.
Both players’ stocks are probably down right now, so the Cavs could be in a great spot to grab either one. I prefer Agbaji, even though he is older. He can create his own shot, and create shots for others. His game will also translate better to the NBA.
Mid-Majors
In my personal opinion, the best games to watch are some of the mid-major conference championships. The players really have to be at their best, because a loss likely means the end of their season, or an NIT birth, which nobody wants. So let’s get started right here in Cleveland with the MAC Conference Tournament.
Per usual, there aren’t a ton of high-caliber NBA prospects in the MAC, but there are some guys that are worth the watch. I have to start with Kent State point guard Sincere Carry. The junior transfer from Duquesne has been nothing short of fantastic this year.
He’s averaging nearly 19 points per game, while also pitching in over 4.5 rebounds and assists. He was selected to the All-MAC First Team. On top of that he was also selected to the All-MAC Defensive Team. He’s also a great shooter, shooting over 36% from three this season, and shooting nearly 45% from the field. Carry’s size will worry a lot of people, standing at only 6-foot-1, but the recently-named MAC Player of the Year will be a player to watch.
Other than Carry, another under-the-radar guy to watch is Ohio’s Jason Carter. His Ohio team beat Ball State on Thursday, and he had 20 points and 18 rebounds in that one. Carter and Carry will meet tomorrow in the MAC semifinals at 7:30 PM ET.
Outside of the MAC, be sure to take a minute to check out VCU, who will be playing in the Atlantic-10 quarterfinals Friday at 8:30 PM ET. Senior forward Vince Williams Jr. is a very versatile player who can play the wing, or bully smaller opponents in the post. Outside of that, VCU is always a fun team to watch, and they usually have a player or two who have solid rookie seasons.
Check out Bones Hyland from the Denver Nuggets if you don’t believe me. They play a fast-paced game with a lot of excitement.
I know after reading this you will have a lot of basketball to watch today, and you should enjoy that. There’s really no way to tell where and if the Cavs will be picking in the 2022 NBA Draft this summer, in the first round in that realm, but at least I hope some of the names I gave you, give fans a little bit of excitement.
Remember the best players play the best when the lights are on!