There are a lot of NBA prospects in the NCAA tournament. Names that come to mind include Jahlil Okafor of Duke, Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky or D’Angelo Russell of Ohio State. However, we have seen these guys all year and know what they are made of. Instead, I want to explore guys who haven’t had that spotlight and need to prove this month that they are worth a draft choice.
1. Bobby Portis
College: Arkansas Position: PF Height: 6-11 Weight: 231
Bobby Portis is one of the least talked about players in the country in comparison to how good he is. The sophomore quietly averaged 17.5 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game on pace to becoming the 2015 SEC Player of the Year. Portis played well against Kentucky (15 points and 8 rebounds) and will have the national attention to donate against the 12th seeded Wofford Terriers. Portis will not blow you away, but his presence is always felt on the court and in the box score.
2. R.J. Hunter
College: Georgia State Position: SG Height: 6-5 Weight: 185
R.J. Hunter is a mid-major player who simply dominated his conference. Hunter averaged 19.8 points per game while having 4.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists a game. The junior did it all for Georgia State, and that is why they are dancing in March. Hunter has first round potential due to his ability to drive to the basket and get fouled. His three-point shooting has been off this year (shooting 31% from beyond the arc) but he can work on that. Hunter has a first round matchup against a good Baylor team. If Hunter can show scouts he can play with the big boys, I expect him to be taken in the later half of the first round.
3. Kris Dunn
College: Providence Position: PG Height: 6-3 Weight: 180
Kris Dunn is a sophomore out of Providence who has constantly improved since the start of the year. Dunn has great size for his position and gets to the basket well. What separates him from most point guards is his defense. He can remove an opposing guard from the game and racks up lots of steals (almost 3 a game). His freakish athleticism will translate well to the next level. He uses this to score 15.8 points and grab 5.6 rebounds a game, both impressive feats for a point guard. Dunn is also a great passer, finishing second in the nation with 7.6 assists per game. Dunn’s team will face the winner of Boise State and Dayton in the first round. Expect a great game from Dunn who plans on leading his team through the tournament.
4. Domantas Sabonis
College: Gonzaga Position: PF Height: 6-10 Weight: 230
I have watched Sabonis play four times and have been really impressed with his growth in his first year in the United States. The freshman has played a key role off the bench for Mark Few’s Bulldogs. Yes, he is a bench player. You heard me. Yet he rebounds like a madman. 18.9 percent of rebounds go to him, higher than any freshman or sophomore in the country. He also is efficient (shoots 74% at the rim, 48% on jump shots) and knows the game very well. This has led him to score 9.5 points and get 6.9 rebounds per game. Yes, off the bench. Although he isn’t a rim protector (a weakness for a big guy), Sabonis could blossom into a stretch four who has a solid mid-range game and rebounds. Sabonis will have plenty of chances to show scouts what he is made of, as many have the Zags winning multiple games in the tournament. It is not known whether Sabonis plans to go to the NBA next year, but if he does, he is expected to be a late first-round draft choice.
5. Tyler Harvey
College: Eastern Washington Position: SG Height: 6-4 Weight: 185
Meet the nation’s leading scorer in Tyler Harvey. At 22.9 points per game, this sophomore was another unstoppable player that led his school to the NCAA tournament. Currently projected as a second round pick, Harvey is a lethal 3-point shooter that can hit shots from almost anywhere on the court. Although he is small for his position (6’4 is small for an NBA shooting guard), he makes up for this with high basketball IQ. I could see Harvey getting drafted late in the second round and playing quality minutes as a shooter off the bench. Eastern Washington faces Georgetown in the first round, and if the Eagles can knock down some shots, Georgetown could fall early. If Harvey can lead his school past Georgetown, his draft stock will rise.
There are plenty of other stars, and the biggest stage has been set. Who will rise up to the challenge?
Story originally published on coa.menloschool.org by Jack Hammond
