Elite 8 Bracket: Updated Info and Key Players to Watch in Battle for Final Four

It's a shame the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight blow by us so fast. We barely get a chance to celebrate or enjoy the teams that have advanced through the early rounds of the NCAA tournament.

On Saturday, the first set of Elite Eight games kick off. Here's the updated bracket after the results from Thursday and Friday.

There are several top talents in action, but the following three are going to be especially intriguing to watch.

All Your Bracket Essentials

• Download the Printable Bracket
• Play the Free Bracket Challenge 

Jerian Grant

Emmanuel Mudiay is considered the top point guard prospect for the upcoming draft, but with every passing game, Notre Dame's Jerian Grant looks like the best the college game has to offer.

Mudiay skipped college to play professionally overseas in China, and he has impressed scouts. Both Draft Express and NBADraft.net have him listed as a top-five pick.

Grant's stock should be climbing as well based on his stellar regular season, but even more in light of the way he's led the Fighting Irish to three tournament wins. ESPN's Dick Vitale recognizes Grant's stock is on the rise.

Thus far in the NCAA tournament, Grant is averaging 14 points and seven assists per game. Those stats might not jump out at you, but Grant's efficiency in the offense and ability to play with or without the ball is impressive.

He can score as evidenced by his 16.6 points per game this season. At 6'5", Grant has excellent size to play lead guard, but he can also move to the 2-guard when needed. His versatility has made him Notre Dame's best player and one of the fastest risers for the upcoming NBA draft.

Karl-Anthony Towns

Though neither the Kentucky Wildcats' Karl-Anthony Towns nor the Duke Blue Devils' Jahlil Okafor has announced any intentions to enter the NBA draft, the thought is that the two freshmen are in competition to be the top pick.

KAT hasn't had to show much of his versatility thus far through the Wildcats' run through the tournament.

He's played only 20.7 minutes per game during the season because of Kentucky's extraordinary depth. With the time he's given, he's swatting 2.3 shots per contest and proving to have elite court vision for a big man.

One has to wonder though, does he need to have a strong finish to the NCAA tourney to solidify himself as the consensus top pick? Okafor figures to have more opportunities to put up big numbers, but KAT is the hot name.

Does he have a great performance in him that will show more than a glimpse of his enormous potential?

Jahlil Okafor

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Without question, the most productive frontcourt player in the nation is Okafor. Most of the season, he's been on track to be the first player taken in the draft. However, KAT has seemingly gained ground and overtaken him in the minds of some.

While Okafor is clearly plugged in to Duke's team goals, he's human and has to be aware that the remaining college games in his career are his last chance to impress the team that will select first in the NBA draft.

How Okafor finishes in this year's tournament—assuming he leaves after this season—will determine his initial draft stock. If he and Duke wind up facing KAT and Kentucky in the national championship, it could be a showdown for the ages. First thing's first, Duke and Okafor must handle a tough Gonzaga Bulldogs team for a right to reach the Final Four and then win a national semifinal game as well.

This college basketball thing is pretty cool.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter