TyTy Washington, Oscar Tshiebwe in ESPN's NCAA Tournament NBA Mock Draft

Oscar Tshiebwe continues to climb the NBA Draft boards. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz put together an NBA Mock Draft of the best pro prospects in the NCAA Tournament and two Kentucky Wildcats made the first round: TyTy Washington and Oscar. TyTy is No. 9, going to Portland, while Oscar is No. 29, going to Memphis.

This only includes players who are playing in the tournament, so just because Oscar made the first round doesn’t mean he will once other prospects, like Shaedon Sharpe, are added to the mix; however, Givony said that could change if he and the Cats make a run.

“While Tshiebwe’s 7-foot-4 wingspan helps, the questions NBA scouts have is how his 6-foot-8 frame and struggles playing through length in traffic translate to the pro level — which is what has so far kept him out of first-round consideration,” Givony writes. “Tshiebwe lacks some modern elements to his game, having a difficult time defending in space on the perimeter, scoring outside the paint and facilitating for others, but it’s difficult to argue with his productivity and sheer intensity, which should give him a ready-made role early in his NBA career. Just how high Tshiebwe gets drafted is what scouts are trying to determine, but a deep NCAA tournament run that includes strong showings against physical frontcourts could go a long way in solidifying his standing and potentially emerge as a first-round prospect.”

As for TyTy Washington, Mike Schmitz believes he can help his stock if Kentucky plays Purdue in the Sweet 16 and he wins the battle vs. Boilermakers guard Jaden Ivey.

“While Washington isn’t the most dynamic player or overly shifty ball handler, scouts will be studying his ball skills and ability to break down his man, as he has been far more efficient and effective against lesser teams, boasting a 50.5 true shooting percentage (TS%) in 21 games against teams with a winning record versus a 61.5 TS% in nine games against teams under .500. NBA teams also will keep a close eye on his defense, which has been up and down. A head-to-head matchup with Ivey in the Sweet 16 would be a great chance for Washington to prove that his more methodical game can hold up against a high-level athlete.”

Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren is the No. 1 prospect on the list, followed by Auburn’s Jabari Smith, Duke’s Paolo Banchero, Purdue’s Jaden Ivey, and Iowa’s Keegan Murray. Memphis star Jalen Duren is No. 6. To see it all, you’ll need an ESPN Insider subscription.