March Madness 2015: Updated Bracket and NBA Prospects to Watch in Final Four
While this year's Final Four is a dream for college basketball fans around the country, it should also be entertaining for NBA fans hoping to get a glimpse of the future.
According to Jason McIntyre of The Big Lead, Saturday's games could feature as many as eight lottery picks in the 2015 draft. From high-upside talents buried on Kentucky like Trey Lyles and Devin Booker to improving veterans like Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker on Wisconsin, there will be plenty to watch.
Of course, this doesn't even include guys who could end up being options in future drafts like Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes, Michigan State's Denzel Valentine or Duke's Tyus Jones.
Looking at all the future NBA stars, however, these prospects stand above the rest heading into the Final Four.
Jahlil Okafor, Duke
As soon as discussion for the 2015 NBA draft began, Jahlil Okafor's name was the first on the list. The 6'11", 270-pound center is one of the most dominant low-post players the college game has seen in years, and he is ready to take his game to the next level.
While most players at his age and position are a bit raw offensively, the Duke star has incredible technique for his age. Matt Norlander of CBS Sports thinks he is the best prospect thanks to his ridiculous post moves:
Not only is this unstoppable at the college level, he should have a lot of success right away in the NBA with a skill set like that.
There have been questions about Okafor's defensive consistency as well as free-throw shooting, but he is as safe of a draft pick as you will find in this class.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky
Although Okafor was assumed to have a lock on the No. 1 pick all year, Karl-Anthony Towns is seemingly taking over thanks to his advanced all-around game.
Kurt Helin of NBC Sports broke down the thoughts from scouts around the league:
While Towns doesn't quite have the low-post game of Okafor, he does have a wider range of abilities, including a jump shot that could extend to the three-point line in the future. He also is a much better defender at this stage, which could be the difference when comparing the two prospects.
With so many teams moving to a faster pace in the NBA, Towns could be a perfect fit at the next level as a versatile superstar. It is a bigger risk considering his lack of usage at Kentucky, but the upside is certainly there.
Justise Winslow, Duke
Few players have helped their stock more in the NCAA tournament than Justise Winslow. Although the Duke star is sometimes the fourth option offensively behind Okafor, Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook, he has shown the tools necessary to be an elite contributor in the NBA.
In four NCAA tournament games, Winslow is averaging 14 points, 3.3 assists and 9.5 rebounds per game. He is playing excellent defense, filling up the box score and seemingly only scoring when the Blue Devils need it the most.
Grantland's Mark Titus believes he has done enough to at least enter the discussion for the top pick in the NBA draft:
Although his skill set doesn't necessarily translate to a superstar at the next level, he almost certainly will be a key contributor and a perfect glue guy for a contender. He does all the little things you need to win, and someone will value this at the NBA draft.
Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
While centers Okafor and Towns turn heads with their offensive ability, Willie Cauley-Stein will be a lottery pick thanks to his work on the defensive end of the court.
The junior has used his 7'0" frame and raw athleticism to become one of the top defensive players in college basketball at any position. As Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports noted, his work is a big reason the team has been so successful this year:
"Willie Cauley-Stein's defense again continues to be the foundation of Kentucky's success. Was HUGE down the stretch. Special player. #BBN
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 29, 2015"
Cauley-Stein not only can use his length to defend the post, he also has great footwork to match up against guards and anyone else on the perimeter. He has the ability to guard all five positions in the NBA, which is vital for squads looking to stop the pick-and-roll attack.
Over the next two games, the center will likely see a variety of assignments from Kaminsky and Dekker in the semifinals to potentially Okafor or Winslow in the finals. No matter who he matches up against, the opponent will be in trouble.
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