5 best NBA Draft prospects in the 2017 Final Four
Zach Collins, PF/C, Gonzaga
No. 15 on The Step Back Big Board
Per Game Stats: 17.1 minutes, 9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 65.4 percent shooting from the field
Collins has been an advanced stats darling throughout the season, which is why he’s the highest rated prospect left in the NCAA tournament despite playing just 17.1 minutes per game. His per-40 numbers hint at incredible production: 23.1 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per 40 are all just fantastic. At just 19-years old, Collins looks like he has the potential to develop into a very good rim protector and pick-and-roll big man, and his size (7-foot, 230 pounds) is excellent.
Most exciting about Collins is that he’s improved steadily over the course of the season, and is playing his best ball right now. Collins’s first two games of the tournament showcased why he’s a potential lottery pick for some outlets. He dominated against lowly South Dakota State in the first round, with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 21 minutes. He also hit a 3-pointer, a development that adds a layer of intrigue (42 percent shooting on 20 attempts this year). Then against Northwestern, he helped the Zags exploit a mismatch, posting 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocks, as the Wildcats’ lack of size forced them to routinely foul Collins at the rim. Against Xavier in the Elite Eight, he was relegated to a smaller role, but still posted 6 points and 6 rebounds.
Collins feasts on tired or inexperienced bigs, as he subs for Przemek Karnowski, one of college basketball’s premier big men. That is where Collins’s biggest question marks are, as he’s done most of his damage against backup fives and West Coast Conference bigs. The Final Four is a chance for him to show that his production is still possible against big-time competition. A good showing in a potential title game matchup with UNC would do a lot to alleviate doubts, as their front line is perhaps the best in college basketball. That could be enough to push him to declare for the draft this year, where he would stand to be a top-three center prospect.