The NCAA Tournament brackets are out and NBA fans are like Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith right now trying to catch up on an entire year’s worth of college basketball to make dramatic conclusions based on a small sample size.
For better or worse, the NCAA Tournament is the lone exposure for several players before the NBA Draft. Fans will make conclusions based on one game, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing because these are big games that hold some weight. NBA scouts will also flock to the various NCAA Tournament sites this weekend to get an up close look at the prospects one final time.
They have done their homework. Now it is time for the general NBA fan to get introduced to the best players in college basketball and get ready for the NBA Draft.
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The West Region is an intriguing one for NBA prospects. There will be at least two lottery picks playing in the various sites throughout the West Region this week. NBA fans should get familiar with Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen and Florida State’s Jonathan Isaac in particular. They are both likely to go in the top 10 and seem to be prototypical players for the modern NBA.
Gonzaga is the surprise top seed in the region. The usually small school is probably more famous in NBA circles for producing Adam Morrison and being a perpetual Cinderella. The Bulldogs are not this year. They lost just one game and are going to be favored to head to Glendale in a few weeks.
Second-seeded Arizona will have something to say about that. The Pac-12 Tournament champions topped favorite UCLA in the semifinals behind strong play from a veteran group. Third-seeded Florida State has some experience and plenty of size to challenge for the Final Four. Notre Dame is solid and has strong tournament experience, making the last two Elite Eights. Finally, West Virginia’s press can cause plenty of trouble in a tournament setting.
There is plenty to get excited about with these 16 teams. For NBA fans focusing on the draft, here are some prospects to watch:
Jonathan Isaac, Florida State
It is easy to let your mind race when you talk about Jonathan Isaac. The 6-foot-10 forward has a ton of length (enough to draw Kevin Durant comparisons) and a pretty smooth offensive game. He is in the mold of those freakish big-3s like Durant or Brandon Ingram before him. Isaac is probably not Durant. He still needs to gain confidence offensively and learn when to attack. His 3-point shooting could also use some improvement. But Isaac has a lot of potential for growth. NBA scouts are drooling over his potential of athleticism, length and skill. It just may take some time.
Lauri Markkanen, Arizona
Lauri Markkanen is probably the most unique prospect in the upcoming draft. Here is a 7-foot center who is an expert marksman, making 2.0 3-pointers per game and shooting 43.2 percent from beyond the arc overall. That might make some think this is a copy of Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky or a watered-down Dirk Nowitzki, but Markkanen is athletic around the basket with his ability to finish with both hands and get up for dunks. His defense still needs a ton of work, but the offensive potential is there for him to serve as a model for what a center in this new age can be offensively. And Markkanen should help get Arizona pretty deep in the tournament.
Zach Collins, Gonzaga
Gonzaga is a basketball school that consistently churns out good seasons. They are a favorite Cinderella every year. However, this is not a school with a ton of NBA prospects. Freshman Zach Collins has gotten plenty of notice despite averaging just 10.2 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game. The 7-foot power forward is shooting 65.3 percent form the floor and has made 8-of-18 3-pointers, perhaps hinting at some ability to stretch the floor.
Melo Trimble, Maryland
NBA fans have been waiting for Melo Trimble to get going and make a NBA splash. Trimble is a dynamic point guard who can get to the basket and create his own shot. He recorded several buzzer beaters and has only sought a big stage to showcase himself. The Terrapins have struggled to keep consistency and win big games in the Big Ten, and that has hurt Trimble’s stock. The 6-foot-3 point guard averaged 17.0 points per game and 3.7 assists per game this year. He has plenty of room to grow and could intrigue with his pure scoring ability.
Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame
Bonzie Colson has been a scoring machine all year for Notre Dame, averaging 17.5 points per game and making 52.3 percent of his shots. Colson is one of those undersized power forwards that works in the college game but is not a great fit in the NBA. Colson will have to improve his 3-point shooting — he shot 40.7 percent on 3-pointers on 1.6 attempts per game — and become a perimeter player. He is likely to stay for his senior year to get that experience, but he averaged 22.7 points per game in the three games at the ACC Tournament. Notre Dame has made the last two Elite Eights. He could be someone who turns head throughout the tournament.
Allonzo Trier, Arizona
Arizona is a super talented team and a darkhorse to win the whole thing from the 2-seed in the West Region. A big reason for that is Allonzo Trier. The 6-foot-4 sophomore has been a scoring machine for the Wildcats this year and only increased his scoring ability this season. He averaged 17.3 points per game while shooting 41.4 percent from beyond the arc and posting an effective field goal percentage of 56.7 percent. Pretty impressive for a high-usage player. If Arizona is going to make it deep, it will be because Trier continued his strong play from the Pac-12 Tournament. NBA scouts likely will wonder if he can be a shooting guard in the league and so may want to see him be more of a playmaker. He may not have a NBA body, but could be a good second-round steal — or at least a name everyone remembers.
Luke Kornet, Vanderbilt
Luke Kornet was a bit of a late bloomer, but is quickly becoming a center who fits the modern NBA eye. Kornet averaged 13.2 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game. He has a lot of toughness inside and was a great shot blocker, averaging 2.0 blocks per game after recording 3.0 blocks per game last year. He also shot 32.7 percent from beyond the arc, showing some nice touch outside. Kornet is not the most athletic player, but he has a great understanding of positioning which helped him rack up blocks all year.
Trevon Bluiett, Xavier
Xavier junior Trevon Bluiett is a good scorer, averaging 18.1 points per game and scoring in double figures in all three seasons with the Musketeers. He always seems to come up big for his team in the NCAA Tournament. He needs to improve as a shooter if he wants to find a crack at the NBA. His efficiency is not great and he sometimes takes a back seat to Xavier’s other good guards.
Next: 5 best NBA Draft prospects in the NCAA Tournament
Vic Law, Northwestern
Looking to do a deep dive and get ready for the 2018 Draft? Vic Law could very well be Northwestern’s first chance at a draft pick since Evan Eschmeyer in 1999. Law is the No. 31 sophomore in the country according to DraftExpress. He was instrumental to getting Northwestern to its first NCAA Tournament. He has good length and athleticism and can get hot in a hurry. He averaged 12.5 points per game and shot 39.5 percent from beyond the arc. The Wildcats should have another run in them next year. He could climb quickly.