Five Future NBA Players To Watch During March Madness. After last year’s cancellation due to COVID-19, March Madness has finally returned. Brackets are being filled out, upsets are being predicted, and college basketball’s largest tournament is set to make its long-awaited comeback.
The big dance allows college players all across the country to display their talents on the largest stage. As a result, many of these players will help make a name for themselves by performing well in the tournament.
With all of that in mind, here are 5 players who you should keep your eyes on when watching March Madness.
Evan Mobley (USC, C)
Stats (2020-2021): 16.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 3.0 blocks
Evan Mobley is projected by many to be the first big man off the board in this year’s NBA draft. Mobley has great size at 7? 0? but is incredibly agile in his playstyle. He is a very efficient shooter from beyond the arc and has the ability to contest every shot at the rim on defense.
Even though Mobley is a big man, he is still very effective in the open court at handling the basketball, which leaves room for him to develop forward skills on the next level. Evan is a very entertaining player to watch due to his ability to dunk anytime he is in the paint.
Mobley has the potential to carry a USC team deep in a March Madness run. As a result, you should definitely keep an eye on Evan Mobley when watching tournament games.
Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State, G)
Stats (2020-2021): 20.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals
At 6′ 7″, Cade Cunningham can do it all at the point guard position. Cunningham is an early favorite to go first overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, and for a good reason. He is an incredibly gifted passer and looks to get his teammates involved however he can. As a bigger guard, he can control the pace of a game very well and shows great maturity for being just a Freshman.
Cunningham has drawn Luka Doncic comparisons over the course of the season due to his ability to score from everywhere while also being an elite playmaker. Cade has superstar potential in the NBA and will be a name that will be around for years to come.
If you have not watched Cunningham play this year, make sure to tune into Oklahoma State as they hope to make a championship run.
Jalen Suggs (Gonzaga, G)
Stats (2020-2021): 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals
Jalen Suggs is the best NBA prospect on college basketball’s best team. Suggs is an incredible leader as a Freshman and has a tremendous feel for the game on both sides of the floor. With the undefeated Zags poised to make a deep run in the tournament, Jalen Suggs is must-see TV.
Suggs is a guarantee to go in the top 5 selections of this year’s NBA Draft. He is a natural point guard with solid size at 6? 4? and a quickness that most guards on the college level cannot defend. Jalen is a very flashy player, whether it’s making a tough steal for a breakaway dunk or hitting a clutch 3 pointer at the end of the game.
The undefeated Bulldogs have a crop of NBA talent on their roster including Corey Kispert, Joel Ayayi, and Drew Timme. However, Suggs is the biggest standout in the group.
Ayo Dosunmu (Illinois, G)
Stats (2020-2021): 20.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.1 steals
Illinois is on fire heading into March Madness after winning the Big Ten championship. This run has primarily been lead by 6? 6? point guard Ayo Dosunmu. Ayo is an incredibly crafty combo guard and is one of the most entertaining players to watch in all of college basketball this season.
Ayo has great speed on him and excels at getting to the basket. He hits the big shots to close out games and is versatile enough to defend any position on the court. Dosunmu is phenomenal at attacking the paint and forcing the defenders to respect him whenever he drives. His ability to pass to the ball makes him even more dangerous.
If Illinois makes a deep run in the tournament, don’t be surprised to see a player like Ayo Dosunmu skyrocket up draft boards.
Cameron Thomas (LSU, G)
Stats (2020-2021): 22.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals
Cameron Thomas is the best scorer in all of college basketball. He is a certified bucket getter who plays a very similar game to someone like Lou Williams. He has a beautiful shooting stroke and can drop 30 against any team in the tournament.
Thomas can shoot the ball from anywhere on the court and demands full attention from whoever is defending him. However, he can occasionally shoot himself into a slump that can take LSU out of games against opposing teams. But that doesn’t mean that you can bank on him missing.
LSU has the potential to make a deep run in March Madness. As a result, Cameron Thomas will be an essential part of doing just that.
