Sam Dekker Strengthens NBA Draft Resume with Brilliant Regional Final

Sam Dekker had himself a splendid weekend.

Wisconsin's "other" NBA draft prospect showcased his versatility and big-game chops during the Badgers' Sweet 16 and Elite Eight triumphs against North Carolina and Arizona, respectively.

The 6'9" junior had been cooking throughout the tournament, but the past couple of games have been particularly magnificent. After registering a career-high 23 points to go with 10 rebounds against the Tar Heels, he helped clinch Wisconsin's second straight Final Four berth with 27 points against the defensive-minded Wildcats in an 85-78 win Saturday.

For much of the 2014-15 campaign, Dekker had been playing in the shadows of Frank "The Tank" Kaminsky, but he's reminded us of late why he's an appealing prospect in his own right.

Even if his heroics in Los Angeles don't instantly guarantee him a lottery spot, they certainly will give him a nice boost up the draft charts. ESPN's Chad Ford concurs:

What did his recent explosion show us about his NBA future?

For starters, he flashed his shooting potential. He shot just 32 percent from beyond the arc this season, but he's confidently connecting from the perimeter during March.

Dekker is 13-of-27 from distance so far in the tourney, including 5-of-6 in the West Regional Final. Although he's not fundamentally pristine, he delivers a high release and is quite effective when his footwork is solid.

His cloud-bursting triple in the closing seconds of Saturday's win was the most memorable shot, but it was just one of five big second-half threes he drilled to keep Wisconsin afloat.

Dekker's not a great mid-range shooter, but his ability to hit three-pointers off the bounce bodes well for his development in that department. DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony had this to say:

The other major offensive area that was impressive from an NBA standpoint was his ability to drive to the hoop.

Dekker is not an overly advanced or creative isolation player, but he's skilled and athletic enough to attack creases and make plays. He displayed stretches of slashing prowess against UNC and Arizona, finding angles from the wing and earning trips to the free-throw line.

In the Sweet 16, he took advantage of North Carolina's unsettled defense. Watch him use the screen, turn the corner and finish smoothly with his off-hand:

Don't expect him to be the type of NBAer who shakes opponents one-on-one in the half court. However, he operates really well off one or two dribbles, using the lateral movement of the team's offense to find space to drive.

He's not viewed as the strongest wing in the crop, but he's converting 75 percent on shots at the rim, according to Hoop-Math.com. Here he gets past Arizona's Stanley Johnson and finishes through contact:

When you pair Dekker's promising skill set with his off-ball instincts and basketball IQ, it's easy to see that he'll have a substantial offensive role in the Association. Dekker knows when to cut, when to drift weak-side and when to get his teammates open.

Defensively, he doesn't do anything spectacular. He just displays consistent toughness, smartness and fundamental footwork to go along with his underrated agility. In the NBA, he'll be able to check almost every small forward and perhaps some 4s, depending on the lineups.

Just like on the offensive end, it's his awareness and ability to collaborate with teammates that will make him a capable stopper. He's going to take away opponents' strengths, crash the boards and play sharply within his club's system.

In most cases, one or two games isn't enough to catapult a prospect's draft stock from the late first round into the lottery. And that may still be the case for Dekker. After all, there are a handful of worthy small forwards who could get drafted ahead of him.

However, the past couple of games significantly enhanced his draft resume.

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These weren't big nights against a mid-major scrapper or a Big Ten bottom-feeder. Dekker helped Wisconsin advance by shining against the hyper-athletic Tar Heels and a Top 10 squad in Arizona. He encountered the likes of J.P. Tokoto, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Stanley Johnson, and he outplayed them all.

Huge games in the NCAA tourney don't automatically translate to NBA success. Let's not overreact and project Dekker to stardom based on a couple of clutch nights. In fact, Wisconsin assistant coach Greg Gard explained that the young gun isn't a full-fledged star yet, per Yahoo Sports' Jeff Eisenberg:

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The sky's the limit for him, but I don't think he's anywhere near where he can be. He has to continue to get stronger, continue to mature and get more consistent as a ball handler and perimeter shooter. He has unlimited potential, but he has a ways to go to fully tap into that.

"

Nevertheless, these performances have exhibited his offensive growth and versatile value. He's showing that he can score from inside and out, and we already know he has the intangibles to contribute in every area.

If his March Madness shooting form is a preview of things to come, he could be a potent third option on his NBA squad and score 13 to 15 points per contest. Factor in his defense and rebounding, and you've got a prospect who shouldn't fall past the teens on draft night.

Daniel O'Brien covers the NBA draft for Bleacher Report.

Follow him on Twitter: @DanielO_BR