It's March, folks, the best time of year to indulge in the elegant artistry of basketball. Or, you can watch the NCAA Tournament, which is the basketball equivalent of a Sonic Drive-In — the food ain't good for you, but there are too many options to count, it's served all day, and it all tastes great.
There's nothing more American than Sonic, and nothing more American than college basketball in March.
Whether you're a fan of college basketball or you're just stopping by for March Madness, there will be plenty to enjoy with this year's slate. As it pertains to the NBA Draft, there is much left to be decided. We don't have a consensus No. 1 pick, much less a consensus collection of potential first or second-round picks.
Expect players to rise and fall more dramatically than usual. Teams will be desperate to unearth hidden gems in what is perceived as a milquetoast class. One productive stretch in March could move a prospect from the periphery to the lottery. We have seen it before, but the circumstances are especially favorable to the underdogs in 2024.
Let's dive into first-round projections at the start of the month. The draft order was determined by Tankathon simulation, as always.
2024 NBA Mock Draft — March Madness edition
It's not hard to understand why Zaccharie Risacher is rising up draft boards. The French wing is 6-foot-10 and shooting 44.6 percent from deep. Factor in quality defense, and he's the poster child for the ideals of modern basketball scouting. His role has been limited with JL Bourg, but Risacher is contributing at a high level against professional competition.
At worst, he's going to offer versatility as a spot-up shooter and multi-positional defender. The defensive playmaking skills aren't elite, but Risacher can move his feet in space, mirror ball-handlers, and disrupt passing lanes with his length. The offense revolves mostly around shooting and finishing off cuts, but Risacher occasionally flashes fluidity handling the ball in transition. His high-feel approach, combined with more on-ball flourishes at lower levels of competition in the past, keep him pegged in the upper lottery.
The Spurs would benefit from another quality defender on the wing, not to mention Risacher's floor-warping gravity as a shooter. He complements Victor Wembanyama well, plus he's French. A nice little bonus.
Read our full scouting report for Zaccharie Risacher here.
Alex Sarr continues to earn buzz as a potential No. 1 pick, but it will probably come down to fit. He is easily the most interesting athlete on the board, listed at 7-foot-1 with the lateral quickness to guard in space and the rim-protecting instincts to anchor a defense. He can legitimately switch one through five, a luxury most NBA defenses lack.
On the offensive end, the flashes come in droves. Sarr can space out to the 3-point line, attack successfully on straight-line drives, or operate as lob-catcher and play-finisher in the paint. Sarr's approach doesn't always live up to his talent — he needs to get stronger and to better embrace physicality around the rim — but the upside for legitimate self-creation at the center spot will have a lot of teams looking past fixable flaws.
The Hornets can plug Sarr into a streamlined role out of the gate, allowing him to benefit from the playmaking chops of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller while he develops the periphery of his offensive skill set. On defense, he could be the anchor Charlotte has long lacked. The primary point of concern is whether or not he can, or should, share the floor with Mark Williams.
Read our full scouting report for Alex Sarr here.
Rob Dillingham continues to leave college basketball fans (and NBA scouts) in awe. It's tough to buy all the way into a 6-foot-2 guard in today's league, but Dillingham's shot-making creativity is off the charts. He has the shifty handles, the deep pull-up shooting range, the endless confidence. He comes off the bench for Kentucky, but he is plainly one of the best players on the floor every night.
Of all the first-round prospects, few are built for the moment in March quite like Dillingham. We have seen him operate effectively in the clutch on multiple occasions. He's one of the few bonafide self-creators in the lottery mix. The shooting is elite, too, both off the catch and off the dribble. Dillingham has no trouble getting to his spots with a deadly first step and incredible gear-shift ability. Off ball, he can fly into spot-up 3s, needing little time to square his feet and fire. He is made for pick-and-roll or DHO actions at the next level.
The Wizards are flushed with talent on the wing, but point guard is a real area of weakness aside from Tyus Jones. He is going to be a free agent at season's end. Dillingham can step in and give Washington the on-ball juice Jordan Poole was supposed to provide.
With Ron Holland out for the season, Matas Buzelis has stepped into a more central role for G League Ignite. The 3-point shot remains a concern, but in a draft rife with uncertainty, teams will naturally gravitate toward the 6-foot-9 wing with flashes of on-ball creation and connective playmaking. Buzelis fits an archetype every NBA team covets.
He needs to iron out the jumper, but Buzelis' shots roll off the hand nicely and his high school percentages were more promising. The lack of aggression at times has been a hindrance for Buzelis, but even if he's not a go-to creator, his ability to beat closeouts, pass at a high level, and finish with finesse around the rim should translate to productive NBA basketball. If he can tighten his handle and amp up the aggressiveness, he may have the highest ceiling in the draft.
Portland has several quality ball-handlers in the backcourt, so it's time to address the wing rotation. Buzelis offers size and versatility on defense, with some real shot-blocking equity to boot. Plus, he would be well-suited to attacking off setups from Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons.
Reed Sheppard defies all conventional wisdom as a projected top-five pick, but sometimes, you simply need to draft the best player available. The 19-year-old — son of two-time Kentucky champ Jeff Sheppard — has embraced his sixth man role with the Wildcats. He's playing well north of 30 minutes per game at this point in the season, despite coming off the bench. He has been Kentucky's best player and the best freshman in college basketball.
The shooting efficiency is legitimately historic. Sheppard is drilling 51.7 percent of his 3s, finding success from multiple areas on the floor. That alone is enough to plant him on NBA radars. What makes Sheppard special, however, is all the ancilary traits. He's a razor-sharp processor who continues to do more and more on-ball. He has enough zip on his first step to penetrate the defense and create off drives. Even if he's not a great finisher due to his limited size and explosivness, Sheppard can lean back on the floater or drill pull-up jumpers. He also happens to defend his position at an extremely high level.
It's time for Detroit to play functional, winning basketball. Sheppard can feast on spot-up 3s working off of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. The Pistons would have a ton of resources invested in the backcourt, but spacing and general basketball I.Q. are points of weakness for this Detroit team. Sheppard helps a ton.
Read our full Reed Sheppard scouting report here.
Cody Williams continues to wow with his productivity and efficiency for Colorado. He is far from a finished product, but Williams' ability to produce — 13.7 points on .590/.457/.708 splits — despite his flaws is a positve sign of what's to come. At 6-foot-8, he's a fluid athlete who checks a lot of boxes on the wing. He finishes strong off straight-line drives, he hits the few spot-up 3s he does take, and there are legitimate on-ball flashes, especially when he's allowed to push the tempo in transition.
Williams needs to tighten his handle, trim the turnovers, and jack up the 3-point volume, but he appears to offer a fairly stable floor at the next level. He's going to finish efficiently off cuts and drives. The 3-point shot doesn't look particularly beautiful, but it does fall when he takes it. The drives are what scouts will latch onto. Williams can shift speeds and direction on the move. Even without a tight handle, he can evade contests and score with creativity around the rim. The passing for his size is a major plus, too.
The Grizzlies need to find some stability with their wing rotation. Even as GG Jackson blossoms in the years to come, Williams should find a home attacking fissures in the defense and finishing off of dimes from Ja Morant. Memphis keeps the floor spaced and is geared toward a transition style of play, so it's a good fit for Williams.
It'll be fascinating to see how Nikola Topic's draft stock evolves. He has missed a significant chunk of time with a knee injury, but he is expected to return in the near future. The Serbian 18-year-old is the youngest projected lottery pick, a point in his favor, but he's also one of the most unique in terms of skill set. He projects as the most strictly on-ball creator in this range — a ball-dominant slasher who thrives at pressuring the rim and creating out of pick-and-rolls.
Limited 3-point volume is the big knock on Topic, and it limits his utility away from the ball. It's easy to project improvement over time based on his feather-soft touch, but his rigid mechanics are a major obstacle. He can hit open 3s, but he's not shooting under duress and he doesn't offer much of a pull-up threat either. He relies heavily on penetration and layups around the rim.
That said, it's easy to see the outline of stardom with Topic. He's 6-foot-6 at the point guard position, which is a major plus. He's easily the best advantage-creator on the board, blessed with a great sense of when to change speeds and direction moving downhill. His footwork and agility is off the charts, and there are few more creative finishers around the basket. He can find angles to the rim just about anywhere, and his feel as a playmaker pops. He would give the Spurs their much-needed perimeter initator.
Read our full Nikola Topic scouting report here.
Ja'Kobe Walter is built for a quick transition to the next level. He's one of the best off-ball shooters on the board, comfortable relocating for spot-up 3s and firing shots on the move. His footwork and dynamism as a shooter is a major boon, and it could help NBA teams over look his minor struggles in the efficiency department (33.0 percent on 6.6 3PA). Volume and touch are the major indicators, and Walter passes the eye test with flying colors.
The issue for Walter, at least when it comes to separating himself from his draft peers, is the strict confines of his current skill set. He's built like a tank and he looks extremely comfortable finishing through contact at the rim, but he's not a self-creator. Aside from the occasional dribble pull-up, Walter is reliant on spot-up jumpers and straight-line drives. He doesn't create much for others and he's presently shooting 38.2 percent from the field, so his success inside the arc is under intense scrutiny.
For Houston, that shouldn't matter as much. Walter can plug right into the lineup as a dynamic shooter who demands constant attention away from the ball. The Rockets are flush with talented creators — Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun out of the post — so Walter need not stretch himself too thin. He's also a committed defender, which matters as the obvious successor to popular offseason trade candidate Jalen Green.
Ron Holland will miss the remainder of the G League season with a thumb injury, but he's expected to recover in time for a full pre-draft process. His injury, combined with the general struggles of the Ignite program, could cause Holland to fall a bit come June. That said, Holland overcame dire cirumstances to produce at a high level for the Ignite. He was the team's No. 1 scorer, averaging 19.5 points on 46.0 percent shooting despite compressed spacing and a ramshackle playmaking apparatus.
If there was anything close to a No. 1 consensus before the season, it was Holland. The 6-foot-8 Dallas native spurned Texas for the G League, which could end up being a mistake. He's an excellent slasher, complete with a deadly first step and a penchant for hanging finishes at the rim. Holland has even learned to change speeds and harness his pull-up jumper on occasion. The 3-point inefficiency is a concern, however, as is Holland's tendency to get sped up. There are passing flashes, but he will regularly sprint headlong into traffic and cough up the rock. Basketball is a game of possessions at the end of the day.
The defense rocks, however, and Atlanta is a great landing spot on paper. Trae Young's future hangs in the balance, but assuming the Hawks don't pull the plug on their All-Star point guard, it's hard to imagine a better running mate for Holland in the early going. Young can spoon-feed open looks, both at the rim and behind the 3-point line. Holland is also a beast in the open court, an attribute Young can accentuate with hit-ahead passes and his own spritely stylings.
Read our full Ron Holland scouting report here.
Donovan Clingan has anchored the defense for college basketball's best team. Standing all of 7-foot-2 and 265 pounds, it's not difficult to decipher Clingan's appeal. He's an elite shot-blocker, able to stretch vertically before he even leaves the ground (7-foot-7 wingspan). Clingan lacks the lateral mobility more modern schemes demand, but he's no stiff. The 20-year-old can guard up on pick-and-rolls and cover a ton of ground in the paint. He is the elite drop coverage anchor of the 2024 draft.
On offense, Clingan relies mostly on simple finishes around the basket. He's a huge threat on the offensive (and defensive) glass, using his wide frame to seal off angles and inhale boards. The passing is legitimate, too. Blessed with soft hands and great feel, Clingan reads the floor at a high level and is capable of a variety of moves around the basket. He has ventured outside for the occasional jump shot attempt in 2024, but optimism is limited — primarily due to his lowly 56.4 percent free throw clip.
Few teams need size and physicality in the frontcourt more than OKC. The Thunder have made peace with their shortcomings in the rebounding department, and Chet Holmgren is more than adequate as the sole defensive anchor in the middle. Even so, Clingan can help the Thunder scale up for certain important matchups (Denver, Minnesota). Holmgren is versatile enough to share the court with Clingan when necessary, and at worst, Clingan takes over backup center duties.
Kyle Filipowski has blossomed in his sophomore season, as expected. The talented 7-footer is the heart of Duke's offense, offering the kind of robust skill set NBA scouts dream of. Flip has essentially bucked the "jack of all trades, master of none" that plagued him as a frosh. At a certain point, one simply has to buy the upside of a true center that can dribble, shoot, and pass — all while playing increasingly quality defense in the middle.
Filipowski is limited somewhat by his physical tools, but he has emerged as a legitimate rim protector for Duke (1.6 blocks). He defends with tremendous physicality and enough mobility in space to offset concerns about his lack of length. On offense, Flip is tailor-made for two-man actions at the next level. He can pick-and-pop, attack fluidly downhill, operate as a passing hub at the elbow, or simply occupy the dunker's spot. He's going to nail trailing 3s in transition, attack open spaces with his handle, and force opposing bigs to guard outside the paint.
OKC essentially doubles up on quality 7-footers in the lottery. Flip has the versatility to play next to either Clingan or Holmgren. He fits the Thunder's general M.O. — skill and shooting at every position — and his impressive production stands out in a class defined by uncertainty. He's going to be a good pro, and OKC is a tremendous ecosystem to unlock Filipowski's expansive repertoire.
Stephon Castle has become something of a lightning rod for NBA Draft discourse. He's contributing extensively for college basketball's best team as a freshman. That is not easy, and it's especially valuable in a guard who is tasked with playmaking for others. Castle has operated in a more refined role, however, often bucking the combo guard label in favor of a more connective wing role. At 6-foot-6, he's one of the best perimeter defenders on the board and an impressive slasher on offense.
What Castle lacks in elite burst, he makes up for with strength and craft. He slyly generates angles as a driver and is great at pushing through contact for finishes. Castle shows tremendous promise as a creator, whether he's working out of pick-and-rolls and simply passing off his drives. The main hangup, however, is his rocky 3-point shot (29.8 percent). He will occasionally drain difficult, contested mid-range jumpers, but the simple fact of the matter is that Castle's shot is a problem. Until it improves, his strength and skill advantages will be mitigated far more at the NBA level.
For Chicago, this is a strong bet on upside as well as fit. It's unclear what the Bulls' plans are beyond this season, but Castle can operate comfortably as a defensive stopper and offensive connector until the direction of Chicago's roster becomes clear. He would fit nicely as the off-guard next to Coby White in the Bulls' long-term plans, with room to grow as a legitimate playmaking hub so long as the jumper comes around.
Kel'el Ware continues to showcase exciting upside in an expanded role with Indiana. He has a maddening tendency of fading into the background on occasion, but when Ware is on the mark, he's one of the best bigs in college basketball. His recent 27-point, 11-rebound, five-block performance against Wisconsin — a game in which he shot 11-for-12 from the field — was certainly a wakeup call for previously uninterested scouts. Ware is every bit the real deal.
At 7-foot even, Ware possesses excellent length and agility in the frontcourt. He's a springboard athlete, capable of dominant athletic flourishes on offense. In addition to high-flying finishes, Ware is a smooth 3-point shooter (42.4 percent on 1.3 3PA) with the coordination to straight-line drive and finish off spin moves or pivots. If he can increase his 3-point volume and prove a real perimeter threat in the NBA, it will become very difficult to fully contain him.
The Pelicans' lone position of need is center. Jonas Valanciunas is a free agent this summer. We don't know how exactly the roster will shift in the offseason, but cementing the defense with a true rim protector — in addition to Ware's complementary skill set on offense — could go a long way for a postseason contender.
Johnny Furphy has leapfrogged a lot of folks over the last few weeks, going from a projected 2025 prospect to a potential 2024 lottery pick. The Kansas freshman thrives with a simple but highly effective skill set. At 6-foot-9, he's sniping 3s, finishing off cuts to the rim, and competing like hell on defense. It's a pretty standard formula, but one every NBA front office covets.
It's fair to express reservations about Furphy's lack of skill diversity. He doesn't offer much on the ball at this point, but he's also 19. The base-level athleticism, combined with repeatable, spot-on shot mechanics and a tremendous nose for the ball, puts him squarely in the lottery conversation. Furphy defends all over the floor and rebounds well for his position. If he can gradually add more to his game as a ball-handler and passer over time, all the better.
Portland has playmakers in place and a couple true rim protectors in Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams. Furphy is a simple plug-and-play option on the wing. His shooting should translate straight away, not to mention his defensive intensity. He won't be asked to do too much, even as a cornerstone prospect for a young team.
The Knicks land Isaiah Collier to fill the shoes once occupied by Immanuel Quickley. Collier is a different beast, however, standing 6-foot-5 with broad shoulders and tank-like strength. He bulldozes his way through defenders to finish at the rim and offers legitimate advantage-creation as the offensive spearhead. His turnovers have subsided in recent weeks and he's starting to show more polish as a passer. This could end up being great value for New York.
Read our full Isaiah Collier scouting report here.
Toronto bets on Tyler Smith's unique intersection of size and skill. At 6-foot-11, he's one of the most comfortable 3-point shooters on the board. He flows effortlessly into spot-up attempts and even looks good curling around screens. The defense is a work-in-progress, but he's mobile with upside as a weak-side rim protector. The Raptors can test out some interesting frontcourt combos built around Scottie Barnes.
Devin Carter is such a Heat prospect. He's a wily, college-vet defender who creates absolute havoc with his intensity on that end of the floor. He also happens to be a productive offensive hub for Providence, averaging 19.1 points and 3.7 assists on .475/.391/.725 splits. He can bomb 3s, set up the offense, and guard the point of attack with fervor for a Heat team in need of some guard help.
Dalton Knecht will enter the NBA at 23 years old, which can (and should) be a turnoff for some teams. That said, he's too polished an off-ball scorer to ignore. He can drill spot-up 3s, he thrives attacking off the catch, and his general knack for movement within the offense should translate well to the next level. Orlando would benefit from an infusion of shooting and connective passing on the wing.
He's a rather unique prospect, but Collin Murray-Boyles has rocketed up draft boards with a strong starting-lineup surge at South Carolina. He doesn't shoot 3s at 6-foot-7, so it will take a bit of creativity and faith at the next level, but his point-of-attack defense, playmaking instincts, and at-rim finishing are all thoroughly impressive. The Hawks have the shooters to make it work.
Ryan Dunn is one of the best defenders in college basketball, point blank. At 6-foot-8, he's putting up steal and block numbers reminiscent of Matisse Thybulle. He needs a lot of work on offense, but his athleticism shows up on finishes around the rim. We know Tom Thibodeau loves a hard-edged stopper. Dunn can dominate the point of attack or operate whirlwind-style off the ball, phasing into tight spaces to seal off passing lanes and reject shot attempts.
The Suns get a center with Jusuf Nurkic's durability and longevity looking increasingly uncertain. Yves Missi does all the simple things well. He finishes with force at the rim, rebounds at a high level, and blocks shots with plenty of verve. Factor in the mobility in space and the occasional straight-line drive from the perimeter, and there's enough to convince Phoenix of his value here.
Kevin McCullar has solidified his first round case as a senior, improving from 3-point range to complement his heads-up cuts and impressive slashes. He processes the game at a high level and defends the wing well. The Sixers can never have too many quality two-way wings, and McCullar might be ready to contribute from day one.
Tidjane Salaun is a tough prospect to evaluate. The athleticism is his primary selling point. At 6-foot-9, he can defend multiple positions, explode to the rim for impressive finishes, and occasionally shoot the lights out. That said, the shot runs hot and cold, and he's less polished than others in this range. The Pelicans have more depth than most teams and can afford a project.
The Wizards' defense took a major hit with Daniel Gafford's trade deadline departure. Washington won't contend any time soon, but Holmes' mobility and vertical pop makes him one of the top shot-blockers in college basketball. This season, he added an improved 3-point shot and dynamic straight-line drives from the perimeter. He has a chance to step right into Gafford's former role.
Another semi-mystery box prospect who has drawn more NBA eyeballs in recent weeks, Miami's Kyshawn George fits the modern game as a 6-foot-8 wing who can splash spot-up 3s and create for teammates. His lack of explosiveness and strength limits him around the rim, but he playmakes on defense and does enough complementary things to fit the Bucks' long-term plans around Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Dillon Jones continues to produce impressive stat lines for Weber State. There are questions tied to his inconsistent 3-point shot and unconventional play style, but 6-foot-7 wings who can generate advantages off the dribble, create for teammates, and finish with strength around the basket tend to be valuable. The Cavs need wing depth.
Colorado's Tristan da Silva stays in the state. He's limited athletically, but 6-foot-8 shot-makers with da Silva's ability to handle and pass are naturally appealing. Denver tends to seek out experienced college stars who directly complement their core pieces; da Silva fits the bill.
Tyler Kolek is one of the best pick-and-roll operators in college basketball. His pace and feel as a lead creator should translate to the next level, even if he's at 6-foot-3 with limited burst. The Jazz would benefit from a legitimate lead guard who can spread the wealth and create advantages for teammates. Walker Kessler in particular would benefit.
Jared McCain has been scorching nets for Duke lately. He's a limited athlete and it's hard for 6-foot-3 combo guards to flourish in today's NBA. Still, McCain is a flat-out elite gunner whose scoring versatility and high-feel approach should hold weight in the NBA. Minnesota has the defense to cover for McCain's limitations, and the Wolves would benefit immensely from McCain's perimeter gravity.
The UConn sophomore has blossomed for the country's best team. His skill set is a natural fit for the next level. At 6-foot-8, he can splash spot-up 3s, straight-line drive, and pass within the flow of the offense. He's a limited athlete, but a sound team defender. He has immediate role player upside for a deep, competitive Celtics team.