NBA Rookie Ladder: March Madness memories

1. De’Aaron Fox vs UCLA (39 points)

This game was a rematch between two of the most popular teams in the entire NCAA last year. In the first meeting, UCLA held on to win 97-92 thanks in part to six different players scoring in double figures (Bryce Alford, Lonzo Ball, Isaac Hamilton, Aaron Holiday, T.J. Leaf, and Thomas Welsh). Despite the loss, De’Aaron Fox had outscored (20 points to Ball’s 14) and outplayed Lonzo in the head-to-head matchup.

Fox would more than get his revenge in the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins could do nothing more than watch as Fox had his way with anyone that tried to guard him on his way to a dominating 39-point performance. Fox’s fingerprints were all over this game and he willed the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 victory. With as many eyes as possible keyed in to this game Fox certainly lived up to his billing and then some.

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The Kentucky freshman point guard lived in the paint all day. He finished the game shooting 13-20 from the field and only one of those attempts were from beyond the three-point line. Fox knifed through UCLA’s defense non-stop and hit an array of floaters and free throw line jump shots to make the Bruins defense pay.

A lot of talk following this game was that Fox had moved ahead of Ball as a NBA prospect, however, that didn’t hold true as Ball was drafted second overall and Fox went fifth. What this game did do is cement the idea that Fox belonged among the upper tier of prospects in the 2017 class. In the NBA, the Sacramento Kings didn’t waste much time handing the reins of the franchise over to Fox and though he’s been inconsistent in his play there are positive signs of what the former Wildcat can become down the line.