Draft Digest Roundtable: NCAA Tournament Stock Risers
Shining in the biggest moments of the season obviously does quite a bit for players looking to make the jump to the next level. With the NCAA Tournament being the premier event to showcase the ability to produce in crucial situations, draft boards tend to fluctuate this time of year.
Some prospects quickly climb on the big stage, while others fall short. Regardless, this is the last real chance for prospects to perform on-court before the true pre-draft process kicks off with the combine and team workouts.
This week, the Draft Digest team gives their thoughts on which NBA prospects have increased their stock most during the NCAA Tournament.
Derek Parker
To this point in the tournament, Cason Wallace has raised his stock the most in my eyes. With other combo guards in Keyonte George and Nick Smith Jr. putting up inefficient and lackluster performances, Wallace has snuck in as a viable option for teams in need of guard depth in the top ten.
Wallace has one of his best performances to date on the big stage, and even his inefficient first game featured his patented perimeter defense.
Nick Crain
I've been higher than the consensus all season on Arkansas freshman Jordan Walsh, and he's starting to increase his draft buzz during the tournament. While he may not stuff the stat sheet every night, he nearly always makes an impact on winning.
With a high motor, defensive versatility and a reliable perimeter jumper he's the full package. Walsh probably won't be a star at the NBA level, but it's easy to see how he could be a key piece of a championship team for many years. As the NCAA Tournament goes on, he'll be a big part of the Razorbacks' success.
Bryce Simon
It really seems like this a great run and stage for all of the prospects for Creighton. That was a team with big time expectations coming into the season and after a slow start it seemed they were forgotten about along with some of their NBA Draft prospects.
Big games on this big stage could do wonders for the likes of Arthur Kaluma, Trey Alexander, Baylor Scheierman, and company. Also, it sure seems like Jordan Walsh is getting more and more love with each game Arkansas plays and because a lot of his contributions go beyond the box score, it benefits exponentially more than others when playing in games with lots of eyes on the television.
Jam Hines
Tyrese Proctor’s bounce back game in the loss to a tough and physical Tennessee team (16 points, 6 assists, 2 turnovers and 2 steals) should put him either at or near the top of this list.He’s a 6-foot-5 lead guard with an advanced feel as a pick-and-roll handler and might be the most underrated passer in the class.
He combines his playmaking with multi-level shotmaking, highlighted by creativity and confidence off the bounce. The feedback Proctor receives from NBA teams on his 32% 3-point mark will likely determine whether or not he returns to Duke.
Isaac Condra
Andre Jackson has been seeing his stock rise as of recent. The elite athleticism with playmaking ability at 6-foot-6 and great versatility as a defender is unique. He’s averaging seven assists per game in the tournament due to his ability to find teammates in the open floor and create in the half-court.
Arya Chawla
In my eyes, Texas’ Dylan Disu has increased his draft stock the most this NCAA tournament. He’s had a very good season for a very good Longhorns squad, but as of late, he’s reached another level.
Through his first two tournament games, the 6-foot-9 forward has shot 22-of-30 from the field en route to 17 and 28-point performances. He’s taken advantage of his brilliant touch to thrive inside the arc with finishes around the basket, complex floaters, and mid-range jumpers. Disu’s early March Madness performances have vaulted him into first-round conversations for me, and he can continue this upwards trend should he keep dancing.
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