March Madness: Senior Stock Watch: Who Is Rising and Who Is Falling

The NCAA tourney provides graduating senior basketball players one last time to show NBA scouts that they are the real deal. Throughout the years, the draft stocks have risen significantly during the tourney for tons of players.

For example, there is no doubt that Derrick Rose would not be the No. 1 pick if he had not carried Memphis to the NCAA final. Therefore, here is my senior stock watch. I will put out another one for the Final Four.

Stock is Rising

Eric Maynor, Virginia Commonwealth

First Round: vs. UCLA- 21 pts, 5-15 FG, 6 reb, 7 ast, 1 stl

Despite only playing one game, Maynor showed why he belongs in the NBA scoring 21 pts while picking up six boards and seven assists.

Terrence Williams, Louisville

First Round: vs. Morehead State- 13 pts, 5-9 FG, 9 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk,

Second Round: vs. Siena- 24 pts, 9-14 FG, 16 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl

Despite an average game against Morehead State, Williams exploded against Siena, scoring 24 pts, picking up 16 reb, and dishing four assists.

G A.J Abrams, Texas

First Round: vs. Minnesota- 26 pts, 9-19 FG, 8-15 3pt, 2 reb, 1 ast, 2 to

Second Round: vs. Duke- 17 pts, 5-13 FG, 5 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 0 to

Abrams exploded against Minnesota, hitting eight three-pointers. NBA scouts like that.

F Dante Cunningham, Villanova

First Round: vs. American- 25 pts, 9-16 FG, 7 reb, 2 ast, 4 to, 3 blk

Second Round: vs. UCLA- 18 pts, 7-11 FG, 10 reb, 2 ast, 2 to, 1 blk

Cunningham has had two excellent games to start the tourney, with 25 pts and seven reb in the opener and 18 pts 10 reb in the second round.

G AJ Price, UConn

First Round: vs. UT-Chattanooga- 20 pts, 7-15 FG, 6 reb, 3 ast, 5 to, 3 stl

Second Round: vs. Texas A&M- 27 pts, 8-16 FG, 5 reb, 8 ast, 2 to

Price has exploded. His stock has exploded. If UConn goes far, Price can go from late second round pick to late first.

F Jeff Adrien, UConn

First Round: vs. UT-Chattanooga- 13 pts, 4-7 FG, 16 reb, 4 ast, 1 blk

Second Round: vs. Texas A&M- 23 pts, 11-16 FG, 8 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk

Like Adrien, with UConn surging, so is Adrien's. Through two games, he is averaging 18 pts and 12 reb.

G Marcus Thornton, LSU

First Round: vs. Butler- 30 pts, 10-15 FG, 6 reb, 4 ast, 4 stl

Second Round: vs. UNC- 25 pts, 10-22 FG, 6 reb, 1 ast, 3 to

Thornton is improving his draft stock by the game, scoring 30 pts in the opener against Butler, and 25 pts against UNC in the second round.

F Dionte Christmas, Temple

First Round: vs. ASU- 29 pts, 8-16 FG, 4 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl

If only Temple had another game to play, the guy with the best last name in basketball put up huge numbers against ASU with 29 pts, 4 reb, 3 stl.

F Sam Young, Pittsburgh

First Round: vs. East Tenn. St.- 14 pts, 4-10 FG, 13 reb, 0 ast, 1 blk

Secound Round: vs. Oklahoma St.- 32 pts, 12-20 FG, 8 reb, 2 ast, 3 blk

Young has had two huge games to start the tournament. Even though he only scored 14 pts in the opener, he picked of 13 boards. In the second round, he put up 32 pts and eight reb against a good Oklahoma State team.

Stock is Staying Put

G Jerel McNeal, Marquette

First Round: vs. Utah State- 14 pts, 3-10 FG, 3 reb, 2 ast, 5 to, 1 blk

Second Round: vs. Missouri- 30 pts, 7-18 FG, 5 reb, 4 ast, 4 to, 1 stl

McNeal had a subpar game against Utah State, shooting only 3-for-10 from the field and committing five turnovers. He exploded against Missouri though, scoring 30 pts and almost leading Marquette to a comeback win.

G Wesley Matthews, Marquette

First Round: vs. Utah State- 11 pts, 3-16 FG, 8 reb, 1 ast, 2 to, 1 stl, 1 blk

Second Round: vs. Missouri- 24 pts, 7-15 FG, 7 reb, 0 ast, 4 to

Matthews made up for a dismal shooting night against Utah State in the first round to go for 24 pts and seven boards in the second round. One more solid game, and his draft stock would have risen, but I wouldn't think it would go either way now that his season is over.

F Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga

First Round: vs. Akron- 22 pts, 7-12 FG, 8 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl

Second Round: vs. W. Kentucky- 10 pts, 3-7 FG 5 reb, 2 ast, 2 blk

Excellent game against Akron, scoring 22 pts and 8 reb, but was a non-factor against Western Kentucky, scoring only 10 pts.

G Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga

First Round: vs. Akron- 9 pts, 4-5 FG, 2 reb, 5 ast

Second Round: vs. W. Kentucky- 18 pts, 7-11 FG, 2 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk

Pargo had a solid game against Akron, dishing five assists. He had a better game against Western Kentucky scoring 18 pts, while dishing out three assists. If he has one more good game, I would say his draft stock would rise.

C Jeff Pendergraph, Arizona State

First Round: vs. Temple- 22 pts, 8-14 FG, 7 reb, 2 ast

Second Round: vs. Syracuse- 9 pts, 3-5 FG, 2 reb, 5 PF

Pendergraph had a big game against Temple, scoring 22 pts with seven reb. He was a non factor against Syracuse however, scoring only nine pts and picking up two boards while struggling with foul trouble.

I doubt his stock improved or fell.

F Tyler Hansbrough, UNC

First Round: vs. Radford- 22 pts, 5-16 FG, 5 reb, 1 ast, 4 stl

Second Round: vs. LSU- 15 pts, 6-11 FG, 8 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl

His prestige will not change his draft position much regardless of what he does this tourney. Solid numbers though two games.

F DeMarre Carroll, Missouri

First Round: vs. Cornell- 13 pts, 4-8 FG, 7 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk

Second Round: vs. Marquette- 15 pts, 6-11 FG, 8 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk

Unspectacular numbers against Cornell and Marquette, but not bad numbers either. Plus, he will have at least another game to prove his worth.

G Danny Green, UNC

First Round: vs. Radford- 15 pts, 6-14 FG, 10 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl

Second Round: vs. LSU- 8 pts, 3-10 FG, 6 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk

Green has had two solid games. Despite struggling from the field against LSU, still had five reb and a few blocks, steals and assists. Excellent double double against Radford, but not enough to say his stock is rising.

Stock is Falling

Lee Cummard, BYU

First Round: vs. Texas A&M- 17 pts, 6-14 FG, 3 reb, 6 ast, 1 to

With very little name exposure as it is, another game for Cummard to show his worth to NBA GM's was vital. Not a bad day against the Aggies, but more exposure would have helped.

Darren Collison, UCLA

First Round: vs. VCU- 10 pts, 3-10 FG, 0 reb, 2 ast, 3 to

Second Round: vs. Villanova- 15 pts, 4-10 FG, 2 reb, 1 ast, 5 to

Collison struggled from the field going 7-20 in two games. The biggest knock would be the three assists to eight turnover differential.

G Tyrese Rice, Boston College

First Round: vs. USC- 9 pts, 4-11 FG, 3 reb, 4 ast, 6 to

Rice struggled against USC, only putting up nine points, far below his average, and committing six turnovers, which will leave GM's with a bad taste in their mouth following a good year.

F K.C. Rivers, Clemson

First Round: vs. Michigan- 13 pts, 3-13 FG, 9 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk

Rivers did have nine boards, but struggled from the field going 3-for-13. Could have used another game to help forget about the bad shooting.