10 NBA Draft Prospects You Should Be Watching During March Madness

March Madness is just a few days away, and if you're a fan of the NBA but not so much of college basketball, this article is perfect for you. Let this serve as a guide to which players you should have an eye on come tournament time in regards to the 2021 NBA Draft. Enjoy!

Cade Cunningham, G (Oklahoma State)

If you've been paying attention to the 2021 NBA Draft or college basketball this season, the first name on my list is no surprise. The presumed 1st overall pick in November, Cunningham proved the hype was real and has put together a phenomenal season as a true freshman. Cunningham was 1st Team All-Big12, 1st Team All-American, and was named the Freshmen of the Year. He averaged 19.6 PTS, 6.4 REB, and 3.6 AST on 45% shooting and 41% shooting from 3 this year. He's a giant 6'8" PG who has the ability to play 1-3 on both ends. He'll jump off the screen right away due to his quickness and athleticism at his size, as well as his bucket getting ability. My favorite thing about Cade is his ability to control the game. Every possession goes through him and he completely controls the tempo at all times. He's great at pushing on the break, but is also great at breaking down a defense with great reads in the halfcourt. Oklahoma State will most likely be a top 4 seed in the tournament, so let's hope we see a long run so we can watch some more Cade Cunningham.

Jalen Suggs, G (Gonzaga)

Jalen Suggs is someone that was quickly risen to the top of draft boards after leading Gonzaga to an undefeated regular season as a true freshman. His 14.3 PTS, 5.5 REB, and 4.5 AST on 51% shooting was good enough to be named a 1st Team All-WCC player and a 2nd Team All-American. Suggs is Tyrese Haliburton in terms of effort and defensive instincts, but is a much better pure scorer and athlete. He's fierce getting to the basket, and also has an elite mid range game. He ranked in the 94th percentile on pull up jumpers in the midrange, which is why I think his 36% from 3 is definitely going to be better in the NBA. Gonzaga has locked up a 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, so Suggs is going to have a lot of eyes on him for a deep run.

Evan Mobley, PF/C (USC)

Evan Mobley is a really intriguing prospect that I think may have the highest NBA ceiling of all the 2021 prospects. Anytime you get a true 7 footer that can move, handle, score, and pass like Mobley, he's gonna turn heads. He averaged 16.4 PTS, 8.6 REB, and 2.1 AST on an efficient 58% shooting this year as a true freshman for a good USC team. He's gonna jump off the screen when you see him dribble and create offense for himself. He's a bucket. Not only can he score, he's also got really good passing ability and overall a very good feel for the game offensively. Defensively he's great too. He averaged 3 blocks and 1 steal a game in 2020-2021, which puts him in elite company. The only NBA lottery pick that averaged more combined blocks and steals a game in the last 20 years was Anthony Davis in 2012. At 7'0" with long arms and freakish athleticism, Mobley is going to get the "unicorn" tag quite often, but I think he's more Anthony Davis than Porzingis.

Scottie Barnes, F (Florida State)

Florida State's Scottie Barnes is going to be a case of NBA teams projecting what he could be, rather than evaluating what he is now. His numbers won't jump off the page (10/4/4), but his athleticism will. He attacks the rim and aggressively and has insane vertical leap ability. Not only that, he's got strength to bully smaller defenders down low and hold his own against bigs defensively. He's also got some point guard ability that makes him extremely versatile offensively, especially on the break. He'll be a combo 3-4 forward in the NBA, but the big question with him is his jumpshot. He only shot 27% from 3 and 57% from the free throw line this year, which indicate that he probably will never be a great shooter. Look for Barnes to make a statement in the early rounds to boost his draft stock.

Moses Moody, G (Arkansas)

A bucket. Moses Moody is a bonified scorer, and his scoring ability has Arkansas playing at the highest level they've seen in a while. The 6'6" freshmen contributed over 17 PPG to an Arkansas team right on the 3/4 line on Selection Sunday. He gets to his spots better than anyone in college basketball. And by that I mean that he can get a shot virtually whenever he wants, in a variety of different ways. He's great off the ball in terms of movement and catching the ball in rhythm for a jumper, and he's also great at using a few dribbles to create a good look for himself. He also has a 7'0" wingspan that allows him to shoot over guards at ease. He's a high volume scorer that's gonna put up a lot of shots and the knack on him is with efficiency, but in the NCAA Tournament, Moody could have some special games and special moments that put him on the national radar.

Keon Johnson & Jaden Springer (Tennessee)

a 2-for-1 here, Tennessee teammates Keon Johnson (left) and Jaden Springer (right) are both projected lottery picks that you should be watching. Both are guard/wing players who excel on the defensive end with high basketball IQ and physicality. Springer is more of a ball handler and passer, while Johnson is the explosive athlete that can rim run. Springer is a driver first, who looks to draw contact in the paint but lacks a consistent jumper right now. Johnson excels off the ball and gets open with good movement and quick cuts, but he also is lacking in the jumpshot department. With some team success, both Tennessee prospects could see an uptick in exposure and start to move up draft boards.

James Bouknight, G (Connecticut)

Bouknight is a combo guard that averaged over 20 PPG in his sophomore season at UConn. He's a tough shot taker and tough shot maker. He's got a good handle that allows him to create space for his jumper or get by his defender to get into the paint where he possess a deep bag of moves to finish around the rim. Efficiency with him is the big question, as he shot only 34% from 3 this year. He's a huge game waiting to happen, similar to Malik Monk at Kentucky. If I had to bet any on player creating a signature moment for themselves in the tournament, my money would be on James Bouknight.

Davion Mitchell, PG (Baylor)

Davion Mitchell (no relation to Donavon, either though they both wear #45), is the heart and soul of they #2 team in the nation, the Baylor Bears. Averaging 14.3 PPG and 5.5 APG on a ridiculous 52% from the field and 48% from 3, Mitchell is the catalyst of the high powered Baylor offense. He’s crafty both as a scorer and a passer, making him one of my favorite players to watch all year. He is 22 years old so he probably won’t be a lottery pick, but a good performance in the NCAA Tournament would solidify him as a solid 1st round pick that can immediately help a contender.

Greg Brown, F (Texas)

Brown is a combo 3/4 with extreme athleticism and both offensive and defensive versatility. He's the best run and jump player I've seen this year. That ability alone should warrant NBA minutes as a pick and roll rim runner and a capable shot blocker. He's shown ability to create for himself and expand his range, but he's been mostly inefficient when doing so. I think he's a perfect small ball NBA 5, and with a good performance in the tournament, he could solidify himself as a lottery pick.