The opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament provided a showcase for players hoping to improve their stock in the NBA draft. A pair of North Carolina standouts definitely made an impression on NBA scouts. 6-foot-5 point guard Coby White is threatening to crack the lottery with his speed and playmaking ability, looking like the right-handed version of De’Aaron Fox. White has become more aggressive at the offensive end in the biggest games of the season, wanting the responsibility of making the right decision with the game on the line. White is averaging 16.1 points and 4.1 assists for the season, but since the calendar has flipped to March, he’s consistently looked like the best player on the court for Roy Williams.
Similarly, enigmatic freshman forward Nassir Little has picked the right time to play his best basketball of the season. Little has been playing off the bench all year with mostly underwhelming stat lines, but he was impressive in North Carolina’s two NCAA wins, scoring a total of 39 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in just 38 minutes. Scouts are impressed with Little’s size at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds and project him to have an immediate impact at the defensive end, much like Jimmy Butler who played power forward at Marquette. Little still needs to develop a consistent outside shot, but he probably will be a top 10 pick in June based on his athleticism and long-range potential.
I’ve moved Jarrett Culver up to fourth in my latest big board. The smooth 6-foot-6 junior has picked up his scoring over the last month, showing the versatile offensive game pro scouts love. He’s also capable of being an above average perimeter defender. At this point, Culver looks like a safer pick than Duke’s underachieving freshman Cam Reddish.
Another player shooting up draft boards is Gonzaga forward Brandon Clarke, especially after his 36-point explosion against Baylor last Saturday. Clarke had been projected as a second round pick in mock drafts most of the season, but the 6-foot-8 junior could go somewhere in the teens after showcasing his ability to attack the offensive glass and finish near the rim with power. Clarke’s teammate, Rui Hachimura, has been the higher rated prospect all along, but Clarke is starting to close the gap.
Still, I have two words of caution when it comes to watching Clarke’s late-season breakout: Tyrus Thomas. Thomas came out of nowhere with a strong showing for LSU in the 2006 NCAA Tournament and wound up being selected fourth overall by Portland and traded to the Bulls in a pre-arranged deal for the No. 2 pick in that draft, LaMarcus Aldridge. We all know how that turned out.
So, when you’re watching the tournament, be careful not to fall in love too quickly with players who make the highlight shows with spectacular alley-oop finishes and put-back slams. NBA scouts are looking for a whole lot more in evaluating pro potential.
NBA
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Bulls easily on your device.