The four teams left standing have just three combined first round prospects on their rosters.
Year in, year out, the NCAA Tournament is consistently one of – if not the best – top events in all of athletics. College basketball fans should rejoice, as the four teams remaining play exciting games and the championship is widely up for grabs.
From a draft perspective? There’s not too much to offer.
Buddy Hield is the lone lottery prospect for 2016 in the Final Four, and his draft stock will not change between today and the conclusion of the tournament. Scouts, executives and other players know exactly what he is, and he will be selected accordingly in the mid-late lottery.
We profiled Hield earlier this year, and while he’s no longer putting up a 50/50/90 season, he is incredibly close and will be honored with every major award college basketball has to offer. Once Simmons, Ingram, Dunn, Murray and Brown come off the board, there may not be another collegiate prospect called before Hield.
Who are the other key prospects to watch in the Final Four?
Tyler Lydon | F | Syracuse
Lydon is a very intriguing prospect, and projects well as a stretch-4 or bigger small forward in the NBA. Oozing potential, Lydon is a rare player that blocks a high number of shots while also connecting on a high percentage of his 3-point attempts. Lydon is more likely than not to play his sophomore year with the Orange, but a big Final Four might lead him to press his luck towards turning pro. Look for him to test the waters without an agent – as LOTS of players are doing – and he could wind up being a top-20 pick.
Brice Johnson | PF | North Carolina
Johnson leads Final Four-favorite North Carolina from the block, where he has been a consistent double-double machine. A threat to score from mid-range and at the rim, Johnson has also emerged as one of the tournament’s top shot blockers. Like Hield, executives already know what Johnson is – and he’s a likely first round pick.
Josh Hart | G | Villanova
Villanova has advanced to the final weekend despite playing without a surefire first round prospect on the team. Hart might be their closest bet as an undersized shooting guard that can fill out the stat sheet. One of college basketball’s top rebounders from the perimeter, Hart will be highly relied upon to create his own offense against the Sooners. Defensively, will he match up with Hield?
Others to watch: Michael Gbinje G/Syracuse, Marcus Paige PG/North Carolina, Isaiah Hicks PF/North Carolina, Malachi Richardson SG/Syracuse, Jalen Brunson PG/Villanova
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