NBA
Top 5 NBA Draft Prospects in March Madness
Find out more about the Top 5 NBA Draft prospects playing in March Madness including Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, and more!
Sports Illustrated
With the March Madness tournament upon us, Pro Sports Outlook has partnered with FANDEX to deliver exclusive valuable content providing intel about the best games and top prospects to watch for. Sign up on FANDEX and invest in the team(s) you believe in for FREE and win real prizes with the right investments.
Here are the top 5 NBA Draft prospects to watch in the NCAA tournament:
[Highlights] PG, Oklahoma, FR: 20.2 PPG (48% FG | 41% 3P), 6.3 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.8 BPG, 1.4 SPG, 4.2 TOV
Athleticism: B+
NBA Skills: A
Production: A
Risk: A
OVERALL: A
If one were to create the prototype for a modern NBA guard, Cade Cunningham would not be that far off. The Oklahoma State freshman point guard is the best all-around player in this year’s class and will most likely be selected #1 overall in this summer’s draft. Cunningham has an incredible feel for the game and lets the game develop in front of him to make the best possible move for his team.
Sometimes, this means taking over the game with his scoring ability, as he did against in-state rival Oklahoma with a 40-point double-double. He also settles into more of a facilitator role at times while letting his teammates carry the offensive load. This quality is something that most pro players do not understand until the latter part of their career and is the most mature part of Cade’s game.
Cade does not fear the big moments, with all of his 24+ point performances coming against ranked teams. This should make for an exciting March Madness run for Cunningham and his Cowboys. He has all the tools to be a great two-way player at the next level and will be crucial to his future team.
[Highlights] C, USC, FR: 16.8 PPG (58% FG | 31% 3P), 8.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, 3.0 BPG, 0.9 SPG, 2.4 TOV
Athleticism: A
NBA Skills: B+
Production: A
Risk: A-
OVERALL: A
The top prospect in his class coming out of high school, Evan Mobley had a dominant season in the PAC-12, scoring in double digits in all but one conference game. Mobley’s size and reach are the first things that jump out as a prospect, but he has plenty of potential to become a big that can stretch the floor if he develops his jump shot. USC earned a #6 seed in the tournament this year, and Mobley is looking to lead the Trojans on one last winning streak before turning pro.
Mobley was very productive during his freshman campaign with 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game. He added nine double-doubles and proved that he is a threat on both ends of the floors. His defensive ability as a rim protector should translate to the NBA, and as he matures, he can grow into one of the NBA’s best big men. His offensive game is a little rough at times, and he relies a lot on his natural ability instead of set moves. Nevertheless, he will be a highly sought-after prospect and a top pick in this summer’s draft.
[Highlights] PG, Gonzaga, FR: 14.3 PPG (51% FG | 35% 3P), 5.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, 0.3 BPG, 2.0 SPG, 2.8 TOV
Athleticism: A-
NBA Skills: A-
Production: B+
Risk: A-
OVERALL: A-
Gonzaga’s highest recruit in school history did not disappoint during his 2nd team All-American campaign, WCC freshman of the year campaign. Alongside Corey Kispert and Drew Timme, the former high school quarterback led Mark Few’s incredibly efficient offense to an undefeated season. He is expected to leave Spokane after this season and be a top selection in this year’s NBA draft.
The Minnesota native was dominant from the first game to the last. At the beginning of the season against both Kansas and Iowa, Suggs had fantastic games. In the WCC championship, he hit some huge shots en route to the Zags victory over BYU. He has a reasonable frame for a modern NBA point guard and is the perfect leader of a transition attack. He is very explosive yet has the size to ensure he can be durable throughout his career.
[Highlights] G, Arkansas, FR: 17.4 PPG (44% FG | 38% 3P), 5.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.6 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 1.6 TOV
Athleticism: B+
NBA Skills: B+
Production: B+
Risk: B+
OVERALL: B+
Moody came to Arkansas this year as a highly touted freshman but relatively unknown on the national level. He announced his presence in a big way and was the clear leader of an Arkansas team whose SEC surge won them a #3 seed in this year’s tournament. He projects as a capable defender and scorer on the wing and could be a significant piece to a lottery team’s future.
Moses led the Razorbacks in scoring this year, averaging 17.9 ppg and closing out the season with back-to-back 28 point games. He can burn opponents from deep and connected on 3 or more threes in six games this season. On defense, he has the size to cover either guards or opposing wings, which will be valuable in the ever-switching NBA defenses. Eric Musselman has his team playing its best basketball of the year at the right time, and Moody could be the key to a March run.
[Highlights] G, FSU, FR: 11 PPG (50% FG | 30% 3P), 4.3 RPG, 4.2 APG, 0.4 BPG, 1.5 SPG, 2.3 TOV
Athleticism: A-
NBA Skills: B+
Production: B
Risk: B
OVERALL: B+
Barnes would have probably been off the radar in a different generation, but his versatility and 2-way potential make him one of the most unique and modern prospects ever. Barnes does a little bit of everything, including bringing up the ball for Leonard Hamilton’s squad. Most NBA teams see his defense as the best facet of his game. He has a strong frame and a wide wingspan that should make him the primary on-ball defender in crunch time. With some experience, Barnes could elevate himself to an All-Defensive level.
Barnes averaged 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists, playing only 24 minutes a game. Florida State always uses a very deep rotation which makes it difficult to develop great production numbers to the eye. What is unique about Barnes does not show up in the stat sheet. He is constantly giving his total effort and is the type of player everyone wants on their team. His stock has been rising all year, and a run in March Madness would only heighten the excitement around this freshman.
Share this NBA Prospects article with friends and follow for more great sports content!
