Philadelphia 76ers: 6 Players Impressing in NCAA Tournament They Should Target
With the Philadelphia 76ers in the midst of an above .500 season, they find themselves staring at a first-round matchup with one of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia has made great strides after finishing 27-55 last season. They're averaging two more points per game this season and are giving up four points less per game.
A difference of six points per game, as well as having six players averaging double digits, have made the 76ers drastically better this season.
Unfortunately for the team, however, they have still not been quite good enough.
They now look likely to be eliminated in the first round against one of the top teams in the East, whether it be Boston, Chicago or Miami.
The 76ers first-round draft selection in 2010, Evan Turner, has not turned into the impact player they thought he would be. However, he is still young and will look to fine-tune his game over the next couple of seasons.
Eventually, he should turn into an All-Star caliber player.
With that, Philadelphia fans will be looking forward to the NBA draft, where they will hope to add an elite talent in the first round that can help put them over the top.
6. Kenneth Faried (F, Morehead State)
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Kenneth Faried burst onto the scene when the Eagles defeated Louisville in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Faried has a non-stop motor and is constantly giving 100 percent on both sides of the ball. He was the nation's leading rebounder, averaging over 14 rebounds per game.
Faried still has some work to do to improve his offensive game, but having a high energy player like Faried would be a great addition to the 76ers.
Philadelphia could use depth in the frontcourt, and Faried would provide a player who could eventually turn into a Dennis Rodman type of player at the NBA level.
5. Markieff Morris (F, Kansas)
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Markieff Morris is not as talented as his brother Marcus. However, he is still one of the top forwards that will be available in the draft.
Morris had a huge game against Illinois in their last game, scoring 24 points and adding 12 rebounds.
Not only does he contribute on the offensive side of the ball, he also provides a solid defensive option and is a very good rebounder on the defensive glass.
Morris has very good range on his shot, shooting over 40 percent from three-point range this past season. That will only improve as he continues to develop.
While Philadelphia currently has Elton Brand to play the power forward spot, Morris could eventually take over at that position and provides them with a lot of upside off the bench in the meantime.
4. Chris Singleton (F, Florida State)
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Chris Singleton is one of the best defenders in college basketball and should be able to carry that over to the NBA level.
He has only played 16 minutes so far in the NCAA tournament, but was able to showcase his defensive abilities in both games.
Singleton will never turn into a huge offensive weapon at the NBA level, but he is a very versatile defender who can use his athleticism to defend both shooting guards and small forwards.
Singleton would be a very good fit for the 76ers, as they still need to add a shut-down defender to the team.
Adding an elite defender is a necessity if they want to be successful in an Eastern Conference that is loaded with elite players at shooting guard and small forward.
Philadelphia has a lot of players who can put the ball in the basket, so adding a versatile defender may be exactly what the 76ers need in this year's draft.
3. Jimmer Fredette (G, Brigham Young)
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Jimmer Fredette is one of the toughest players to project when it comes to NBA mock drafts.
Fredette is dominant on the offensive side of the ball and the best shooter in the entire draft.
However, Fredette lacks the defensive abilities that the 76ers could really use.
That being said, it is very tough to pass up an offensive talent like this.
The 76ers desperately need a player that can be effective from three-point range, as they currently only have two players that shoot better than 35 percent from there.
Fredette would instantly make an impact with his jumper and will be an instant spark off the bench as a sixth man in the NBA.
He has been able to take over games during his college career at BYU and has single-handedly carried the Cougars to the Sweet 16.
He compares most to Stephen Curry at the NBA level, and Philadelphia will be hoping Fredette makes a similar impact to the one that Curry made when he joined the Golden State Warriors.
2. John Henson (F, North Carolina)
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John Henson has exploded onto the scene for the Tar Heels this season and absolutely dominated in Carolina's first game of the tournament.
Henson had 28 points and 11 rebounds in only 28 minutes against Long Island—in large part due to the fact that Long Island had no one athletic enough to guard Henson.
However, Henson has proved all season long that he has all the talent and athleticism needed to be successful at the NBA level.
Henson needs to work on his offensive game as he lacks range on his jumper and struggles from the free-throw line.
However, on the defensive side of the ball, Henson is an absolute monster and can use his athleticism and his length to defend almost any player.
Henson is not only agile and quick for his size, he also runs the floor very well for someone his size. He will need to add some bulk to his thin frame, but that should not be much of a problem for an NBA strength coach.
The 76ers may need Henson to slide a few picks or they may need to trade up to secure him. However, Philadelphia could certainly use his versatility, and if they can teach him some more offensive game, Henson could be one of the biggest draft day steals.
1. Brandon Knight (G, Kentucky)
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Brandon Knight has had an up and down season so far at Kentucky, but he showed what he was made of in his last game against West Virginia when he lead the Wildcats with 30 points.
He has the skill set necessary to play point guard at the NBA level, but he is versatile enough to play both the point guard and the shooting guard positions.
Knight has been turnover-prone at times during his tenure at Kentucky, leaving many scouts thinking he might be best suited to playing the two-guard. Playing there, he could focus on using his one-on-one offensive abilities to create, rather than having to worry about setting other players up.
Knight is a good outside shooter, as he shoots better than 38 percent from three-point range and will only likely improve that number over time.
Philadelphia could certainly use a player versatile enough to play either guard position—and pairing him with Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner could make for a dominant trio in the near future.
