March Madness 2019: 5 small school players poised to be household names

EVANSVILLE, IN - MARCH 09: Murray State Racers Guard Ja Morant (12) shoots a free throw during the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Championship college basketball game between the Murray State Racers and the Belmont Bruins on March 9, 2019, at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EVANSVILLE, IN - MARCH 09: Murray State Racers Guard Ja Morant (12) shoots a free throw during the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Championship college basketball game between the Murray State Racers and the Belmont Bruins on March 9, 2019, at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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EVANSVILLE, IN – MARCH 09: Murray State Racers Guard Ja Morant (12) warms up for the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Championship college basketball game between the Murray State Racers and the Belmont Bruins on March 9, 2019, at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EVANSVILLE, IN – MARCH 09: Murray State Racers Guard Ja Morant (12) warms up for the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Championship college basketball game between the Murray State Racers and the Belmont Bruins on March 9, 2019, at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Ja Morant, Murray State

NBA fans have heard the name Ja Morant, but many people have not had the opportunity to see him play. Morant has spent the past two years dominating the Ohio Valley Conference for Murray State, and now he finally gets a chance to showcase his talent on the national stage.

The Racers are driven by Morant, who averages 24.6 points per game and leads the nation with 10 assists a night. Morant also grabs 5.5 rebounds per game for good measure and recorded two triple-doubles during the regular season.

Murray State will go as far as Morant takes them, and they could be going pretty far considering Morant has drawn favorable comparisons to Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook. Morant’s ability to score and create for his teammates should make him a must-see attraction in March, and the madness should be his final warm-up act before taking his talents to the next level.

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