Potential Thunder Draft Targets to Watch During the NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Tournament is a utopia for many basketball fans. With so many games in such a tight window, it feels as though there isn't enough time in the day to watch and digest all of the action.
For NBA talent evaluators, March Madness pits players against top tier competition in a high-stakes environment against matchups that the players are likely unfamiliar with. This provides a great opportunity to get a look at how some of college basketball's top prospects handle playing on the biggest stage.
The Thunder have nine rostered players who played in the NCAA Tournament, with the likes of Jared Butler, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaylin Williams and Chet Holmgren all making runs into the Sweet 16 or deeper into the bracket.
Lu Dort, Tre Mann, Aaron Wiggins, and Kenrich Williams also made tournament appearances in college, but weren't able to take their team past the second round. Here are a few players the Thunder will likely keep an eye on during the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
The Kansas Jayhawks, last year's Big 12 and National Champions, are once again atop the college basketball world. Vying for the No. 1 overall seed, the team from Lawrence has three players who could hear their name called in the 2023 NBA Draft, with one in particular standing out from the rest.
Gradey Dick, a 6-foot-8 freshman wing for the Jayhawks, has been rising up draft boards since the beginning of the season. Back in October, many NBA mock drafts had Dick as a late first rounder, even falling into the second round in some cases.
Recently, however, the former five-star prospect has shot into the Top 10 of some boards, and is seen as an almost guaranteed lottery pick. In his first 30 collegiate games, Dick is averaging 14.5 points, five rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 44.3% from the field and 40.6% from 3-point range.
The Wichita, Kansas, native's size and shooting prowess will make him an extremely valuable player in the NBA, especially at such a young age. Factor in Dick's defensive potential, and he is a perfect fit for the current construction of OKC's roster.
Veteran wings Jalen Wilson and Kevin McCullar Jr. are also impressive collegiate players for Kansas who could get a chance at the next level. Wilson is the Jayhawks leading scorer, tallying 19.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, while McCullar Jr. is a versatile defender who could fill a PJ Tucker-style role.
Houston, another team aiming for the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, also has two intriguing prospects. Freshman forward Jarace Walker and senior guard Marcus Sasser have vastly different profiles, with Walker being tabbed by many as a potential Thunder target.
Walker, a former five-star prospect, is listed at 6-foot-8, 240 pounds. While, similarly to Dick, the Pennsylvania native is a solid shooter, Walker's strength allows him to operate inside the paint.
The Cougar's freshman is averaging 11.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, one steal and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field and 35.5% from beyond the arc. Walker's strength could make him a perfect fit next to the lanky Holmgren, as the Houston product has the versatility on offense and defense to fit Oklahoma City's scheme.
On defense, Walker will be able to guard bigs and wings, similar to how OKC uses Jalen Williams this season. Offensively, the former IMG Academy star can bang down low or step out and shoot.
Sasser is the Cougar's leading scorer, averaging over 17 points per game for the second consecutive season. Listed at 6-foot-1, the former NCAA All-Region selection will likely not be high on OKC's board, as the Thunder rarely draft undersized guards.
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