Five players to watch in March Madness 2024: what are their projections in the draft?

The college season reaches its decisive moment with the NCAA tournament, March Madness. This is the culmination of historic rivalries, surprises, intense finals, and major conference upsets, which turn the United States upside down for a few weeks. The tournament features brackets, Cinderellas, and rising stars that often break out, and culminates in the Final Four, which is scheduled to take place on April 6th and 8th at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix.

The NCAA tournament is an important event for basketball players who are looking to make it to the NBA. The great talents who are expected to be drafted in the next season have been under the microscope of all the scouts for several months, and a big tournament can trigger some players to perform at their best. However, a poor performance can raise doubts about a player’s potential.

This year, it is particularly difficult to predict which young players will make it to the NBA, as they come from increasingly diverse routes. International players from outside the United States, such as the French Alex Sarr, the French Zaccharie Risacher, the Serbian Nikola Topic, and the American of Lithuanian origin, Matas Buzelis, are all expected to be among the top picks. This trend means that the traditional dominance of big universities in the lottery picks is no longer the case.

Despite this trend, there are still several great players from historic universities who are aiming to be drafted high in the lottery. These players will attract a lot of attention during the tournament.

CODY WILLIAMS (19 years old, small forward; Colorado)

Cody Williams is the brother of Jalen Williams, who plays as a forward for the OKC Thunder team. Cody is a talented player who has the potential to be a top pick in the draft, but his position could vary depending on his performance in the tournament. He is a great scorer and has the skills to lead the team as a small forward by creating plays from the pick and roll. He can score in various ways and has a good understanding of the game. However, he needs to improve his long-distance shooting and physical strength to finish plays near the rim. In defense, he has good instincts and is taller than his brother, but he needs to gain more muscle and physical power.

ROB DILLINGHAM (19 years old, point guard; Kentucky)

Dillingham is an electric player who possesses quick movement and excellent scoring abilities. He is constantly improving as a game director, although he needs to work on his pass selection. Dillingham is adept at creating his own space and taking shots from the three-point line. However, due to his small stature, there are concerns about his ability to defend and finish near the rim in the NBA. Nonetheless, his potential is enormous.

REED SHEPPARD (19 years old, shooting guard; Kentucky)

He stands at a height of only 6′3″ and weighs 187 pounds, making him a small and lightweight guard, which can raise some questions. However, what he lacks in size, he makes up for in instinct, attitude, and quickness on defense. He is particularly effective against opposing point guards. Additionally, he is a great shooter with a quick mechanism, which suits the NBA. This is where his greatest value lies, although he needs to improve in handling and managing certain situations. But his qualities, coupled with his competitive nature, make him a very interesting player.

STEPHON CASTLE (19 años, base, UConn)

If Reed Sheppard is a light player, Castle, on the contrary, is a much stronger point guard who is almost 6′6″ tall and has an ideal physique for the NBA. He is an excellent defender who has the potential to adapt perfectly to what the League requires now, such as changes with bigger players and versatility. In terms of attack, Castle manages the game well, controls the rhythm, and is a good finisher near the rim. He finds open players and chooses passes well, but to become a player with great star potential, he needs to stabilize his outside shot. If he achieves this, he can be a truly differential guard.

JA’KOBE WALTER (19 years old, shooting guard; Baylor)

He is a great scorer with a lethal jump and a shooting technique that lets him threaten while on the move. He is 6′5″ tall and has the size and focus to be a good defender, although he needs to gain physical strength. He has not been used much as a ball handler at Baylor, but this is another area in which he can improve to become a more complete player. He is capable of scoring through penetration, although he needs to improve his explosiveness on his first step to reach the NBA level.