March Madness: 7 NBA draft prospects to watch during NCAA Tournament

This isn’tthe type of NCAA Tournament that will give NBA fans an idea of whatthey can expect in the upcoming draft.

The likelyfirst two picks in the draft –VictorWembanyamaandScoot Henderson– aren’t playingcollege basketball. That’s a major change fromlastyear,when the first six picks in the draft all had played inthe NCAA Tournament a few months earlier.

It’s alsoworth noting that Villanova freshman Cam Whitmore, generallyregarded as one of the top NBA prospects in the college ranks,won’t be playing in this NCAA Tournament because his Wildcatsfailed to qualify.

But thereare plenty of guys in this tournament who should have long NBAcareers. A look at some of the top NBA prospects in this year’sfield (listed alphabetically):

ANTHONY BLACK and NICK SMITH JR., ARKANSAS

Thesefreshman teammates are regarded as potential lottery picks, thoughneither was an Associated Press All-Southeastern Conferenceselection. Black, who is 6-7, averages 12.8 points and 4.2 assistsper game, though he also has 3.2 turnovers per game. He’s regardedas a very good defensive player. Smith, a 6-5 guard, hasn’t gottenmuch of a chance to showcase the skills that made him the nation’sNo. 1 prospect in his high school classaccording to composite rankings ofrecruiting sites compiled by 247Sports.Smith has playedin just 14 games due to a knee injury but scored at least 24 pointsin three of Arkansas’ last four regular-season contests.

First-roundgame: Thursday vs. Illinois.

GRADEY DICK, KANSAS

Dick is a6-8 freshman with guard skills who earnedsecond-teamAssociated Press All-Big 12honors. He’saveraging 14.1 points and 4.9 rebounds, and shooting 39.9% (79 of198) from 3-point range. He has shown he can play well against topopponents. Some of his games with at least 20 points came againstNorth Carolina State, Indiana, Iowa State, Baylor and Texas.

First-roundgame: Thursday vs. Howard.

KEYONTE GEORGE, BAYLOR

This 6-4guard arrived at Baylor as the nation’s No. 9 prospect in his classaccording to the 247Sports Composite. He’s had an impressivefreshman season as a key part ofBaylor’s outstandingbackcourt.George has averaged 15.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and2.8 assists while earning second-team Associated Press All-Big 12honors.

First-roundgame: Friday vs. UC Santa Barbara.

BRANDON MILLER, ALABAMA

Miller’soff-court situation has been well-documented: Police say he wasasked to bring a teammate a gun that was used in a fatal shootingwhich has resultedin the capital murder case againstformer teammate Darius Miles and Michael Davis. Miller hasn’tbeen charged with anything, hasn’t missed any games and has becomea star. The 6-foot-9 freshman is theSEC player of theyearand has led Alabama to its firstNo. 1 seed. Heaverages 19.7 points and 8.3 rebounds and is shooting 39.9% (99 of248) from 3-point range.

First-roundgame: Thursday vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

JARACE WALKER, HOUSTON

Althoughsenior guard Marcus Sasser is Houston’s best player, Walker is theCougars’ top pro prospect. The 6-8 freshman isn’t particularlypolished yet, but he has shown flashes of his enormous potential.He scored at least 21 points four times in an eight-game midseasonstretch. NBA teams love his versatility. He should develop into aguy who can defend multiple positions, block shots and shoot the3-pointer.

First-roundgame: Thursday vs. Northern Kentucky.

CASON WALLACE, KENTUCKY

Rated asthe nation’s No. 5 prospect in his high school class according tothe 247Sports Composite, Wallace averages 11.6 points, 4.2 assistsand 3.5 rebounds per game. The 6-4 guard has done that whiledealing with some nagging injuries. Wallace has dealt with an ankleinjury lately and has shot only 3 of 26 from 3-point range over hislast seven games. First-round game: Friday vs. Providence.