63 games, hundreds of NBA hopefuls and one 94-by-50-foot stage for the best prospects in America to prove they belong at the next level. The main draw of the NCAA tournament is undoubtedly the upsets, the buzzer-beaters and the unparalleled passion, but March Madness also provides a better-than-ever glimpse at the best NBA draft prospects playing in the biggest games of their lives to date.
When it comes NBA draft stock, the NCAA tournament varies in importance depending on who you are. In years past, we've seen that a deep tournament run can elevate a player's stock a la Kemba Walker in 2011 or Buddy Hield in 2016, while a transcendent performance in a tournament-defining upset can help vault someone into the lottery, a la C.J. McCollum against Duke in 2012.
At the same time, poor showings from elite prospects don't always have a major effect. Andrew Wiggins went 1-for-6 in his last collegiate game, an ugly upset loss at the hands of Stanford, and went No. 1 the next summer. Jabari Parker went 4-of-14 and was ousted by Mercer the same year, and he was selected right after Wiggins. Two bad games, two tournament upsets and two top picks who have starred in the NBA.
So, there you go. The NCAA tournament is important for the NBA draft, and it's also not important. Clear as mud. Nevertheless, no matter how much stock you put into these performances, the Big Dance still offers a tremendous opportunity to get a look at the future of the Association.
With that in mind, and with 32 games set to play out over the next two days, you can click through the gallery for my 2017 first-round NBA mock draft. Note that the draft order is based on NBA standings as of March 15. (Getty)
1. Boston Celtics Select Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington
Year: Freshman
Fultz's stock as the projected No. 1 pick didn't slip when he sat out six games over the last month of the season, so missing the NCAA tournament shouldn't bump him from the top spot.
In what turned out to be the fourth-worst season in UW history, the talented freshman still found a way to shine with little help around him, averaging 23.2 points, 5.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.2 threes per contest. He's dangerously efficient in the pick-and-roll, he can get to the hoop at will and finish in creative ways, he can shoot, he can distribute and he has the athleticism-length combo to be a difference-maker on the defensive end.
While Boston already has a somewhat crowded backcourt, an all-Husky backcourt of Fultz and Isaiah Thomas is too potentially great to pass up. (Getty)
2. Los Angeles Lakers Select Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
Year: Freshman
The Lakers are in the enviable position where they get to sit back and take whoever is still available between Fultz and Ball, though the latter stands out as the better fit for their situation. While Fultz is regarded as the better scorer, Ball is the best floor general in the country. Not only does he orchestrate the third-most efficient offense in the country, but he ranks 29th in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio, which is highly impressive considering how fast the Bruins play.
Ball's size, vision and passing would allow him to run point right away for Luke Walton, allowing D'Angelo Russell to slip into a more comfortable role as a scoring two-guard. (Getty)
3. Phoenix Suns Select Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas
Year: Freshman
The Suns, who rank 27th in the NBA in defensive rating, get themselves a playmaker on that end of the court, as Jackson's amalgam of athleticism, length (6'9.8" wingspan) and competitiveness makes him a potential shut-down defensive player.
Offensively, he's especially effective in transition, making him a nice fit with the up-tempo Suns. (Getty)
4. Orlando Magic Select Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke
Year: Freshman
During Duke's four-game run through the ACC tournament, Tatum averaged 22.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per contest. He shot 55.4 percent from the field, got to the free-throw line 6.8 times per game and continued to show off his versatile, NBA-ready offensive game.
Not only could the Magic use a small forward since the Aaron Gordon-at-the-3 experiment failed, but Tatum's polished offensive game would likely provide an immediate improvement for a team that ranks 29th in offensive rating and 29th in effective field-goal percentage. (Getty)
5. Philadelphia 76ers Select Dennis Smith, PG, Louisville
Year: Freshman
The Sixers' current starting backcourt: T.J. McConnell and Gerald Henderson. McConnell has shown he can, at times, be a decent pass-first point guard, and he actually leads the team in win shares, but an infusion of athleticism and scoring is desperately needed in that backcourt.
With 6-foot-10 Ben Simmons potentially jumping in at point guard next year, Malik Monk, arguably the best scorer in this draft, gets real consideration here because he plays off ball, but Smith brings Russell Westbrook-esque explosiveness that will be really difficult for Philly to pass up. (Getty)
6. Sacramento Kings Select Jonathan Isaac, SF, Florida State
Year: Freshman
Not only are they in the midst of a full-on rebuild, but the Kings will likely have two picks inside the Top 10. That allows them to take a chance on Isaac, who may not be the safest pick left on the board but certainly has as much upside of anyone.
A 6-foot-11 small forward with a Go-Go Gadget-Arm wingspan of 7-foot-1 and a variety of offensive moves, Isaac has a chance to be a special player at the next level. A good showing in the NCAA tourney would be huge for him. (Getty)
7. New York Knicks Select Frank Ntilikina, PG, France
Year: Born July 28, 1998
With Derrick Rose set to hit the open market, the Knicks will be in need of a point guard. This pick obviously depends greatly on what the plan is for free agency, but for now, we'll slot in Ntilikina. The rising international star, who earned MVP at the FIBA Under-18 European Championships in December, lacks the athleticism of some other point guards in this class, but he's a smart, heady leader who plays under control and is a really strong defender.
You can read more about the mostly never-before-seen prospect here. (Getty)
8. Sacramento Kings Select De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
Year: Freshman
Ty Lawson, Ben McLemore (restricted), Darren Collison and Tyreke Evans are all hitting free agency, while Rudy Gay is currently undecided on his player option, so it's tough to know what the Kings roster is going to look like in a couple months.
Still, with both of the team's point guards headed for free agency, Fox makes a lot of sense here, especially with the Kings in rebuliding mode and unlikely to dish out a ton of money on a big-name free agent PG. Fox, much like a certain other former Kentucky point guard who is doing pretty well for himself, can struggle with his outside shot but is lightning quick and can get to the hoop at will. (Getty)
9. Dallas Mavericks Select Malik Monk, PG/SG, Kentucky
Year: Freshman
The Mavericks rank 23rd in offensive rating and 26th in the NBA in bench scoring. Not only is Monk arguably the best player remaining on the board, but his ability to score in bunches could immediately improve one of Dallas' biggest weaknesses, especially if he plays an instant-offense, sixth-man role. (Getty)
10. Minnesota Timberwolves Select Robert Williams, PF/C, Texas A&M
Year: Freshman
Williams, who boasts an incredible 7-foot-4 wingspan and swatted 2.5 blocks in just 25.8 minutes per game this season, is an obvious potential difference-maker on defense. But what makes him especially compelling as a prospect is how he improved his offensive game down the stretch, averaging 14.5 points and 10.9 rebounds over his last 10 games.
Going for 20 and 13 against Kentucky's NBA-talent-laden roster in early March went a long way in establishing this stud as a lottery pick. (Getty)
No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves: PF Lauri Markkanen
School: Arizona
Position: Power Forward
Size: 7'0"/230 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 15.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, .492 FG%, .423 3P%
Outlook: Markkanen and the T-Wolves are a good fit. I continue to love the pairing of Markkanen with Karl-Anthony Towns as Towns' strengths compliment Markkanen's weaknesses. The key to Markkanen's future is his ability to improve his rebounding and defense. However, his key to getting on the court right away will be his shooting ability. He is the best shooting big man we have seen come out in quite some time. Markkanen should benefit from a limited number of quality big men in this draft class. Malik Monk could be considered here as well, but not sure how he fits in with Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine. Markkanen makes the most sense and adds to a scary good group in Minnesota. (Getty)
NBA Mock Draft 2017: Updated Order & 1st-Round Predictions as NCAA Tournament Starts