As the NCAA Tournament reaches the Sweet 16 and the college season nears its conclusion, attention inevitably begins to shift toward the pro game.
Which college stars will one day take the NBA stage? Who are the draft prospects to watch?
There aren't many answers at the top of a very weak draft class. That's even more so after Kentucky's Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham, Colorado's Cody Williams and Tristan da Silva, Baylor's Ja'Kobe Walter and Yves Missi — all likely top 20 picks — went home on opening weekend with mostly poor showings.
The prospects at the top of the draft in 2024 are international prospects or G-League Ignite players. But many of the nation's top college players are still playing, and they make up a class of mostly late first and second-round prospects. Here are the players in each Sweet 16 reason to keep an eye on.
East Region
The single most intriguing draft prospect still playing is UConn's Stephon Castle. In a draft crying out for superstar talent at the top, Castle is the one guy playing in the Sweet 16 who could see a meteoric rise with a strong final push, maybe even into the conversation for No. 1 overall.
Castle is a mystery box right now, but in this draft, that's a good thing. He missed the start of the season injured and took a while to get up to speed but has become a key player for UConn since the turn of the calendar year, impressive for a freshman to integrate so well into the nation's best team.
Right now, Castle doesn't have one go-to calling card skill to hang his hat on, but his top skill may be his diverse skill set. He's a strong guard with playmaking upside who plays at his own speed, and he has terrific body control attacking the basket and a good handle. Castle's shot has a ways to go, and his creation for others is a work in progress, but he's shown impressive improvement in both areas.
Castle is a talented, high-effort defender who uses his size and strength well. He projects as a do-everything two-way guard, the exact sort of player teams covet at the next level, but he's still an unfinished product.
On the other hand, Donovan Clingan is more of a known commodity for the Huskies. He was already a major contributor on last year's title team and has stepped into a bigger role as the defensive centerpiece of this team. Clingan is a terrific shot blocker at his best in the paint, with terrific hand placement and positioning. He needs to prove he has the foot speed to defend on the perimeter at the next level.
On offense, Clingan is a play finisher as a lob threat but also flashes intriguing passing. He hasn't shot well yet and has some injury questions to answer. Clingan looks locked into the back half of the lottery. Every NBA team wants a 7-foot-2 big that can protect the rim.
Castle and Clingan are likely the top two Sweet 16 players off the draft board, but UConn could also see Alex Karaban, Cam Spencer and Tristan Newton get some second-round consideration.
And yes, it should be notable to you that UConn has two lottery picks and as many as five draftable guys. The Huskies are favorites for a reason.
Outside of UConn, the other likely draft prospects in the East play for Illinois. Coleman Hawkins is a versatile big who can pass and shoot. Terrence Shannon Jr. will face rape charges before he can be considered for the draft.
Midwest Region
Tennessee vs Creighton will easily be the best prospect game of the Sweet 16.
Dalton Knecht has been an absolute superstar for the Volunteers. Knecht averages 21 points per game and has had some monster scoring games — 40 against Kentucky, 37 against UNC, 39 against Auburn and Florida — with his biggest games coming in Tennessee's biggest moments.
Knecht is an awesome movement shooter who can hit off the dribble and create his own shot. He's over 39% 3s this season on high volume and a very difficult shot diet at times, and he's a three-level scorer who can finish at the rim.
The red flags are Knecht's defense and his age. His defensive woes are covered up at Tennessee but will be more glaring in the NBA, and Knecht is a transfer who will be 23 on draft night. But in this weak draft, that could potentially be an asset since he's a ready-made player who should hit the ground running.
Knecht annihilated the SEC this season. If he plays at that level again for three or four more games, he could climb into the top 10, but he may sneak into the lottery anyway.
Creighton doesn't have one standout prospect like Tennessee, but scouts will always be happy to see more from Trey Alexander, Baylor Scheiermann, and Ryan Kalkbrenner.
Trey Alexander looks like the most likely first-round pick if there is one. Alexander is a shot-maker who shows up in the clutch, and he's a quality defender. His frame could hold him back. Baylor Scheiermann is probably too limited athletically to get the first, but he projects as a quality bench scoring wing. Ryan Kalkbrenner is a terrific rim protector but may not have a rounded enough skill set to get drafted.
Kalkbrenner's most interesting role in this region may be as a foil for Purdue's Zach Edey. I probably don't have to tell you much about Edey if you're reading this article. He's been the best player in college for two seasons by margin, but we're still waiting to see Edey take over at this stage of the tournament.
There's no questioning Edey's skill. He's an elite rebounder with outstanding post moves and shot blocking and reliable footwork. We know who Edey is and what he can do. The question is where and how much that fits into the modern NBA. Can he play in the playoffs? Is he a starter? Is he just a role player off the bench a la Boban Marjanovic? Does he have the foot speed to defend NBA athletes and get up and down the court?
Fair or not, Edey may have more at stake than any draft prospect these next two weeks. If he carries Purdue to the Final Four and shows his value on the biggest stage, he could get into the lottery. If he comes up small again, he may not be a lock for the first round.
Gonzaga's Anton Watson has had some draft buzz in the past, but the big man will have his hands full in this region.
South Region
If you're looking for quantity of draft prospects, the South is the region for you.
Duke has a likely pair of first-rounders in Kyle Filipowski and Jared McCain.
Filipowski is a versatile seven-footer who can hit shots and stretch the defense, the exact sort of stretch big every NBA team wants. He's a known commodity and a possible lottery pick. McCain is a combo guard with an elite shot, good touch, and a rounded offensive skill set. He hit eight 3s last game and is a buzzy riser who could get into the lottery with a strong finish.
Neither Filipowski nor McCain look like stars, but both of them are proven archetype fits that any NBA team wants. They're likely both off the board in the top 20. Tyrese Proctor has seen his stock rise and fall. He has great size for a guard with good instincts, but the results have been inconsistent.
Houston has the top player in the region in Jamal Shead, and he took over down the stretch against Texas A&M to stop the bleeding and get the Cougars to the Sweet 16. Shead is a star at the college level, and he has the sort of leadership and toughness that will have him playing pro ball somewhere for a decade. But his limited size will always be an issue for the NBA, no matter how hard he plays on defense.
With a good showing, Shead could be one of those veteran college guards who's a bargain pick high in the second round, and that's exactly where Marquette's Tyler Kolek projects. Kolek looked healthy in his return after a lengthy absence, and his mastery of the pick and roll and creation ability will always play.
Kolek has an incredible feel for the game, and that IQ will have to cover for his athletic limitations. He projects as a longtime backup point guard. Kolek might be the best passer in the nation.
His teammate Oso Ighodaro may be the best passing big man. Ighodaro is the big man in Kolek's pick and roll, and his ability to handle, pass, and create is what unlocks Marquette's offense and makes it lethal at the college level. Add in a great touch near the rim and that reliable flip shot and Ighodaro could be something like Trayce Jackson-Davis or Brandon Clarke, a bench big man because of his frame and poor defense but a reliable offensive piece in the right NBA role.
If Marquette continues to win games, Kam Jones may continue to rise up draft boards. He could be a 3-and-D wing-type prospect if the 3-pointer continues to hit consistently.
West Region
The West is widely considered the weakest region, and that's the case for its NBA draft prospects too.
Harrison Ingram was once a potential lottery pick at Stanford before stalling out and transferring to North Carolina, where a fresh start has done him wonders. There are still big questions about his shooting, but Ingram has a good feel for the game and a big frame with defensive upside and playmaking NBA teams covet on the wing. He could rise back into the first round with a big finish.
Clemson's P.J. Hall is a stretch big. He can hit shots and defend, though his athleticism is a major limiting factor. Grant Nelson got some stretch big buzz for North Dakota State last season before transferring to Alabama. He can protect the rim and hit 3s, and that combo will always be tantalizing. His teammate Mark Sears has been a star but appears to be a long shot to get drafted.
