Which NBA Prospect Has The Most To Gain In The National Championship?

Zach Edey, Donovan Clingan, or Stephon Castle?

Purdue center Zach Edey (15) is defended by North Carolina State forward Ben Middlebrooks (34) / Cheryl Evans/The Republic / USA TODAY

After an eventful month, March Madness comes to a close tonight in the National Championship. Two one-seeds in UConn and Purdue will square off in a much-anticipated battle of college basketball powerhouses. 

This game is headlined by the big man battle. Giants Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan clash as the 7-foot-4 back-to-back National Player Of The Year leads the Boilermakers against the Huskies’ sophomore 7-foot-2 defensive stalwart. 

Clingan’s been in top pick discussions as of late, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s a monstrous interior defender who can completely shut down the rim against opposing offenses. Offensively, his size helps him complete basic big man duties like screening and play-finishing. With a strong national championship performance against the ultimate test of Edey, Clingan can strengthen his grip on top-five status and even take the lead as the top prospect in the 2024 class. 

Before getting to Edey, Stephon Castle’s name must be mentioned. The 6-foot-6 defensive-minded guard has been amongst the nation’s top freshmen. He’s coming off a huge 21-point performance against Alabama in the Final 4. If he can follow this up with a strong showing in the National Champjonship Game, Castle can take a definitive lead as the most coveted freshman in the class and flirt with a selection in the top-five.

Ultimately, though, Edey has the most to gain as an NBA prospect in the National Championship. The first back-to-back Naismith Award winner in four decades, Edey has his sights set on the sport’s Mount Rushmore. With a National Title to cap off his prolific career, he would establish himself as the greatest collegiate basketball player in decades. Currently, many leave Edey outside of the lottery due to doubts about his playstyle translating into NBA success. Few NBA players function as high-volume post-up players. However, if he can convince enough scouts that he’s good enough to meet the bar for NBA post-up dominance, there’s an outside chance Edey shoots all the way up towards the top of 2024 Draft boards.

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