In addition to getting bracket advice from ESPN's Dick Vitale, Heavy had an opportunity to get his thoughts about the top prospects for the 2017 NBA Draft. We asked Vitale who his favorite players were this season that he had an opportunity to see. "Josh Jackson, Jayson Tatum and Lonzo Ball," Vitale noted his top three players in no particular order. You will find Vitale's thoughts on some of the top prospects peppered throughout Heavy's latest mock draft. As we will explore in greater detail, Vitale prefers Ball over Washington's Markelle Fultz. Fultz is projected to be the top pick by many analysts, but Vitale likes the proven winning track record of Ball. Fultz had a difficult end to his college career missing the last four games with a knee injury but has already declared for the upcoming draft. In addition to Vitale's thoughts on prospects, I got a courtside look at Florida State's Jonathan Isaac during their first round matchup against Florida Gulf Coast. You will find my thoughts on Isaac after seeing him in person.
For many NBA Draft fans, the first bit of college basketball they watch happens in March. This year's NCAA tournament features as talented a group of NBA prospects as we have seen in years. Players like UCLA's Lonzo Ball, Kansas' Josh Jackson, Kentucky's Malik Monk, Arizona's Lauri Markkanen and Duke's Jayson Tatum are all expected to help lead their team to a deep run during March Madness. It will be interesting to see how the absence of players like Fultz and NC State's Dennis Smith Jr. will impact their draft stock. Michigan State's Miles Bridges is also in the tournament, but it is unclear how far their teams will end up going in March. The top of this draft class is as good as it comes and teams picking in the NBA Lottery will have plenty of great options to choose from. The draft order is based on the NBA standings as of March 18. Click the arrow on the right side of the above image to see Heavy's predictions for the top ten picks in the latest edition of our NBA mock draft. (Getty)
No. 1 Boston Celtics (Via Nets): PG Markelle Fultz
School: Washington
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6'4"/195 pounds
Class: Freshman
Outlook: Fultz had a less than ideal end to the season. He missed Washington's final four games including a re-match against Lonzo Ball who many believe he is fighting for the top pick. The Huskies finished just 9-22 and questions surround Fultz ability to make a difference in the win column. Dick Vitale told Heavy he has not been able to see many of Fultz's games but noted Fultz will need to prove he is a winner. “He has nice highlights but there are concerns about his ability to win. It could be a situation like Ben Simmons last season," Vitale said. Simmons had questions coming out of LSU since the Tigers failed to make the NCAA tournament. Fultz had less of a supporting cast than Ball has so in some ways it is hard to compare the two players. The challenge is it is the job of an NBA front office to compare the two players and try to project what Fultz can do with better surroundings. Fultz has plenty of talent and scoring ability that will help him fall no lower than the second pick. Heavy has Fultz slightly ahead of Ball but this could change with a strong March from Ball. (Getty)
No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers: PG Lonzo Ball
School: UCLA
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6'6"/190 pounds
Class: Freshman
Outlook: Ball may be the surest thing in the draft. Prior to Ball's arrival, UCLA was 15-17 during the 2015-16 season. This season, UCLA was one of the best teams in the country at 29-4. “He’s a winner and knows how to play the game," Dick Vitale told Heavy. It is part of the reason Vitale likes Ball over Fultz at this point in the process. NBA teams will debate Ball's quirky shot but, as long as it keeps going in when Ball reaches the league, chances are the team will leave it alone. Ball is a good scorer but would prefer to get 10 assists before scoring 10 points. While there is a good chance he becomes the best player on the team he is drafted, Ball will need talented players around him to be at his best. As he proved at UCLA, he does have the ability to help make a team drastically better. (Getty)
No. 3 Phoenix Suns: SF/SG Josh Jackson
School: Kansas
Position: Small Forward/Shooting Guard
Size: 6'8"/207 pounds
Class: Freshman
Outlook: Dick Vitale is a huge fan of Jackson's game. “Really like Josh Jackson and his ability to penetrate," Vitale told Heavy. Jackson has had a difficult month. With Duke's Jayson Tatum on his heels, he could really use a great March Madness run. Jackson was suspended for Kansas' first game in the Big 12 tournament. The Jayhawks lost the game, and it could have cost the Jayhawks a number one seed. Luckily, Kansas still landed on the top line, but NBA teams will have questions about Jackson's maturity. A nice NCAA tournament run could help teams forget the incident a little easier. What we do know about Jackson is he is a dynamic scorer and well-rounded player. He's fiercely competitive and will be able to help a team right away. (Getty)
No. 4 Orlando Magic: SF Jayson Tatum
School: Duke
Position: Small Forward
Size: 6'8"/205 pounds
Class: Freshman
Outlook: In my last two mocks, NC State point guard Dennis Smith Jr. was projected to go to the Magic. Smith limped to the finish line and has no way to rebound with the Wolfpack sitting outside the tournament. Orlando is in desperate need of a go-to player, and Tatum has the best chance of the remaining prospects to fill that void. Vitale is extremely high on the Duke forward. “Tatum could be the best of them all," Vitale told Heavy. Tatum already had a great start to the tournament notching 18 points and 12 rebounds in Duke's opening round game against Troy. The biggest question surrounding Tatum is his lack of ability to shoot the three. Tatum is shooting just over 33 percent from behind the three-point line. He does his best work using his size and length to his advantage. There is no question about his talent but his shooting must improve at the next level. (Getty)
No. 5 Philadelphia 76ers: SF Jonathan Isaac
School: Florida State
Position: Small Forward
Size: 6'10"/210 pounds
Class: Freshman
Outlook: What to do with Jonathan Isaac? I had an opportunity to see him up close in Florida State's first round game against Florida Gulf Coast. There is no question about his ability to contribute in a number of ways. Isaac has a willingness to rebound and defend. My question is whether he can be a first-option offensive player at the next level. Florida State has plenty of talent, and Isaac often defers to them on offense. An NBA team using a top 10 selection on Isaac is going to have high expectations. Teams typically do not use that high of a pick on a player that is more Robin than Batman. All indications are he is a great teammate with a high motor. His size would fit in great with the Sixers given their young, athletic core. Philadelphia has enough talent to surround Isaac and the team seems in no hurry to win. It could be the perfect landing spot for Isaac.(Getty)
No. 6 New York Knicks: G Malik Monk
School: Kentucky
Position: Shooting Guard
Size: 6'3"/200 pounds
Class: Freshman
Outlook: Monk continues to be the most polarizing player in the upcoming draft. Vitale summed up his skill set as well as anyone can. “Monk can score big time! At times, he can be streaky,” Vitale told Heavy. When he is firing on all cylinders it is a joy to watch. He will be able to help an NBA team offensively but finds himself undersized to play shooting guard at the next level. He has not demonstrated enough ability at Kentucky to show he can be a true point guard. Monk would pair well with Kristaps Porzingis, but it is unclear how he would do with Carmelo Anthony. Given Porzingis is the future, the Knicks can afford to find out. (Getty)
No. 7 Sacramento Kings: PG De'Aaron Fox
School: Kentucky
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6'3"/187 pounds
Class: Freshman
Outlook: Fox has helped himself over the last month of the season. He would be locked in as a top-five pick if he had a better shot, but Fox has been better from long range over the final month of the season. Overall, he shot just 23 percent from behind the three-point line which is dreadful given the importance of shooting in the current NBA game. There is no doubt in Fox's ability to score. He's phenomenal at attacking the basket and is a solid defender. If a team is willing to deal with having a starting point guard who cannot shoot, they will get an NBA point guard with a lot of upside. Fox could be one of the building blocks for the new-look Kings. (Getty)
No. 8 Sacramento Kings (via Pelicans): PF Lauri Markkanen
School: Arizona
Position: Power Forward
Size: 7'0"/230 pounds
Class: Freshman
Outlook: The Kings got roasted for the Boogie Cousins trade, but Sacramento could get the last laugh. The Pelicans have not been able to win with Cousins and the trade has allowed the Kings young big men to emerge. Willie Cauley-Stein and Skal Labissiere are both emerging as legit NBA players. While he would give them an additional big, Markkanen's talent is too much for Sacramento to pass up and has a different skill set than any of their current big men. Markkanen has a rare shooting ability and is one of the best shooting big man we have seen (potentially) come out in some time. Makkanen shoots over 42 percent from the three-point line and can hold his own down low. In a matter of a few months, the Kings went from being stuck in neutral to having a bright future with two likely top 10 picks in a great draft. (Getty)
No. 9 Minnesota Timberwolves: PG Dennis Smith Jr.
School: NC State
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6'3"/195 pounds
Class: Freshman
Outlook: It is unclear whether Tom Thibodeau is in love with Ricky Rubio. Smith could be his point guard of the future to build around. No player has had their stock fall more than Smith over the last month of the season. He finished the season with 13, 13 and 7 point performances including two games where Smith shot less than 30 percent from the field. NC State was a bad situation but questions surround Smith given he plays point guard, a position that requires the player to elevate those around him. Smith's body of work is much better than how he closed the season. He averaged 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists this season while showing flashes of elite point guard potential. (Getty)
No. 10 Charlotte Hornets: F Miles Bridges
School: Michigan State
Position: Forward
Size: 6'7"/230 pounds
Class: Freshman
Outlook: It has been a disappointing season for the Hornets given the level of talent on their roster. Their biggest need is down low, and Bridges gives them a bit of a hybrid player to plug in at both forward positions. Birdges is one of the more undervalued prospects in the upcoming draft. Michigan State is off to a nice start in the tournament with a big win against Miami. Bridges had 18 points and nine rebounds against Miami. If the Spartans could somehow shock Kansas to advance to the Sweet 16, it could only help Bridges in June. Regardless, Bridges is a likely lottery pick if he comes out. (Getty)
NBA Mock Draft 2017: Dick Vitale Speaks on Lonzo Ball & Markelle Fultz