NBA Draft Prospects To Watch In The 2018 NCAA Tournament
Compared to the last NCAA tournament’s crop of NBA draft prospects, a particularly down year, this year’s pool of next-level talent participating in March Madness is overflowing. No matter what your favorite NBA team is in the market for —a franchise-transforming star, that perfect three-and-D wing to complement a talented roster, or a rim-protecting center to make up for defensive ineffectiveness — the 2018 NCAA tournament has got it. Here are the 21 players in March Madness who we think will get selected in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft, should they choose to exit the college ranks, from lowest to highest draft stock.
Jalen Brunson, Villanova
The classic overachieving point guard who’ll stick in the NBA for over a decade because of his headiness, his scoring instincts, his ability to orchestrate an offense, and his knack for pestering opposing points on defense.
He may not grow into a star, but he’ll be a guy any coach would be happy to have on their roster.
Robert Williams, Texas A&M
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After a flirtation with last year’s NBA draft, the Aggies big man opted to return to school for another year.
Unfortunately, he hasn’t done much to show scouts he’s improved since then, scoring less with only a slight uptick in efficiency and blocking the same amount of shots as he did a season ago.
He has a decent midrange jumper and the tools to be a defensive terror, but he’s miserable from the free-throw line, shooting 46.9 percent from the stripe this year.
Khyri Thomas, Creighton
The junior guard has immense two-way potential, possessing a 6’10” wingspan and the ability to score efficiently both inside and out at the college level.
On offense, his strength allows him to bully smaller defenders, while his quick first step, sweet stroke from outside, and shifty ball handling give him enough shake to blow past bigs. But defensively is where he makes his hay, as a terrorizing on-ball defender.
Jacob Evans, Cincinnati
While not a dynamic offensive player on the wing, the Bearcats junior provides things every NBA team needs more of: defense and shooting. Defensively, the 6’6″
Evans compensates for below-average NBA athleticism with great strength and instincts, and offensively he can really stroke it and pass, and he plays within himself.