College Prospects Worth Watching During NBA All-Star Break

The NBA is on a break but there are plenty of meaningful games to watch this week to help build the New Orleans Pelicans draft board.

Author:
Chris Dodson
Feb 17, 2023 4:58 PM EST

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New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans, La.- It's the middle of Mardi Gras and the NBA is taking a mid-season All-Star break, but meaningful basketball games are still being played as far as the New Orleans Pelicans are concerned. March Madness is just around the corner and the scouting department is building the draft board.

Victor Wembanyama is overseas while Scoot Henderson and the Thompson twins Amen and Ausar are all logging G-League minutes. The developmental league-based trio, projected as top-10 talents, will return to action on February 25. Wembanyama is a top-two pick regardless of what happens in France over the next few months.

So what NCAA matchups can New Orleans fans watch with an eye toward the future while waiting for the NBA's break to end? More importantly for those of us blessed enough to be in the Big Easy, which parades are competing with college hoops?

Sep 26, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans vice president of basketball operations David Griffin during a press conference at the New Orleans Pelicans Media Day from the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The Pelicans started the college season with scouts in Oregon where the Phil Knight Legacy and Phil Knight Invitationals were held during the same week. It was a scouting convention as Duke, UNC, Alabama, Gonzaga, Florida, Xavier, Purdue, West Virginia, Villanova, UConn, Alabama, Oregon, Oregon State, Portland, and Portland State battled for two of the more prestigious preseason tourney titles.

Well, now teams are deep into conference play. The stakes are higher. The pressure is more intense, from the bracket's top-line teams down to the first four in or out squads. Stars will emerge. Flaws will be exposed. Scouts will take it all in. So let's break down the schedule.

February 18 (Endymion Day)

It's a jam-packed Saturday slate as 18 of the top-25 teams take the court. Only two arenas will also have two ranked teams. (9) Baylor will trek to (5) Kansas in a top-10 battle for far more than just bragging rights. The Big12 is bringing all the best beads out on Endymion Day as well. (12) Kansas State hosts (19) Iowa State.

Keyonte George (Baylor) has isolation and pick-and-roll shot creation ability. The freshman has also looked comfortable in late shot-clock situations and has NBA range already. (20) UConn's Jordan Hawkins has future sixth-man-of-the-year candidate potential.

(4) Providence will face Villanova's Cam Whitmore, a projected lottery pick who has all the tools but the Wildcats just have not put things together as a team this season. Georgia visiting Brandon Miller and (1) Alabama gets the priority DVR treatment.

February 19 (Bacchus)

It's suspect Sunday. Ranked teams are at risk of looking suspect in upsets which will affect the selection committee's decisions. (3) Purdue hosts Ohio State with the Boilermakers on trap game upset alert with (14) Indiana waiting in a few days. The same goes for (23) NC State against the unranked UNC Tar Heels and (2) Houston at home against Memphis.

Houston is led by freshman power forward Jarace Walker. The 6'10'' freshman is hitting over 40% from three-point range but has the build to bully an NBA low block. Indiana's Jalen Hood-Schifino is a combo guard with the measurables to be a defensive disruptor in the NBA.

Ohio State's Bryce Sensabaugh is a 6'7'' wing averaging more than 17 points and shooting better than 47% from the field and 45% from three-point range. He was not supposed to be a one-and-done prospect but that's likely the endgame after such a great season.

Kansas Jayhawks guard Gradey Dick (4) celebrates beside Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Kalib Boone (22) after making a 3-pointer during a men's college basketball game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and the Kansas Jayhawks at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

February 20 (Krewe of Red/Dead Beans)

The Monday Tradition of red beans and rice has only one tasty matchup on the menu as only two teams will play all day. The Big12 is serving up a date between (5) Kansas and (22) TCU as the Jayhawks head to Fort Worth with a chance to solidify their resume against the Horned Frogs.

Gradey Dick is leading Kansas and has all the wing tools to succeed at the next level. Averaging approximately 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, Dick has fit into one of the most respected culture fits in the college game. He plays with a bit of moxie and should be available in the 8-14 range of the draft.

February 21 (Mardi Gras Day/Zulu)

There are three top-25 matchups, none of which start before Zulu rolls out at 8:00 AM. (12) Kansas State welcomes (9) Baylor to the other Manhattan at 6:00 PM. (11) Marquette at (18) Creighton and (6) Texas versus (19) Iowa State follow a couple of hours later.

(10) Tennessee, (14) Indiana, (15) Miami, (16) Xavier, and (21) San Diego St. are also in action. The Pelicans will have plenty of options on what to watch. Instead of listing the players to watching here, it's best to admit now I'll be at the parades.