It’s not hard to make the argument that the West region is the weakest from a team perspective. Oregon was an unexpected No. 1 seed, Oklahoma has shown they’re vulnerable to upsets this year, and Texas A&M comes from the weaker SEC making it hard to judge just how good they are. With that being said, the region contains a fair amount of NBA talent, with every first round game featuring at least one draft relevant prospect.
Numbers next to players names are their ranks in out latest big board. NR indicates that player was not ranked.
#1 Oregon vs. #16 Holy Cross/Southern
Oregon: Chris Boucher (NR), Dillon Brooks (NR), Tyler Dorsey (NR)
For a No. 1 seed, Oregon is unusually devoid of NBA Draft prospects. Boucher is a hyper-athletic shot blocker with confident 3-point range, but he is also a 23-year-old senior with only one year of D1 college basketball under his belt who possesses a skinny 6-10 frame. Players that age with little high-level basketball experience and not much creation ability on the offensive end are rarely seen as legit prospects, but Boucher’s “unicorn” skill set means he should probably be getting a little more attention.
Brooks is a strong and athletic sophomore wing who can shoot the 3 and is very aggressive looking to score around the basket. His frame allows him to bully college players inside, but if he wants to succeed at the next level he will need to improve his quickness guarding on the perimeter and improve the consistency of his outside shot. Dorsey is a freshmen guard who is undersized for a two and lacks the decision making of a point guard, but is a good athlete who can shoot it and handle a little. Long term, I expect both Dorsey and Brooks to end up getting drafted, and Boucher to have some shot at the NBA through Summer League and/or the D-League.
#8 St. Josephs vs. #9 Cincinnati
St. Josephs: DeAndre Bembry (52)
Bembry is a 6-6 wing with real handling and passing ability combined with the athleticism and feel to attack from the perimeter or in the post. He isn’t elite in any one area, but has almost everything you would want in a wing prospect other than an outside shot. He’s probably not quite elite enough of a defender to succeed in the NBA with his current 27 percent mark from 3-point range, but if he can improve he would offer even more creation ability than most 3-and-D wing players.
#5 Baylor vs. #12 Yale
Baylor: Taurean Prince (22), Jonathan Motley (NR)
Prince has all the tools to be a great 3-and-D wing or small ball 4 at the next level with a strong and athletic 6-8 frame and a confident outside shot. He’s only shooting 35 percent from the perimeter this year, but he’s been forced to settle for tough shots as Baylor’s best player. It is hard to know how he will defend at the next level because of Baylor’s zone defense, but there is nothing apparent that will hold him back from being a good defender and floor spacer in the NBA. Motley isn’t really on draft radars this year, but he’s a sophomore big with the athleticism to play above the rim, strength to bang inside, and real feel for creating his own shot around the basket. At only 6-9 in shoes and without an outside shot, he’s caught between the 4 and the 5, but he’s got enough of a midrange shot to where he can play some 4 and enough length and bounce to play some small ball 5. I expect him to be firmly in the first round conversation whenever he chooses to leave Baylor.
#4 Duke vs. #13 UNC Wilmington
Duke: Brandon Ingram (2), Grayson Allen (24)
At this point, you probably don’t need much of an explainer for Brandon Ingram. He’s got a freakishly long frame, athleticism, shooting and ball skills, and is one of the youngest freshmen in the country. With Ben Simmons and LSU not participating in the tournament, Ingram will have his last opportunity to grab the spotlight, and a strong tournament could leave him as the favorite for the No. 1 overall selection. Allen burst onto the scene in last year’s memorable tournament performance, and his combination of athleticism and shooting makes him an exciting prospect. Watching Allen and Ingram deal with Baylor’s length and athleticism will be interesting if both teams advance, particularly for Allen who sometimes really struggles to deal with opposing length.
#6 Texas vs. #11 Northern Iowa
Texas: Isaiah Taylor (NR), Prince Ibeh (NR)
Taylor is one of many prospects out there who’s basically a 3-point shot away from being an NBA player. He’s similar to Jeff Teague with his elite speed and solid above the rim athleticism, and is also a very good passer and playmaker at the point guard position. He’s not big enough or quite good enough as a scorer to succeed in the NBA without an outside shot, but if he ever could shoot up above 33 percent from deep he would certainly have a role. Ibeh lacks almost any type of offensive skill or feel for the game, but is an elite athlete with a 6-11 frame and 7-4 wingspan. It’s unclear if he has the necessary defensive awareness to play NBA defense, but he absolutely has the tools to play as a rim rolling 5 in some capacity.
Northern Iowa: Wes Washpun (NR)
Washpun is a senior guard who, much like Taylor, is a consistent outside shot from really deserving NBA looks. He’s an elite athlete and above the rim player who uses his athleticism to get to the basket and defend at very high levels, but is below average as a passer and handler for a point guard. Watching the athletic matchup between Washpun’s above the rim explosion and Taylor’s straight line speed should be a lot of fun.
#3 Texas A&M vs. #14 Green Bay
Texas A&M: Danuel House (NR), Jalen Jones (NR)
Both House and Jones are seniors who haven’t dominated enough to solidify their draft status, but both possess skill sets that could allow them to easily fit in the NBA. House is an athletic 6-7 wing with an NBA body and a confident outside shot to go with some real straight line driving ability. His problem is that he’s not always the best decision maker, struggles with the consistency of his outside shot, and not as good a defender as his athleticism would suggest. Jones only stands 6-7 as well, but plays as more of a small ball 4 role in college, and could play a similar role at the next level due to his strength, athleticism, and shooting ability. He’s not much of a creator and not the most instinctual defender, but his raw tools mean he should be on NBA radars.
#7 Oregon State vs. #10 VCU
Oregon State: Gary Payton II (34)
Payton II is the rare guard who could theoretically survive in the NBA despite his lack of an outside shot. He shoots only 31 percent from the perimeter, but Payton is a dynamic athlete who creates for himself and his teammates, defends at a high level, and even rebounds the ball like a forward. To be successful at the NBA level, he will need to further refine his pick-and-roll game and become more disciplined guarding the ball on the defensive end, but guys with his elite level of athleticism and ball skills will always have a chance to find a place in the league.
#2 Oklahoma vs. #15 Cal-State Bakersfield
Oklahoma: Buddy Hield (10)
Hield has lit the college world on fire with his shooting this year, and will have the chance to star in the NCAA tournament like few can with his freedom to fire away from beyond the paint. He’s an elite shooter, but also has a pretty good handle attacking the basket and reasonable athleticism for a wing player. However, he’s by no means a standout NBA athlete, and his <1 AST/TO ratio for a wing player is somewhat scary. If Hield follows up his stellar senior season with a strong tournament, he will probably solidify himself as a lottery pick, though whether he deserves it or not is still up for debate.