Who to Watch in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

You will likely be tuning in to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament if you are a basketball fan. March Madness marks a time to see some of the top NBA draft prospects on a major stage. In this short article, we break down five players NBA fans should watch in this year’s tournament. 

Cooper Flagg (Duke, PF)

Needing to watch Cooper Flagg should come as no surprise to basketball fans. Flagg will be the number one draft pick and (since high school) has shown basketball fans and NBA scouts he can be a future star in this league. It is incredibly challenging to find weaknesses in Flagg’s offensive game. At Duke, he has improved his handle and playmaking skills. He has also demonstrated the capability to get virtually whatever shot he wants. Flagg has also demonstrated a high IQ and has improved his ability to get other players involved.

VJ Edgecombe (Baylor, SG/SF)

VJ Edgecombe is a versatile two-way guard who has also refined his skillset this season. He has shown flashes of unique playmaking ability and has improved his handle. Though his shot-making percentage is streaky, he has been productive and looked comfortable shooting threes off the catch. He shoots about 80% from the free throw line, and 46% around the basket, indicating that he has touch around the basket. 

Derik Queen (Maryland, PF/C)

Derik Queen is a mobile big man and plays with high energy. In addition, Queen has shown he can hit mid-range jump shots and step out to the three-point line in a pick-and-pop scenario. His overall offensive skillset was on full display in the Big Ten Tournament versus Michigan, scoring 31 points.

Khaman Maluach (Duke, C)

Khaman Maluach has shown exceptional defensive mobility, elite finishing, physical screening, and some shooting range ability this season. Despite the number of weapons Duke has on the offensive end, Maluach has consistently found ways to be a part of the offense. The ability he has shown in creating for himself and finding ways to get involved even when he is not scoring is a critical skill NBA centers need. It will be interesting to see how far he, Cooper Flagg, and the rest of Duke go in this year’s tournament.

Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois, PG/SG)

Kasparas Jakucionis’ size, off-the-ball movement, shot-making skill, and passing IQ have shown NBA scouts he is a top-10 worthy pick. Jakucionis has shown consistency in his offensive ability since his days in Barcelona and Lithuania. In college, Jakucionis has grown and demonstrated maturity in late-game situations. While he is not the most athletic guard, he has shown that he can fit into any NBA offense because of his polished and unique skillet.

That rounds out our brief list of players to watch in March Madness!