Thunder Draft Prospects Shine on Day One of NCAA Tournament

March Madness is officially underway, giving NBA scouts a look at some of the top prospects as they attempt to take their team to the pinnacle of college basketball.

With two double-digit seeds pulling off huge upsets on the first day of the NCAA Tournament, almost everyone's bracket has already been busted. However, there is still plenty to watch for during March Madness. 

For Thunder fans, there are multiple players to keep an eye on in the tournament who fit the mold of what GM Sam Presti has been searching for in recent drafts. Here is a look at how a few of these players performed in the first round.

Houston big man Jarace Walker has been frequently slotted to Oklahoma City in mock drafts all season long. The 19-year-old's size would make him an intriguing selection for OKC, who are still in need of another solid big man to place next to Chet Holmgren once the rookie returns from his season-ending foot injury next season. 

Walker led the No. 1-seeded Cougars to a 63-52 win over Northern Kentucky on Thursday night, scoring a game-high 16 points while shooting 6-of-8 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. The former five-star prospect also grabbed six rebounds, dished out one assist and swatted two shots. 

One of Walker's blocks came late in the game, when the 6-foot-8, 240 pound forward knocked the ball out of a Northern Kentucky player's hands as he cocked it back for a slam dunk that would've cut Houston's lead to five with less than four minutes left in the contest. The Cougars will face No. 9 seed Auburn in the Round of 32. 

The Kansas Jayhawks, another No. 1 seed, breezed past No. 16 seed Howard on Thursday behind impressive performances from freshman Gradey Dick and veteran Jalen Wilson. Dick, another former five-star prospect, has also been a common selection for Oklahoma City in mock drafts this season.

Standing at 6-foot-8 and shooting over 40% from 3-point range this season, it's easy to see why Presti and the Thunder would have interest in the Wichita, Kansas, native. On Thursday, Dick notched the first double-double of his collegiate career, tallying 19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals. 

The Sunrise Christian Academy product went 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and only recorded one turnover in the Jayhawks blowout victory. Wilson was the game's leading scorer, recording 20 points and seven rebounds while shooting 8-for-16 from the field. 

UCLA, led by Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Amari Bailey, took down UNC Asheville 86-53 on the opening day of the tournament. Bailey's youth and athletic ability make him the more likely Thunder target, but Jacquez Jr.'s versatility could draw interest from Presti and company.

Jacquez Jr. is a veteran wing that many experts value in the second round of the draft. The Camarillo High School alum is a crafty scorer who is big enough to play tough defense despite not being as athletic as some of the players he guards. 

Bailey, on the other hand, is a high-flying, athletic combo guard that was a five-star recruit coming out of high school. As a freshman at UCLA this season, the former Sierra Canyon standout averaged 10.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

On Thursday, Bailey put up 17 points, six assists, four rebounds and and three steals, stuffing the stat sheet with an impressive performance. There has been little draft buzz about Bailey to this point, but the physically gifted guard could put his name firmly in the mix with a few more impressive performances in the tournament. 

Duke also notched a blowout victory on day one of March Madness, taking down Oklahoma's own Oral Roberts University 74-51. The No. 5 seed Blue Devils are headlined by a trio of talented freshman, two of which had remarkable showings in the opening round. 

Defensive stud Dereck Lively II only took three shots against the Golden Eagles, but made sure that his presence was felt at all times, recording 12 rebounds and six blocks in 29 minutes of action. The 7-foot-1, five-star freshman averaged only five points and five rebounds per game in his first collegiate season, but earned ACC All-Defense Honors for his shot-altering abilities.

Lively II would be a dream come true for many OKC fans, as he and Holmgren would instantly fortify Oklahoma City's interior defense. 

Dariq Whitehead, another former five-star, also had a good outing against ORU, scoring 13 points and grabbing four rebounds in addition to one steal. The Montverde Academy product went 3-for-3 from downtown and 5-of-7 from the field in Duke's massive win. 

The Blue Devils will take on the Tennessee Volunteers for a spot in the Sweet 16 on Saturday at 1:40 P.M. CT. 

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