2024 NCAA Tournament: Predicting 5 March Madness Stock Risers
Each season there are Cinderella stories, massive upsets and NBA Draft risers at the NCAA Tournament. With March Madness on the doorstep, who will be the big dance risers ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft?
Jared McCain | Guard | Duke
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The singing TikTok sensation has game on the court as well. While most already consider the crafty guard a first-round prospect, a solid tournament run could inch him closer to a lottery selection than pick 30.
McCain has an incredibly high floor as a backup floor general who can set others up and flashes a solid shot-making ability with enough defense to make him viable. He has veteran presence written all over him despite being just 20 years old.
The Blue Devils earned a relatively easy path to a deep run needing to knock off Vermont and either James Madison or Wisconsin to make it to the second weekend which can go a long way in McCain stealing headlines.
Johnny Furphy | Forward | Kansas
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Furphy has been hot and cold for the Jayhawks this season but a net positive overall for a down Kansas team. The swingman from down under has a high-end floor spacing ability with more aggression and physicality near the rim to allow him to round out his offense better than most labeled sharpshooters.
That physicality also shows itself defensively where Furphy will not be a star but will also not be played off the floor at the next level. From his connective playmaking, 3-point shot-making, and rim-finishing a March Madness run could make the Jayhawk prospect a lottery pick.
Kansas will face an uphill battle drawing the threatening Samford Bulldogs in round one. However, if they escape the mid-major scare the winner of Gonzaga against McNeese State awaits KU would could springboard the four seed to a deep run.
DaRon Holmes | Forward | Dayton
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Holmes is a third-year forward out of Dayton projecting to be a small-ball five-man in the NBA. Averaging 20 points, eight rebounds, two assists and over two blocks per game for the Flyers while shooting 38 percent from 3-point land and 58 percent inside the arc Holmes is an interesting draft prospect.
With Holmes posting 70 percent from the charity stripe it makes his shooting improvement feel more real. If the 6-foot-10 big can space the floor, mix it up on the glass and protect the rim he is instantly one of the best prospects in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Holmes turns in 1.245 points per possession on cuts, 1.109 points per possession in transition and 1.174 points per possession as a roller in the pick-and-roll. A deep flyer run in March could solidify his status as a high pick in June despite the "age concerns" that come with being a multi-year college prospect.
Collin Murray-Boyles | Forward | South Carolina
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The 6-foot-7 forward is averaging 10 points, six rebounds, and nearly two assists per game on 60 percent shooting from the floor and 67 percent at the charity stripe. The South Carolina gamecock has some obvious concerns given his shooting limitations the youngest could be worth a shot in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Murray-Boyles dominates in the post producing 1.018 points per possession as well as flashing some high-post playmaking as well. The Gamecock is turning in 1.410 points per possession as a cutter, 1.105 points per possession as a roll man and 1.125 points per possession on putbacks working the offensive glass.
Despite shooting an excellent 67 percent at the rim, the NBA outlook on Murray-Boyles is a bit shaky given his lack of a jump shot. At 6-foot-7 can you afford to rely on a non-shooter to dominate at the rim at the next level if defenses can simply play off him to an egregious degree?
If you buy into fixing his jumper and getting him more comfortable with the idea of taking jump shots then Murray-Boyles becomes a lot more appealing. The Gamecocks would need to survive Oregon and likely Creighton to make the second weekend. If they are able to do that, Murray-Boyles stock will naturally rise.
Terrence Shannon Jr. | Guard | Illinois
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Another multi-year college guy, Shannon Jr. is averaging 23 points, four rebounds, two assists and 1.8 stocks per game while shooting 36 percent from 3-point land and 56 percent from inside the arc.
As an excellent transition weapon, pick-and-roll ball handler and spot-up shooter, the highlights will be plentiful for the Fighting Illini guard he can quickly see his name climb up draft boards inching closer to the first-round with a deep tournament run.
With Morehead State then either BYU or Duquesne standing in Shannon's way he should be in line for a lengthy March Madness dance to showcase his talents.
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