NBA draft prospects use tournament to their advantage
Potential top NBA draft picks Ben Simmons, Jaylen Brown, Jamal Murray, and Kris Dunn are all done for the year, all making early exits from the postseason. In fact, when looking at the top-10 players listed in our mock draft, only Buddy Hield (ninth) is still playing.
What that dearth of top prospects has done is opened up the chance for less-heralded prospects to shine. This is especially true because of the modification to the NCAA's withdrawal rules, which pushed the deadline for players to withdraw from the draft back to 10 days after the NBA combine, and relaxed the number of times a college athlete could declare for the draft before losing eligibility, which had previously been limited to just twice.
With the new rules in place, players who make a positive impression during the tournament can make a more informed decision about whether they should, or should not, stay in the draft, and can build on the momentum of strong NCAA tournament performances.
Who are some players catching the eyes of NBA scouts?
O.G. Anunoby, Small Forward, Indiana
Few under-the-radar players have had the coming out party that Anunoby has had in the NCAA tournament.
It's not so much that Indiana's freshman is playing a leading role, as he played just 15 minutes in Indiana's opening-round win over Chattanooga. But, when the Hoosiers needed a defender to throw at Kentucky's incredible perimeter attack, led by eventual lottery pick Jamal Murray, coach Tom Crean turned to his inexperienced freshman.
Anunoby, who averaged 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in 13.6 minutes per night, although that did pick up towards the end of the season, has elite defensive tools, standing 6-feet-8, with a 7-2 wingspan and incredible athleticism.
He's also a hound defensively, fighting over screens, pressuring ball handlers on the perimeter, and playing great ball-denial defense. That match-up against Murray gave Anunoby a chance to showcase his NBA potential on the biggest stage possible.
There's still plenty of uncertainty over whether Anunoby will declare for, and stay in, the draft, as he's still very raw offensively. But if Anunoby can improve his perimeter shot he could become a legitimate “three-and-d” prospect, something that's coveted by virtually every team in the NBA.
Sheldon McClellan, SG, Miami
Where Anunoby is showcasing his potential to many for the first time, McClellan is reinforcing his continued development, especially on the perimeter. McClellan, who shot a career-high 38.9% from three-point range this season, made a pair of big three-pointers in the second half of Miami's win over Ron Baker, Fred VanVleet, and the Wichita State Shockers, showing his ability to hit from NBA three-point range, and pull up off the dribble at a moments notice.
McClellan can be a little bit hot and cold at times, in part because of questionable shot selection. But that shot selection is, in part, a result of incredible confidence in his game and one of the more diverse perimeter games in the country, with high-level athleticism, an ability to attack off the dribble, and, now, improved consistency in his three-point shot combining to create a tough cover for most opponents.
McClellan scored 26 points in the Hurricanes' loss to Villanova and its hard-nosed perimeter defense in the Sweet 16 matchup. It was another strong performance that could certainly help his draft status.
Brice Johnson, Power Forward, North Carolina
Johnson has improved across the board in his senior season at North Carolina, averaging career-highs in points (16.8), rebounds (10.5), blocks (1.5), steals (1.1), field goal percentage (61.9%), and free-throw percentage (77.8%).
In the tournament, he is averaging 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and five blocked shots per game during the first weekend of play, showcasing his incredible athleticism, touch around the hoop, and improved play on the glass.
Perhaps the most important improvement in his game has come on the defensive side of the court, an improvement that goes beyond just the lofty shot blocking numbers he's put up of late. Johnson has been much more focused defensively, engaged off the ball and precise in his defensive rotations, something which had been a concern earlier in the season. .
There are still significant concerns about Johnson's ability to make shots outside of the paint, something that's going to become even more important in the NBA, where space is at a premium. That's not a concern you expect him to disprove over the next few games, however. But with the improvements Johnson has made in his overall game, which have been on full display so far during North Carolina's NCAA tournament play, could help Johnson sneak into the first round in June's draft.
