March Madness is always a great opportunity for collegiate stars to raise their draft stock. This year’s tournament is no different for the 2022 NBA Draft. There are a number of players projected to be drafted highly, such as Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith, and Paolo Banchero, who of course didn’t need dominating performances. This list includes those who are jumping in between rounds and perhaps into the lottery.
2022 NBA Draft: March Madness Players Improving Draft Stock
Backcourt Players
A few backcourt players boosting stock include Christian Braun, Kennedy Chandler, and Bennedict Mathurin.
Braun looks to be a fringe first-rounder out of Kansas. He’s played solid basketball in the tournament thus far, and more remains to be done. He dropped 14 points on 4/5 shooting from deep in a quick win versus Texas Southern in the first round. Kansas was pressured versus Creighton in the second round as other stars struggled. Braun, however, stepped up with 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
Tennessee bowed out early, but to no fault of Chandler’s. The first game was a relatively easy win versus Longwood, where Chandler scored 13 points while also recording five rebounds, five assists, and four steals. The second game was a loss to Michigan. Chandler, however, shined. He scored 19 points and dished out nine assists.
Mathurin is considered a surefire lottery pick, but his performances for Arizona are pushing him to the top of the lottery. In the first round versus Wright State, he scored 18 points and grabbed five boards. Against TCU, in a game that was the epitome of March Madness, Mathurin dropped 30 points along with eight rebounds and a clutch three to send the game to overtime.
Frontcourt Players
A few frontcourt players boosting stock include Christian Koloko, Armando Bacot, Mark Williams, and EJ Liddell.
Koloko has been nothing short of a beast for Arizona. Versus Wright State, he recorded 17 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and five blocks. It gets better from there. Versus TCU, he scored 28 points to go along with 12 rebounds and three blocks. He’s potentially moving into the first-round territory.
Bacot, like Koloko, is guiding his team to the Sweet 16. Versus Marquette, North Carolina’s Bacot put up 17 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists. He followed that game with a line of 15 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in an upset over number one seed Baylor. Bacot is outplaying opposing big men and entering the first-round territory.
Williams of Duke was already a first-rounder but may now be flirting with the lottery. Versus CSU Fullerton, Williams scored 15 points to go along with seven rebounds, five assists, and five blocks. In the second round versus Michigan State, Williams scored 15 points to go along with eight rebounds, five blocks, and two steals. He continues to be a defensive force but is showing more of an all-around game.
Liddell of Ohio State is moving up in the first round as well. He recorded 16 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks versus Loyola Chicago. Then, in a loss to Villanova, he scored 17 points to go along with six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks.
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