It may not have been the most critical game of the NCAA tournament to college basketball fans, but it was the most important March Madness contest for the NBA Draft. The Sweet 16 matchup between Kentucky and UCLA featured three players projected to go in the top ten of the 2017 NBA Draft. There were as many as six players that could be first round picks in June. The atmosphere was electric and all eyes were on the point guard battle between Lonzo Ball and De'Aaron Fox. When I asked a source close to the Kentucky program about the number of NBA scouts in attendance, he smiled and gave me the quote of the night. "Not only that, this is the kind of game GM's come to," he said pointing to where Magic Johnson was sitting across the arena. The game lived up to the hype, but it was Fox that stole the show. Fox dominated Ball and ended the night with 39 points as Kentucky moved on to the Elite 8. While not Ball's finest game, he will recover and minutes after UCLA's loss to Kentucky he declared his intentions to enter the draft. While he had an off night, Ball's court vision was still on display. For Fox, the thing that sticks out about him when watching up close is his quickness. He might be the quickest player in this draft class. Not to be left out, Malik Monk can heat up in a hurry and his jump shot is the thing that is intriguing the most about the playmaker.
As March Madness ends, the NBA Draft process will become more clear as players continue declaring for the draft. The NBA Lottery on May 16 will be one of the most anticipated draft events in several years. Picks at the top of the draft are valuable now more than ever with the top prospects available. As college basketball prepares to cut down the nets and crown a champion, Heavy looks at the NBA Lottery to make predictions for the top 14 picks. While the list is full of freshman, there are players like North Carolina's Justin Jackson who have used their time in college to help their draft stock. The draft order is based on the NBA standings on April 1. Click the arrow on the right side of the above image to see Heavy's latest 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
2016-17 Stats: 23.2 ppg, 5.9 apg, 5.7 rpg, 1.6 spg, 1.2 bpg, .476 FG%, .413 3P%
Outlook: Last week, Fultz dropped down to number two after Lonzo Ball's early performance in the NCAA tournament. This week, he benefits from Ball's poor showing against Kentucky. As I discussed last week, there are things that Ball does better than Fultz. Like Fultz, Ball also has weaknesses. Fultz looks like the better athlete and scorer. While Ball is often seen as the better shooter, Fultz's form is much more polished and is less likely to have GM's wondering if it will succeed at the next level. We're assuming the Celtics get this pick, but the lottery has a way of doing its own thing. However, if Boston does end up with the top selection, either Ball or Fultz is a good fit in Boston. It just depends on which player Danny Ainge and the other decision makers prefer. Fultz needs to have very good answers for why Washington did not win more games as well as why he was not able to return from injury for the Huskies' final four games. (Getty)
No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers: PG Lonzo Ball
School: UCLA
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6'6"/190 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 14.6 ppg, 7.6 apg, 6.0 rpg, .551 FG%, .412 3P%
Outlook: Ball had a bad end to his college career. It's not just that he struggled against Kentucky, Ball was outplayed by another potential NBA point guard ranked below him heading into the game. It leaves NBA teams asking the question whether the game exposed Ball or if it simply was a bad outing. De'Aaron Fox looked like the better athlete and was much quicker than Ball in person. It does bring up the question as to whether Ball will struggle against better athletes at the next level. Ball finished the game with 10 points, eight assists and two blocks. These are not terrible numbers, but he was just one of six from behind the three-point line. After the game, Ball announced he would enter the NBA Draft and spoke about guarding the two Kentucky guards. "Very difficult guarding those two [Monk and Fox], they are two of the best players in the country. The pick & roll with Fox was a toughcover and Malik, when he gets hot, he’s tough to cover," Ball said after UCLA's Sweet 16 exit. Ball had a solid tournament, and it is important to keep his final college game in perspective. Ball's court vision is apparent and will allow him to compete regardless of the athleticism of his opponent. His performance against Kentucky will be widely debated in NBA circles between now and June's draft. (Getty)
No. 3 Phoenix Suns: SF/SG Josh Jackson
School: Kansas
Position: Small Forward/Shooting Guard
Size: 6'8"/207 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 16.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.0 apg, .513 FG%, .378 3P%
Outlook: After a hot start in the tournament, Jackson did not have the kind of end to the season he wanted. He was held scoreless for much of the game against Oregon and finished with 10 points. Jackson is one of the better athletes in the upcoming draft. He also has the most potential of the top prospects to develop into an elite defender. Jackson gives the Suns another young piece to build around who has the potential to be a franchise player. (Getty)
No. 4 Orlando Magic: PG De'Aaron Fox
School: Kentucky
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6'3"/187 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 16.7 ppg, 4.6 apg, 4.0 rpg, 1.4 spg, .479 FG%, .246 3P%
Outlook: No top prospect used the NCAA tournament to their advantage like De'Aaron Fox. He went into the Sweet 16 matchup against UCLA ranked well below Lonzo Ball and thoroughly outplayed him. Fox used the matchup as what will be a statement game when projecting him in the NBA Draft. He went for 39 points and four assists against Ball. I had the opportunity to watch Fox in person both against UCLA and North Carolina. The first thing that catches your eye is his quickness and athleticism. He looked like the better athlete when compared to Ball. His major weakness is his three-point shooting. Fox could be seen in warm ups draining threes but has struggled to hit long range shots during games. Fox does have a solid mid-range jumper. NBA teams will hope Fox can improve his shot with NBA coaching. He only took 69 three-pointers when compared to Ball who took 194 threes this past season. When I asked one Kentucky source who the leader on the Kentucky team was, he noted it was Fox without question. Fox's performance against UCLA is unlikely to push him above either Fultz or Ball. However, Fox's ceiling is now at three. Having been in the locker room minutes after Kentucky was eliminated, the pain on the viral videos was real and shows Fox's level of competitiveness. Some Magic fans may be screaming at their computers now seeing Fox as another version of Elfrid Payton. The main difference is Fox is a much quicker player and well-rounded scorer than Payton. (Getty)
No. 5 Philadelphia 76ers: SF Jayson Tatum
School: Duke
Position: Small Forward
Size: 6'8"/205 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 16.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.3 spg, 1.3 bpg. .452 FG%, .342 3P%
Outlook: Tatum has officially declared for the draft. "It's extremely exciting. It's just another step closer to a lifelong dream that I've always had and it's the next step and I'm happy to be taking it," Tatum told Scout.com. Tatum has the potential to be a go-to player for the team that selects him. The big question around Tatum is whether he will be able to create his shot at the next level like he did in college. Tatum has the best physical build of any of the top prospects in the 2017 NBA Draft. At 6'8" and 205 pounds, he has the height, length and weight to make him NBA-ready as soon as he is drafted. A trio of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Tatum would be scary good. (Getty)
No. 6 Sacramento Kings: PG Dennis Smith Jr.
School: NC State
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6'3"/195 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 18.1 ppg, 6.2 apg, 4.6 rpg, .455 FG%, .359 3P%
Outlook: As the season gets farther in the rear-view mirror, Smith has the most to gain. Smith had a solid 2016-17 but did not have a good end to the season. Like Fultz, Smith has to explain why he was not able to help his team win more games. If you take out Smith's final three games, Smith's season looks much more appealing. There are those that question Smith's motor which is scary for a player likely locked in as a top ten pick. Smith is not alone as a player who ended their season on a down note. Several other top prospects also had shaky endings. Smith could help his draft stock in individual workouts as well as pre-draft interviews. He has enough potential that, on the right coaching staff, he could become an all-star. (Getty)
No. 7 New York Knicks: SG Malik Monk
School: Kentucky
Position: Shooting Guard
Size: 6'3"/200 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 19.8 ppg, 2.3 apg, 2.5 rpg, 0.9 spg, .450 FG%, .397 3P%
Outlook: While Fox has garnered much of the attention for his play to end the season, Monk showed good spurts during the tournament as to why he is a top NBA prospect. What catches your eye the most about Monk in person is his ability to shoot when he is in the zone. Monk has a quick release and a beautiful jump shot. The downside is there are stretches of the game where he disappears, and it is hard to distinguish whether it has to do with the Kentucky roster/system. We have seen players like Monk flourish when they leave college and the NBA team that drafts Monk will hope for similar results. Despite a rough game against North Carolina in the Elite Eight, Monk would have had one of the shots of the tournament were it not for UNC's Luke Maye doing him one better by hitting the game-winning shot to advance to the Final Four. (Getty)
No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves: SF Jonathan Isaac
School: Florida State
Position: Small Forward
Size: 6'10"/210 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 12.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.2 apg, .508 FG%, .348 3P%
Outlook: Last mock draft, I had the T-Wolves taking Miles Bridges. It is a difficult decision between Isaac and Bridges. Isaac gives Minnesota another long, athletic player to plug into their lineup. Isaac's willingness to play defense and get his teammates involved fits in well with Tom Thibodeau's system. The question about Isaac is whether he can develop into a go-to player, but on Minnesota he does not need to be that sort of player. The Timberwolves are as good of a fit for Isaac as he could find. Arizona big man Lauri Markkanen could also be in play here if he is still on the board. (Getty)
No. 9 Dallas Mavericks: 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: As fate would have it, the player many compare to Dirk Nowitzki gets to learn under the NBA great in Dallas in this scenario. Markkanen failed to take over in Arizona's Sweet 16 loss to Xavier and had just nine points in what could be his final college game. Markkanen enters the NBA with playing experience in both Europe and college basketball. His shooting ability will have an NBA team taking a chance on him early.
No. 10 Sacramento Kings (via Pelicans): G/F Miles Bridges
School: Michigan State
Position: Forward/Guard
Size: 6'7"/230 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 16.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.5 bpg, .486 FG%, .389 3P%
Outlook: ESPN'S Chad Ford likes Bridges all-around game. "Bridges has that rare combination of elite athleticism, an NBA body and loads of basketball skills. He can be one of the most exciting players in the country when he gets it going," Ford writes. Bridges gives the Kings a big, physical wing player to be part of their rebuilding, young core. (Getty)
No. 11 Detroit Pistons: PG/SG Frank Ntilikina
School: Strasbourg (International)
Position: Guard
Size: 6'5"/170 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 3.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg, .6 apg, .473 FG%, .429 3P% (13.9 minutes per game)
Outlook: Ntilikina is the most unknown of any of the top prospects but the lack of buzz could be due to the little exposure most of us have to the guard. This is especially true as we reach the conclusion of March Madness when fans have been able to watch some of the top NBA prospects during the NCAA tournament. ESPN's draft analyst Chad Ford believes Ntilikina can be right up there with the top point guards in this draft class. "He might see the floor better than anyone else in the draft. His jump shot is his biggest weakness and his lack of exposure in the NCAA might hurt his case for the No. 1 pick, but the talent is there," Ford writes.
No. 13 Denver Nuggets: F Justin Jackson
School: North Carolina
Position: Forward
Size: 6'8"/210 pounds
Class: Junior
2016-17 Stats: 18.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.8 apg, .447 FG%, .380 3P%
Outlook: Love the value the Nuggets are getting here with Jackson getting pass over by younger players who are viewed to have more potential. Jackson would be able to come in and contribute immediately in Denver. He pairs nicely with the young core of Nuggets players who are capable of making the playoffs next season as they almost did this season. Jackson improved shooting, scoring and defensive ability should keep him inside the lottery when the draft rolls around. (Getty)
No. 13 Denver Nuggets: PF Harry Giles
School: Duke
Position: Forward
Size: 6'10"/240 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 3.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, .7 bpg, .577 FG% (11.5 minutes per game)
Outlook: If Giles lands in the lottery it will not be based on merit. During his young career, Giles has already torn his ACL and MCL. He had knee surgery that kept him out the beginning of the college basketball season. By the time he returned, Duke struggled to know how to use him, and when Giles was on the court he struggled. That said, this was once a player thought to be in the conversation to be the number one pick. The talent is there, but there are questions as to whether he will become the player he once was. His physical evaluation at the Combine will be huge for his projections in June's draft. If there is positive news with his medicals, Giles will likely be a lottery pick. For an NBA team willing to roll the dice, they have an opportunity to get a player with loads of potential. If he does not get better, there is also the potential he does not go beyond his first NBA contract. The Nuggets are a young team and can afford to be patient with Giles. (Getty)
No. 14 Chicago Bulls: PF John Collins
School: Wake Forest
Position: Power Forward
Size: 6'10"/235 pounds
Class: Sophomore
2016-17 Stats: 19.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg, .622 FG%
Outlook: Collins is not a stretch four. He is more of a traditional back-to-the-basket big man who can score, rebound and block shots. In years past, he would be locked in as a top 10 pick. However, in a changing NBA his skill set has been devalued. Collins can do it all including step out and hit the mid-range jumper. An NBA team is going to be pleased to have Collins fall to them. He would be an upgrade from Bobby Portis and is one of the most NBA-ready big men in this draft. (Getty)
NBA Mock Draft 2017: Justin Jackson Lands in Lottery