2018 NBA Mock Draft: Predictions for Top Prospects Alive in NCAA Tournament
The 2018 NBA draft won't occur until June 21, but March gives us a final glimpse of the best college prospects in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
While a few big names have already been knocked out of the competition, numerous potential NBA stars remain in the field.
Most of the first-round talent left in the Big Dance resides on the rosters of big-name programs like Duke, Michigan State and Villanova.
So much can change ahead of the draft, but we are starting to get an idea of which athletes will end up in the top 10 and who will be playing the waiting game in the first round.
2018 NBA Mock Draft
1. Phoenix Suns: DeAndre Ayton, C, Arizona
2. Memphis Grizzlies: Marvin Bagley III, PF, Duke
3. Atlanta Hawks: Michael Porter, SF, Missouri
4. Orlando Magic: Luka Doncic, SG/SF, Slovenia
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Brooklyn): Jaren Jackson Jr., PF, Michigan State
6. Dallas Mavericks: Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas
7. Sacramento Kings: Wendell Carter Jr., C, Duke
8. Chicago Bulls: Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma
9. New York Knicks: Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama
10. Charlotte Hornets: Miles Bridges, SF, Michigan State
11. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit): Mikal Bridges, SG/SF, Villanova
12. Philadelphia 76ers (from LA Lakers): Kevin Knox, SF/PF, Kentucky
13. Denver Nuggets: Gary Trent Jr., SG. Duke
14. Los Angeles Clippers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky
15. Phoenix Suns (from Miami): Lonnie Walker, SG/SF, Miami
16. Phoenix Suns (from Milwaukee): Robert Williams, C, Texas A&M
17. Philadelphia 76ers: Daniel Gafford, PF/C, Arkansas
18. Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans): Khyri Thomas, PG/SG, Creighton
19. San Antonio Spurs: Aaron Holiday, PG, UCLA
20. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota): Dzanan Musa, SF, Bosnia and Herzegovina
21. Utah Jazz: Mitchell Robinson, C, United States
22. Indiana Pacers: Troy Brown, PG/SG, Oregon
23. Washington Wizards: Moritz Wagner, C, Michigan
24. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland): Chimezie Metu, C, USC
25. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City): Landry Shamet, PG/SG, Wichita State
26. Portland Trailblazers: Trevon Duval, PG, Duke
27. Boston Celtics: Omer Yurtseven, C, NC State
28. Brooklyn Nets (from Toronto): Hamidou Diallo, SG, Kentucky
29. Golden State Warriors: Keita Bates-Diop, SF, Ohio State
30. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston): Jontay Porter, PF/C, Missouri
Top Prospects Alive in NCAA Tournament
Marvin Bagley III, Duke
With DeAndre Ayton and Michael Porter eliminated from the NCAA tournament in the first round, Duke's Marvin Bagley III is the top projected prospect remaining in the competition.
Bagley asserted his dominance, like most of his teammates, in the opening rounds of the Big Dance, as he scored 22 points against both Iona and Rhode Island.
In addition to producing in the points column, Bagley has been a vital asset on the glass, as he has 16 rebounds from two NCAA tournament games.
Bagley recorded a double-double in each of his past three ACC contests to retain an average of 21.1 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.
With Duke playing at an incredible level, Bagley's draft stock will only go up—if it's able to go higher than it already is—as the Blue Devils march further into the competition.
While Bagley is thriving, Ayton and Porter bowed out in the first round. And while some may use those games as a reason for why Bagley should leap them, it isn't valid since their respective skill sets are still two of the best in the nation.
Mikal Bridges, Villanova
Few players have impressed of late as much as Villanova's Mikal Bridges.
Since February 17, the junior has scored more than 20 points in seven of his 10 games, including a 23-point showing in the second round against Alabama on Saturday.
During that span, Bridges knocked down at least three shots from beyond the arc, with five three-pointers coming in his outburst versus the Crimson Tide.
Bridges is 38-of-73 from three-point range in the 10-game stretch, during which he's displayed the rest of his abilities as well.
The guard is dynamic threat in the backcourt, and he is becoming more irresistible for teams in the lottery selections.
If he maintains his form in the Sweet 16 and beyond, Bridges has the potential to climb further up draft boards as NBA teams continue to fall in love with his game.
Jaren Jackson Jr., Michigan State
Only a handful of potential lottery picks participate in Sunday's games, with two of them coming from Michigan State.
While Miles Bridges receives a ton of hype, and rightfully so, freshman Jaren Jackson Jr. is a force NBA teams can't wait to start working with.
Listed at 6'11" and 242 pounds, Jackson has a little bit of growing left to do, and his size could boost him into the top 10 picks.
Although he's been inconsistent when it comes to scoring lately, Jackson has the raw potential teams dream about when selecting prospects.
The 18-year-old taken a backseat to his teammates on a few occasions, but he could make a massive impact against Syracuse on Sunday if the Spartans use his length to exploit the weaknesses in the Orange's zone defense.
Jackson's best stretch of the season came at the start of Big Ten play, as he reeled off 11 consecutive double-digit point performances, including a double-double against Illinois January 22.
Michigan State is capable of making a deep run in the Big Dance behind Bridges, but if it wants to win the tournament, Jackson must use his size to his advantage and become the Spartans' X-factor.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
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