5 best NBA Draft prospects in the NCAA Tournament

2. Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum has been the hottest player in the NCAA during the conference tournaments. Tatum was one of the main reasons that Duke was able to become the first team in ACC Tournament history to win four games in four days and capture the championship.

Tatum is a do-it-all wing player. He can dribble, pass and shoot at high levels. He really got things going when Mike Krzyzewski adjusted his lineup and played Tatum as a small ball power forward. Every night Tatum would start the game with an advantage. If the opponent remained big, that meant a slower man for Tatum to drive by. If the opponent went small that meant a shorter defender that Tatum could score over in the post.

He’s the quintessential good at everything, great at nothing prospect. There are not many holes in his game, especially for a 19-year-old. He’s shown the complete package while in Durham and despite a slow start he has moved into pole position in terms of being the Blue Devils’ top dog. When Duke needs to get points it puts the ball in either Tatum or Luke Kennard’s hands. Over the last week, Tatum has started to show that he’s also capable of making things happen when the ball isn’t in his hands.

Tatum has been getting trained by renowned NBA trainer Drew Hanlen since high school and it’s very easy to watch Tatum play and see it transitioning to NBA. In particular, he has a move that he favors when he posts up. He’ll back down his defender a few times and right when the defense expects him to back down further his spins towards the baseline and uncorks a one-legged fadeaway jumper over the top. Most college defenders are left rooted in place and can’t even contest Tatum’s shot.

Going back to high school, Tatum has always been one of the top prospects in his class. His season at Duke has only helped to reaffirm what people had previously thought of him. His move to the four has opened his game in college, but at the next level, he will mostly play on the wing. If he continues to be dominant offensively he will need to adjust and teeter his game to compensate for a lack of high-level athleticism. He’s capable of making athletic plays, but he’s not a top-tier athlete for someone his size.

With Duke capable of making a deep run, Tatum will have several more games to make a lasting impression on scouts. His run in the ACC Tournament has jumped him a few spots higher than he had been during the season. Good or bad expect Tatum’s name to be one of the ones most frequently mentioned as the college season enters the stretch run.