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5 best NBA Draft prospects in the NCAA Tournament

By Brandon Jefferson

Mar 4, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) controls the ball against the Washington State Cougars in the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) controls the ball against the Washington State Cougars in the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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February 18, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) reacts after scoring a basket against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
February 18, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) reacts after scoring a basket against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Lonzo Ball

Lonzo Ball has completely turned around the UCLA program in his one season as a Bruin. There just haven’t been many of those types of players in recent years who have had an impact on a team the way that Ball has. He’s infectious to play with and his preferred uptempo pace of play has made the Bruins the most entertaining team to watch in college basketball this year.

Ball was a consensus top recruit following a senior season where he and his two younger brothers (LiAngelo and LaMelo) led their local high school (Chino Hills) to an undefeated season. The talk coming into his freshman year was whether he would have to adjust his game to UCLA and college, or if UCLA would adjust to him. With the NCAA Tournament approaching it’s clear that UCLA has changed to accustom Ball.

On the season, Ball averaged 14.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game. Since 1992 no freshmen has ever compiled similar averages and the only player to match that type of production was Jason Kidd in his sophomore season at California (16.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG and 9.1 APG ). The greatest part about the evolution of Bruins basketball is that despite all the flair that comes with the new look, they are playing basketball the right way. Ball’s court vision is supreme, but it’s his ability to turn the simple pass into a great look that has really helped the team around him reach it’s potential.

If you are open Ball is going to give you the basketball, in fact, it’s more likely than not that the basketball will be coming at you before you even realize that you are open. That’s how good Ball is.

Ball is also one of the best shooters in college basketball. Granted, a majority of his shots are of the catch-and-shoot or spot-up variety (and are usually taken from 25-30 feet or deeper). He’s made 41 percent of his 3-pointers and teams must respect his shot or watch him drain 3-pointer after 3-poiner. His form is funky and has been well dissected at length, but if the shots are going in it doesn’t matter what the shooting motion looks like — go look at Reggie Miller’s shot in slow motion if you disagree.

Next: Lonzo Ball is unconventionally brilliant

Throughout the season, only Washington’s Markelle Fultz has been able to play at a comparable level to Ball. Yet, Fultz’s Huskies didn’t have a 14-game win improvement in his first season like UCLA has done with Ball running the show. Ball is a transcendent talent and is worth tuning in whenever the Bruins are on television. he upsets and loyalty to alma maters is usually what brings in the millions of viewers, but this year the added bonus of a player like Lonzo Ball is going to be what people around the world keep tuning back in for.

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