5 best NBA Draft prospects in the NCAA Tournament

3. Jaren Jackson Jr.

Jaren Jackson Jr. joined up with a talented Michigan State team that already has elite talent in Nick Ward, Miles Bridges, and Cassius Winston, a spectacular opportunity for the very talented 18-year-old big man. Jackson has the prototypical size, wingspan, and athleticism that NBA teams are looking for in a franchise center. He can knock down 3-pointers, drive to the rim, post up, rebound, defend the perimeter and block shots. Whew, that’s a heck of a list — but then you watch him do things like this, and you see why teams have to be chomping at the bit to add him to their franchise.

Jackson measures in at 6-foot-11 and 245 pounds, and has the athleticism to compliment his frame. He’s averaging a solid 11 points and six rebounds per game, and swats three shots per game too boot. But he’s only playing just over 22 minutes per game, which allows him to play full tilt thanks to the Spartans’ depth. Jackson is averaging 5.8 fouls per 40 minutes, and has the tendency to jump to block shots when he shouldn’t. He has the power to stand up to big men in the post, denying them position and the length to contest hook shots. He also has the athleticism to guard stretch-fours if necessary as well, when teams go small and try to create mismatches by switching.

The NCAA tournament should be a good opportunity for the Jackson and the Spartans, especially if they get to play a team like Duke or Arizona before they reach the Final Four. With a talented roster, the Spartans could be a sleeper to win a couple games in the tournament, giving NBA scouts and front offices more opportunities to scout him against the best teams in the country.