5 NBA Draft prospects who have the most to gain with March Madness

It is tournament time! On3 looks at five NBA Draft prospects who could have the most to gain during March Madness.

6-3 G TyTy Washington (Kentucky)

Everyone wants to like TyTy. He is easy to root for, with his demeanor and how he thinks the game. However, this season has been a tale of two halves for Washington. Until January 31, Washington averaged 13.1 points on 49 percent from the field and 37 percent from three. He also showed some play-making chops, playing alongside and giving spot minutes to Savhir Wheeler. Since February 1, Washington has shot 39.8 percent from the field and given less than 2 to 1 assists to turnovers per game. Sure, injuries played a part, but this second half also brings to light the initial questions about his athleticism and burst. Kentucky faces St. Peter’s first and then the Murray State and San Francisco game-winner. Get to the Sweet 16, and there lies a possible Purdue and Jaden Ivey matchup.

6-11 PF Moussa Diabate (Michigan)

While the season has been up and down for Diabate, his tools are undeniable. The Michigan freshman stands 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan. He moves his feet like a wing and has real quick-twitch ability to be a menace of a defensive presence, even by NBA standards. In 19 Big10 games, the native of France averaged 9.5 points on 7.3 shots per game, and he added 6.3 rebounds in league play. There was the one-game suspension and just overall up and down play in trying to find his role on the team. Diabate gets Colorado State and unique draft prospect David Roddy in round one and a mix-up with Tennessee if they win. Consistent output in these games could push Diabate into the first round.

6-7 F Justin Lewis (Marquette)

Lewis is 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot wingspan, so that piques interest. However, the intrigue with Lewis comes with the 35 percent shooting from three this season. While Lewis is not an elite athlete, his length and understanding of team defense and angles build his defensive portfolio. He is a natural scorer, attacking closeouts with pace and taking advantage of opportunities to finish in transition. Marquette starts with North Carolina, a fast-paced game with a chance for big numbers. Win the eight/nine match-up, and a tilt with Baylor will be on the horizon.

6-5 SG Blake Wesley (Notre Dame)

The freshman wall caught Wesley pretty hard this season as it ended up being a tale of two halves for him. His 13.5 points and 15 made thees had him in the conversation for the upcoming lottery. As the ACC season wore on and teams were able to game-plan for him, questions about his sub-40 percent field goal shooting and 31.9 percent three-point shooting came into question. Wesley is a high-level half-court creator, perhaps the best in his class, but as things stand, he is projecting in the 22-35 range of the NBA Draft. Notre Dame gets Rutgers first and then a possible matchup against Alabama. Wesley plays well, and we will not be seeing him in South Bend, Indiana, next season. If he provides a dud, chances are, he could come back.

6-9 F Jeremy Sochan (Baylor)

As things stand, Sochan falls somewhere in the 15 to 40 range of the NBA Draft. The intrigue of his flashes has created a real scenario where he becomes a first-round pick, despite the rawness of his game. The defensive metrics are there, and they feed into the switchable swingman archetype. The shooting numbers are not great, but the eye test shows flashes of creation and touch. Baylor earned a one seed for the tournament, and there are possible matchups with Justin Lewis (Marquette), Johnny Juzang/Jaime Jacquez (UCLA), Kentucky, UNC, and Texas in his bracket. Sochan will have ample opportunity to solidify his standing as a top-20 type pick or show he should run it back in Waco.