If you're watching the NCAA Tournament just to see the top prospects for the upcoming NBA draft, you might be disappointed.
Last year, only one of the top five players in the draft came straight from college, when the Charlotte Hornets selected Alabama’s Brandon Miller as the second overall pick. This year's draft is also expected to have international players like Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr at the top of most predictions.
Despite that, there are players in the 68-team field who are likely to be drafted on the night, even if they are not among the first few picks. Here's a look at some of the most notable professional prospects making their mark on March Madness.
One important name not included in this list is Purdue's center Zach Edey.
In the past, Edey's size as a 7-foot-4 center and his likely status as a two-time consensus national player of the year would have made him a definite top-10 pick. However, he is a big man who primarily stays near the basket, as shown by attempting only two 3-point shots in his entire college career, unlike today's NBA centers.
Edey has improved each year at Purdue and has an impressive resume that will likely lead to him being drafted at some point, but it is probable that the players on this list will be chosen before him.
STEPHON CASTLE, UConn
Castle faced a knee injury early in his freshman year but showed strong performance in the latter part of the regular season, demonstrating the potential that made him a top-10 recruit.
Castle scored 21 points against St. John’s and Seton Hall and achieved a 20-point performance against Providence. He averages 10.8 points and has been named Big East freshman of the week a record 11 times. Although Castle's 3-point shot needs improvement, the 6-foot-6 guard has displayed enough this season to deserve a first-round selection if he decides to enter the draft. UConn also has another potential first-round prospect in center Donovan Clingan, who has been more productive this season.
ROB DILLINGHAM, Kentucky
Dillingham’s speed and ability to provide immediate offense are likely to carry over to the next level. The 6-3 freshman averages 15.4 points and has made nearly 45% of his 3-point attempts. His 35-point performance in a loss to Tennessee signals his long-term potential. He also posted 27 points and seven assists in Kentucky’s SEC Tournament loss to Texas A&M.
In Dillingham and Reed Sheppard, Kentucky has a pair of freshmen who should be picked in the first round if they decide to enter the draft.
KYLE FILIPOWSKI, Duke
Filipowski was seen as a probable first-round pick if he had entered last year’s draft, but the 7-footer opted to return for a sophomore season where he has averaged 17.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Filipowski has enhanced his prospects by improving his overall and 3-point shooting percentages compared to his freshman year.
He has also become more of a playmaker by increasing his assist numbers and reducing his turnovers. Another Duke player, Jared McCain, could also be selected in the first round.
DALTON KNECHT, Tennessee
Knecht has had a big impact as a college basketball transfer this year. He started at Northeastern (Colorado) Junior College and then played two seasons at Northern Colorado. As a fifth-year senior at Tennessee, he has averaged 21.1 points per game. He had high-scoring games against Kentucky, Auburn, Florida, and North Carolina, scoring 40, 39, and 37 points respectively.
There are concerns about Knecht's ability to defend at the NBA level. He will also be 23 at the time of the draft, which is older than most prospects. However, his strong scoring skills should still get him picked in the first round.
JA’KOBE WALTER, Baylor
This top-10 recruit is seen as a promising NBA prospect because of his scoring ability. The 6-5 guard has proven this in his first year by averaging 14.2 points per game. Although Walter's shooting percentage is below 40%, it's believed he can improve in that area.
If Walter joins the draft, he could be the second Baylor guard to be selected in the first round in two years, following Keyonte George, who was picked 16th overall by the Utah Jazz in 2023.
CODY WILLIAMS, Colorado
Williams, the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, was a top-10 recruit when he joined Colorado. The 6-8 forward hasn't posted impressive stats in his first year at Colorado, but he is making more than 55% of his shots and 40% of his 3-point attempts while playing great defense. It wouldn't be surprising if Williams is the first college player chosen in this year's draft.
