Kansas
Frank Mason5-11, PG, Senior
20 points, 5 assists, 2 steals, 6-16 FG, 0-4 3FG, 8-8 FT
Mason's incredible senior year continues, putting up another 20 point game in a Kansas win. Mason's become one of the most well rounded players in college basketball. Even though he missed all of his threes this game, he has always been an elite three point shooter that has reached ridiculous levels this year (48.4% from three). He also gets his teammates involved and has a nice two man chemistry with fellow backcourt mate Devonte Graham. He's tough to stop in ball screens because he'll either hit the jumper or snake his way to the rim and get to the line (6.7 attempts per game).
Mason's always been an elite defensive stopper on the ball, pestering point guards as they bring the ball up. He also knows when to jump passing lanes to get steals. The only thing that will happen in the NBA will be bigger guards taking advantage of him on switches. It's also going to be interesting to see how he deals with longer players guarding him at the point of attack. You'd like to see better shot selection out of him at times, but he makes so many tough ones that you live with the bad. Right now, Mason projects to be a backup point guard or fifth guard, who might be able to be a steady backup at some point.
Devonte Graham
6-2, PG, Junior
18 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 7-10 FG, 3-4 3FG
All the things I said about Mason carry over to Graham. Those guys are two peas in a pod with their games. Graham isn't as tough and aggressive attacking the rim as Mason is, nor is he the type of high volume shooter that Mason is. Graham can still create his own shot and hit tough ones in his own right, using his quickness and smooth step back to get to his shot. Graham also knows how to read the floor, right behind Mason in assists on the year. It's hard to deal with two guards who can score at a high level and also move the ball and find the open guys.
Graham is just as tenacious on defense as Mason, even slightly quicker and more athletic. He isn't the type of explosive athlete that some of these other guards in the draft are, but he knows how to leverage his quickness and instincts to his advantage. Like Mason, questions about his size will arise and ultimately keep him from being a high level starter in the NBA. He will probably go higher than Mason in the draft due to him having a lot of the similar skills only he's a year younger in school, but the projection is still the same.
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk
6-8, SF, Junior
9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
It's hard for Svi to get his looks with all the mouths the Jayhawks have to feed. He's normally fourth or fifth in the pecking order when he's on the floor behind Mason, Graham, and Josh Jackson. His shooting stroke looks good when it leaves his hands, and his three point percentage is a respectable number this season (39.6%). Svi doesn't do much in terms of creating his own shot, but he isn't asked to and we don't know whether or not he is capable of doing it. He is a willing ball mover, and might be able to run some pick and roll as well.
Svi is kind of lead footed on defense. He has the athleticism, with an impressive dunk in this game, but he doesn't seem to have the hip mobility needed to move with guys. He got cooked a few times by the Kansas guards out on the arc. His shooting ability and potential playmaking skills will make him a serious wing prospect, but I'm curious to see what he would look like with an increased role.
Josh Jackson
6-8, SF, Freshman
23 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 9-16 FG, 2-5 3FG
Jackson absolutely stole the show in this game. The matchup between Bridges and Jackson will be the best prospect matchup we will see in the entire tournament.
Jackson's athleticism and mobility immediately jumps out at you. Bridges did his best to make things tough for Jackson, but Jackson was always a step ahead of him. He was hitting his shot all sorts of ways, step backs, spot ups, hang dribbles, and drives to the rim. He didn't have any assists this game, but his best offensive attribute all year long has been his playmaking and passing. If his shot is going like it has been this season (38.5% from three), it's absolutely game over and this guy should be the number one pick.
Defensively, Jackson has a slight frame at 200 pounds but his athleticism, quick twitch, and active hands make him an elite defensive stopper. He uses all of those physical tools on the glass as well, grabbing rebounds over guys and going up to get the ball at its highest point. He should be able to guard 1-3 easily at the next level, with the potential to guard 1-4 down the line.
The biggest question with Jackson will be whether his jumper is for real. He's been hot late in the season, but his 55.9% FT percentage could end up being a better indicator of how good of a shooter he really is. It doesn't look good at all coming out of his hands, with a low release point, big hitch, and a long motion. There's a lot of noise in it. If a team does believe in the shooting, there's no reason why he shouldn't be the number one pick.
Landen Lucas
6-10, C, Senior
10 points, 11 rebounds, 5-7 FG
Lucas is another in the long line of Kansas bigs who have developed into solid role players over their four years in Lawrence. Lucas isn't the most mobile and athletic big, but he plays hard, using his wide body and longs arms to gobble up boards and protect the paint. He does well zoning up in ball screens then recovering to 3/4 deny his man. He doesn't have any range or touch on his jumper, and his lack of mobility will ultimately keep him out of the league, but he definitely has a long future as a pro somewhere.
Lagerald Vick
6-5, SF, Sophomore
7 points, 5 rebounds
It's hard to ignore Vick's body and athleticism. The sophomore also shot 37.3% from three on the year and hit one in this game. He plays hard and attacks the glass well. Kansas even plays him at the four due to his size and competitiveness. He's a sleeper to keep an eye on because of the boy and athleticism. He's limited to put back dunks and spot up threes offensively, but there's a potential pro player in there somewhere.
Michigan St
Miles Bridges6-6, PF, Freshman
22 points, 8 rebounds, 7-15 FG, 2-6 3FG, 6-9 FT
Bridges was impressive from a motor, athleticism, and body standpoint. Even though he is an undersized PF at 6-6, he has a thick frame and long arms that help make up for it. He competes hard on both ends, even after he got hurt and had to leave the game in the first half. He has a toughness and edge to him. Nothing about his game is pretty. He does a lot of dirty work on the glass and defensively.
He slides his feet decently well across the perimeter. There were times, however, where he was a step slow guarding Jackson. If he's going to be a forward in the NBA, he has to be able to stick with quick, more athletic wings. He will compete for it and dominate the glass, but staying with them step by step is questionable. He does, however, have a good sense and timing of help side defense, averaging 1.6 blocks per game.
Offensively, Bridges has a solid stroke from three, though his release point is low. He hit a couple contested ones that were impressive and will be able to hit spot up threes in the league. He's also enticing due to his ability to attack closeouts and finish well at the rim thanks to his body. It seems that Bridges role is going to be a small ball four. He has the ceiling of a potential fifth starter on a championship team, or the first guy off the bench. That's worth a lottery pick.
Nick Ward
6-8, C, Freshman
13 points, 4 rebounds, 5-9 FG
Tom Izzo has made a living off of under recruited, under sized centers who play tough, have big bodies, and use them to create space underneath for rebounds and deep spots. He plays low to the ground, but he's crafty and can finish over both shoulders. It will be interesting to see if Ward takes a similar trajectory to previous Michigan State big men Draymond Green and Derrick Nix. If he can slim down a tad and be able to at least capably chase out guards in hedging situations, he'll help his pro chances.
Cassius Winston
6-1, PG, Freshman
7 points, 8 assists
Winston's poise at the point guard position was a lot better than I expected. The freshman led the Spartans in assists this year. He reads the floor patiently and waits to the absolute perfect moment to throw it to the open man. He made a few passes that didn't look like they were going to get through but did. He is borderline in that level of passer that passes guys open.
Winston was subbed out for Nairn later in the game because Winston isn't near the defender that Lourawls is. Given Winston's size at 6-1, he needs to embrace being a defensive stopper and using his 6-4 wingspan to disrupt ball handlers for him to have a shot at the league.
Josh Langford
6-5, SG, Freshman
10 points, 4-9 FG, 2-5 3FG
Langford is the best shooter that the Spartans have on the floor. He's shooting 41.7% on the year from three and even showed that he can hit shots in the mid range off the dribble in this game. Langford has the tools and body that you would like in a wing at 6-5 with a 6-7 wingspan. I could see him developing into the same type of role that Bryn Forbes played for Michigan State, a guy who comes off screens and can really put the ball in the bucket from the wing.
His next step to being a legit NBA prospect will be to lock down opposing teams wings and learn how to make the simple play. He forces his shot at times currently.
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